Magnolia

Name: Magnolia
Genre: Drama
Released: December 17, 1999
Duration: 188 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Jason Robards, Jeremy Blackman, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall

1999

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critics

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 538 Ratings

See All

4.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4.7	Your Score
4.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 538 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

MAGNOLIA

Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 17, 1999

Starring: Jason Robards, Jeremy Blackman, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Cruise, William H. Macy

Summary: On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story. [New Line Cinema]

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 188 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

24	#24 Best Movie of 1999
13	#13 Most Discussed Movie of 1999

Watch Now

Buy On

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

L.A. Weekly - F. X. Feeney

Part poem, part jungle blossom, all brilliance. Read full review

100

New York Post - Lou Lumenick

Hands-down the best movie of the year. Read full review

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

One of the best movies of the year--startling, innovative, hugely funny and powerfully, courageously moving.

Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan

Drunk and disorderly on the pure joy of making movies. A frantic, flawed, fascinating film that is both impressive and a bit out of control, often at the same time. Read full review

Boston Globe - Jay Carr

Magnolia is "Short Cuts" with hope. It's my kind of mess. Read full review

Variety - Emanuel Levy

A remarkably inventive and audacious film that almost overcomes its flaws. Read full review

Charlotte Observer - Lawrence Toppman

A three-hour-and-10-minute exercise in slight characterization, pointlessly showy editing and vapid plotting. Read full review

SEE ALL 34 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

seancriswell

Oct 7, 2012

Every so often a movie that you have heard a lot about but never seen blows your mind. Magnolia is one of those movies for me. Immediately after viewing this film I knew that it would be on my mind for weeks and that it would become one of my top 10 films. Every character in this movie isEvery so often a movie that you have heard a lot about but never seen blows your mind. Magnolia is one of those movies for me. Immediately after viewing this film I knew that it would be on my mind for weeks and that it would become one of my top 10 films. Every character in this movie is interesting on multiple levels. Every scene in this movie is thoughtful and poignant. The scenes that opponents of this film have problems with, the frogs and the musical interlude, work for me in every way. Both these scenes do seem out of place in this story, but for me that is what makes them amazing. They come from nowhere, but interlock these characters in a visceral, interesting way. There is so much to unravel in a film this large, with multiple plot lines and characters running both separate from each other and together at various times. You could probably write a book trying to accurately review this movie. I look forward to watching this movie again and again over the years, and trying to unravel all the characters and premises in my mind.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

MayaL.

Aug 6, 2008

Riveting film with brilliant ensemble!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

David

Sep 12, 2005

One of the best films in the last 10 years.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

cameronmorewood

Nov 15, 2012

Don't treat Magnolia like a movie. Surrender yourself to it's awesomeness and allow it to play on your emotions like music. It'll blow you away.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

ahmedaiman9999

Aug 23, 2018

How on earth there is a space for sympathetic characters, terrific performances, coherent drama, comedy, miraculously connected storylines, logical sense in such a bizarre lengthy mess of a movie?

Wait a second! .... am I not describing humans and their lives? Blending realism withHow on earth there is a space for sympathetic characters, terrific performances, coherent drama, comedy, miraculously connected storylines, logical sense in such a bizarre lengthy mess of a movie?

Wait a second! .... am I not describing humans and their lives?

Blending realism with surrealism, Magnolia is one of Paul Thomas Anderson's works and ,definitely, his most ambitious one.

Every story is as rich and intriguing as their characters. Stories that are harmoniously told, and embellished with Aimee Mann's heavenly soundtrack. The result is a three-hour epic mosaic devoid of any moment of boredom.

I think Donnie Smith's story, William H. Macy's character, is the most profound and the richest one. Nevertheless, it's also the most poorly told one, comparing it to the others. It could have been explored more. I wish I was as invested in it as I respected it after it ended.

Also, the movie could have been less on exposition in terms of characters a little bit more. Because I think what I've seen from the fantastic acting and the masterful use of symbolism are more than enough to make everything clear.

That being said, these issues are almost indiscernible, and it was difficult for me to notice them.

Magnolia is not my favorite PTA film, but hands down it's the most entertaining one despite its long runtime.

(9/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

heeldavid

May 4, 2014

Magnolia is a very intelligent film from a usually impressive director Paul Thomas Anderson, Magnolia is very unique and watchable. The cast delivers great performances. Tom Cruise is in one of his strongest role as Frank T.J Mackey. A great way to follow up Boogie Nights!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

JonW.

Jul 7, 2006

I thought "The Village", "Random Hearts" and "Intersection" were the worst movies of all time. Now they're only the 2nd - 4th worst movies of all time thank to this hunk of junk. The most interesting part of the film was the first 1 minute when 3 coincidences were summarized - the only I thought "The Village", "Random Hearts" and "Intersection" were the worst movies of all time. Now they're only the 2nd - 4th worst movies of all time thank to this hunk of junk. The most interesting part of the film was the first 1 minute when 3 coincidences were summarized - the only coincidence involving the actual characters in the movie were the boredom in which they inflicted, the pointlessness of their stories and the over-the-top acting by all of the cast members. By the end of the movie, I was praying that they all would die together, quickly because I cared nothing for any of them and only wanted to stop my pain. It will be tough to top this one as the worst ever, but I'm sure some Hollywood genius is already hard at work.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 45 REVIEWS