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 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 608 Ratings

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4.7

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4.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 608 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 17, 1999 | R

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

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

F. X. Feeney

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

100

Lou Lumenick

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

Peter Travers

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

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

Jay Carr

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

Emanuel Levy

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

Lawrence Toppman

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

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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

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

KyleS

Jun 20, 2008

My favorite movie ever. A beautiful, bold and downright astonishing exploration of a group of realistic and convoluted characters with so many interlocking themes, similarities and events you could fill a book. Incredible acting, an ingenious and entrancing ending sequence, praiseworthy My favorite movie ever. A beautiful, bold and downright astonishing exploration of a group of realistic and convoluted characters with so many interlocking themes, similarities and events you could fill a book. Incredible acting, an ingenious and entrancing ending sequence, praiseworthy direction, a wonderful script and original songs by the terrific Aimee Mann all bolster this into a hypnotic masterpiece. One thing I will say, though, is that you need to watch this film when you have 3 free hours and nothing on your mind. Let it suck you in... if you are not paying attention, or if you are overthinking, you will hate it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RodPa

May 30, 2020

La vi una madrugada, buena pelicula; me dejó con ganas de mamar totona ahí mismo.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ralfbergs

Jun 23, 2017

Amazing movie, great actors, performance and what is the most important for me - plot. I see that many have disliked it, but I enjoyed it a lot especially as each character's story was dependent on other characters.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Paxster

Oct 7, 2010

A rare success with this film is that it is a Tom Cruise film I like. But to be honest,it's not really about him it's how the cinematography is so interwoven you can't remember where you went last and where you are going to go next. To think of a story like this takes time and dedication andA rare success with this film is that it is a Tom Cruise film I like. But to be honest,it's not really about him it's how the cinematography is so interwoven you can't remember where you went last and where you are going to go next. To think of a story like this takes time and dedication and to keep you hanging on for 3 Hours isn't a bad feat either.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

StaticSpine

Sep 16, 2013

Definately my kind of movie: it has multiple storylines with different characters, which are entwining and crossing each other in some points. They are mostly dramatic, telling about ruined lives, personal regrets and skeletons in the closet. Most of the characters have an amazing backstory,Definately my kind of movie: it has multiple storylines with different characters, which are entwining and crossing each other in some points. They are mostly dramatic, telling about ruined lives, personal regrets and skeletons in the closet. Most of the characters have an amazing backstory, which is revealed during the movie. Also I'd like to mention Tom Cruise's role, probably his best one I've seen.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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

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25	#25 Best Movie of 1999
14	#14 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
16	#16 Most Shared Movie of 1999