The Cider House Rules

Name: The Cider House Rules
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: December 10, 1999
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Tobey Maguire

1999

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 120 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 120 Ratings

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The Cider House Rules

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: December 10, 1999 | PG-13

Starring: Charlize Theron, Michael Caine, Tobey Maguire

Summary: This is the story of a compassionate young man (Maguire), raised in an orphanage and trained to be a doctor by the abortionist (Caine) who runs the orphanage.

Director: Lasse Hallstrom

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 min

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Critic Reviews

David Kehr

Impeccably crafted and utterly impersonal, Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of John Irving's novel has many of the qualities Oscar is known to appreciate. Read full review

Jay Carr

It's filled with vivid characters and action. Beneath its modesty of gesture, it's one of the year's richest, most humane films. Read full review

William Arnold

Many will find the subject matter disturbing, but it's clearly one of the holiday season's richest and most daring movie entries. Read full review

Mr. Showbiz Richard T. Jameson

Hallström, a past master at cockeyed coming-of-age chronicles ("My Life as a Dog," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"), has a near-genius for unpatronizing tolerance, and for seeing beauty in the world and nature and seasons without turning them into postcards.

Bob Graham

Has that Dickensian spirit wherein simple acts of kindness can bring an audience close to tears. Read full review

Ernest Hardy

It's Tobey Maguire, doing fine, subtle work, who holds it all together -- he puts a human touch to what is otherwise expertly wrought hokum. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Feels like the shell of a wonderful story.

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User Reviews

steins03

Dec 6, 2011

I think that is was a great film, and the lighting helped in setting the mood in the film. The soft lighting showed a calm and relaxed environment at the orphanage. The costumes of the characters helped to set the time frame that the film had taken place. I defiantly recommend it for viewing.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Compi24

Nov 28, 2012

Hallstrom has succeeded in adapting John Irving's novel into an incredibly refreshing period piece. With very touching performances from Maguire, Caine, and Theron, "The Cider House Rules" effectively portrays Irving's delightful coming-of-age tale.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Ulna319

May 17, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

The3AcademySins

Mar 25, 2019

A beautiful coming of age story and and period-piece, The Cider House Rules is all at once delightful, horrifying, romantic, and epic. This is a great 1990s film with a charming and tactful script, incredibly evocative cinematography, top notch performances, and a soul that a lot of moviesA beautiful coming of age story and and period-piece, The Cider House Rules is all at once delightful, horrifying, romantic, and epic. This is a great 1990s film with a charming and tactful script, incredibly evocative cinematography, top notch performances, and a soul that a lot of movies lack. This has aged almost perfectly, and is a must-see for fans of period drama.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

amheretojudge

May 19, 2019

If Maguire is a teenager, then Caine is his father, watch this relationship go up and down, and swing by gleefully being a carefree kid, once again.

The Cider House Rules Hallstrom is a funny man when it comes to shine the humor on a mellow drama as such. With introducing charactersIf Maguire is a teenager, then Caine is his father, watch this relationship go up and down, and swing by gleefully being a carefree kid, once again.

The Cider House Rules

Hallstrom is a funny man when it comes to shine the humor on a mellow drama as such. With introducing characters smoothly as installing jokes in sensitive situations, the director, Lasse Hallstrom has perfectly timed the tracks of each character syncing in one melodious and also ironically chaotic room. And boy how sketchy it looks and how sitcom-y it feels. You'll be giddy up for this whimsical world rooting each perspective wishing them to be successful just to see how far do they push the boundary to tone the temperature to their preferences. I am drawn to this light-footed world because I grew up watching them (it defines the 90s at best) with my brother in a lazy Sunday morning, I may not be an unbiased judge, but it surely is thoroughly engaging and entertaining.

What makes this script complete above all, is equal contribution of the characters in the final product. They come in with a new lexicon, fresh beat and originality in their opinions, they ought to stand alone, even the sinister ones, if thought about it, there is something sparkly about them; wrong definitely. Tobey Maguire proves it was a perfect casting, from being childish to a smart cookie- at least in his own field- he is the dream protagonist to such a rom-com.

Charlize Theron is the most misleading person in the film, admittedly she is successively on the wrong track, bridging the equation with a balanced natural view. But to me, this will always be Michael Caine's film. He mourns, he guides, he mocks and he comforts. His eyes gazes into an object and it somehow comes alive, so beautiful is his language and so picturesque his notes to these so called adolescent beings- the letter are some of the best part of the film- that you feel you learned something new, outside The Cider House Rules.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

StudentLT

Mar 21, 2011

The Cider House Rules the film is a story of Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), a permanent orphan of St. Cloudâ

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

HunterC.

May 12, 2006

I do nominate Dr. Larch as being one of the most hypocritical characters in the history of American literture and film. One minute, he is caring and compassionate towards orphan children to the point that you want to cry. The next minute, he's cursing and scolding Homer over I do nominate Dr. Larch as being one of the most hypocritical characters in the history of American literture and film. One minute, he is caring and compassionate towards orphan children to the point that you want to cry. The next minute, he's cursing and scolding Homer over Homer's original disapproval of abortions. Either make Dr. Larch a caring man that truly loves children, or make him an evil man that hates children. The way this story is told, Larch is hypocritical. I'm surprised that Larch didn't stop women from having abortions the way he treated the kids in the orphanage. At the same time, I'm surprised Larch didn't lock all the orphan kids in their room and start a fire to kill them all the way he killed unborn babies. I have more respect for Hitler than Dr. Larch. At least Hitler knew who he didn't like (even though it was unjust and evil). Dr. Larch is just a big hypocrite.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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32	#32 Best Movie of 1999
81	#81 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
42	#42 Most Shared Movie of 1999