Moonstruck

 

Moonstruck (1987)

NEUTRAL
Various
Movie Reviews88%
NR
1987, Comedy/Romance, 1h 41m
RT Critics’ Score: 94% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Won 3 Oscars
18 wins & 19 nominations total

 

Critics Consensus

Led by energetic performances from Nicolas Cage and Cher, Moonstruck is an exuberantly funny tribute to love and one of the decade’s most appealing comedies
 

Audience Consensus

Moonstruck is like a warm hug from your Italian grandmother, if you had one. It’s a romantic comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still manages to tug at your heartstrings. Cher and Nicolas Cage have great chemistry, and the supporting cast is just as delightful. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie that makes you want to eat pizza and sing opera? It’s a classic for a reason, and definitely worth a watch.
 
Movie Trailer

Movie Info

Storyline

No sooner does Italian-American widow Loretta accept a marriage proposal from her doltish boyfriend, Johnny, then she finds herself falling for his younger brother, Ronny. She tries to resist, but Ronny lost his hand in an accident he blames on his brother, and has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls deeper in love, she comes to learn that she’s not the only one in her family with a secret romance.

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
 
MPAA / Certificate
PG
 
Year of Release
1988
 

Technical Specs
  • Color:
    Color
  • Sound mix:
    Dolby
  • Aspect ratio:
    NA
  • Runtime:
    1h 41m
  • Language(s):
    English, Italian, Latin
  • Country of origin:
    United States
  • Release date:
    Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1987 Original
    Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 1998

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
 
Keyword(s)
starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello, Julie Bovasso, directed by Norman Jewison, written by John Patrick Shanley, comedy, romance, PG rating, box office gross $80.0M, reviewed by Joel Siegel, Anupama Chopra, Linda Deutsch, Candice Frederick, Chris Chase, Gene Siskel, Rene Jordan, Cory Woodroof, Philip French, Josh Larsen, Charlotte Harrison, Matt Brunson, family, love, Italian-American, Brooklyn, secret romance, marriage proposal, younger brother, accident, pursuit, moon, kitchen scene, exuberantly funny, appealing comedies, warm adult comedy, offbeat exploration, fidelity, human heart, perfect romantic comedies, cinematic chicken soup for the soul
 

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $80,642,217
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,479,663
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 678
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,516,866
 
US/Canada gross: $80,640,528
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,475,339
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 332
US/Canada opening weekend: $127,599
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $326,710
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,515
 
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38,406,620
Production budget ranking: 988
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,681,965
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $147,391,079
ROI to date (est.): 249%
ROI ranking: 533

 
Movie Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew

CherNicolas CageVincent GardeniaOlympia DukakisDanny Aiello
Cher
Nicolas Cage
Vincent Gardenia
Olympia Dukakis
Danny Aiello
Loretta Castorini
Ronny Cammareri
Cosmo Castorini
Rose Castorini
Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Cher – Loretta Castorini
Nicolas Cage – Ronny Cammareri
Vincent Gardenia – Cosmo Castorini
Olympia Dukakis – Rose Castorini
Danny Aiello – Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Julie Bovasso – Rita Cappomaggi

 

Norman JewisonJohn Patrick ShanleyNorman JewisonPatrick J. Palmer
Norman Jewison
John Patrick Shanley
Norman Jewison
Patrick J. Palmer
Director
Writer
Producer
Producer
Producer

Director(s)
Norman Jewison
 
Writer(s)
John Patrick Shanley
 
Producer(s)
Norman Jewison, Patrick J. Palmer

 
Movie Reviews & Awards
Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
18 wins & 19 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Winners, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews
Joel SiegelAnupama ChopraLinda DeutschCandice FrederickChris Chase
Joel Siegel
Anupama Chopra
Linda Deutsch
Candice Frederick
Chris Chase
Chicago Reader
Film Companion
Associated Press
Reel Talk Online
New York Daily News
MOONSTRUCK
 All Critics (69) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (5)
 Charmingly executed and hopeful, Moonstruck is a spun-sugar movie. It doesn’t nourish the mind, but for those who aren’t terribly demanding about their movie fare, it’s a sweet treat.
 
 May 10, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
 
 Joel Siegel
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s wonderfully written and has just the right touch of sweeping romance that you need.
 
 May 18, 2020
 
 Anupama Chopra
 Film Companion
 TOP CRITIC
 Here, at last, is the kind of warm adult comedy that often eludes Hollywood an offbeat exploration of family, fidelity and the foibles of the human heart.
 
 January 29, 2019
 
 Linda Deutsch
 Associated Press
 TOP CRITIC
 At times funny and clever, Moonstruck asks the questions: what does it mean to be in love? and is it ever okay to settle?
 
 September 12, 2017 | Rating: B+
 
 Candice Frederick
 Reel Talk Online
 TOP CRITIC
 This is a movie that makes you want to sing “Boheme” and walk in the moonlight and move to Brooklyn.
 
 December 15, 2015 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Chris Chase
 New York Daily News
 TOP CRITIC
 You will not easily forget this incredibly robust family.
 
 February 7, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Gene Siskel
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 Seems to me like a cold pizza badly reheated. [Full review in Spanish]
 
 July 1, 2022
 
 Rene Jordan
 El Nuevo Herald (Miami)
 *Leonardo DiCaprio jumps up and points at the screen when the big moon is out*
 
 “That’s amore!”
 
 June 15, 2022
 
 Cory Woodroof
 615 Film
 Moonstruck is a constant delight. I’m unhappy about a certain narrative slickness, but there is real truth in its recognition of the way the light-headed and the heavy-hearted go hand in hand.
 
 April 20, 2022
 
 Philip French
 Observer (UK)
 A gem, in that theres really no other movie like it.
 
 February 27, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Josh Larsen
 LarsenOnFilm
 One of the most perfect romantic comedies there is. Cinematic chicken soup for the soul.
 
 June 7, 2021
 
 Charlotte Harrison
 Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
 While it leans a bit too heavily on the whimsy, Moonstruck is nevertheless a winning romantic comedy.
 
 November 27, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Matt Brunson
 Film Frenzy…

 
Movie Plot & More
Plot
No sooner does Italian-American widow Loretta accept a marriage proposal from her doltish boyfriend, Johnny, then she finds herself falling for his younger brother, Ronny. She tries to resist, but Ronny lost his hand in an accident he blames on his brother, and has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls deeper in love, she comes to learn that she’s not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Moonstruck.
 
Movie Links Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes

Links
Wikipedia: Go to Wiki
Rotten Tomatoes: Go to RT

 
Where to Watch

Where to Watch

 
Move the ScoreNorman-Jewison.jpg

Movies, Streaming