The Sessions (2012)
87%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
18 wins & 64 nominations total
Tender, funny, and touching, The Sessions provides an acting showcase for its talented stars and proves it’s possible for Hollywood to produce a grown-up movie about sex
The Sessions” is a movie that explores the unconventional relationship between a man and his sex surrogate. While some critics found the story to be contrived and lacking in depth, others praised the performances of Helen Hunt and John Hawkes. One critic even called it a “love story between a man and life itself.” Personally, I thought the movie was sweet and funny, with just the right amount of seriousness. It’s definitely worth a watch, especially if you’re in the mood for something a little different. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Helen Hunt performance?
Production Company(ies)
Communicado Productions, New Zealand Film Commission Avalon, NFU
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexuality including graphic nudity and frank dialogue
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2013
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H Macy, Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks, Adam Arkin, directed by Ben Lewin, written by Ben Lewin, biography, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Charlotte Ross, Nigel Andrews, Peter Bradshaw, Tim Robey, Richard Propes, Debbie Lynn Elias, Katie Smith-Wong, Mattie Lucas, Brian D Johnson, Chris Hunneysett, produced by Judi Levine, Stephen Nemeth, MPAA rating R, graphic nudity, frank dialogue, strong sexuality, sex and disability, sex surrogate, polio, journalist, poet, caregiver, virginity, Fox Searchlight, Dolby Digital
Worldwide gross: $10,656,155
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,738,175
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,857
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,498,165
US/Canada gross: $6,002,451
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,738,506
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,687
US/Canada opening weekend: $113,467
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $146,284
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,791
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,289,224
Production budget ranking: 2,070
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $694,247
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,754,704
ROI to date (est.): 593%
ROI ranking: 217
Helen Hunt – Cheryl
William H. Macy – Father Brendan
Moon Bloodgood – Vera
Annika Marks – Amanda
Adam Arkin – Josh
Director(s)
Ben Lewin
Writer(s)
Ben Lewin
Producer(s)
Judi Levine, Stephen Nemeth
Film Festivals
Sundance, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
18 wins & 64 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (203) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (185) | Rotten (18)
The story isn’t as provocative as it tries to be, and the contrived romance is just as frustrating to watch unfold.
September 7, 2017 | Rating: C-
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
The Sessions could easily have slipped into schmaltz, but it’s an unexpectedly funny delight, thanks in part to sterling work from Helen Hunt and John Hawkes.
September 1, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
Satisfaction guaranteed? Pretty much.
January 18, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte Ross
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Hunt is a prodigy. No other actress could have brought such easeful transparency, such a glow of givingness, such heedlessness of glamour each time she strips naked.
January 17, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
The Sessions can be sugary, but it’s likable.
January 17, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
You could maybe see it working as a play, though the tactile detail of these scenes needs close-ups on the actors’ faces to communicate what the transaction means to them both.
January 17, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It is very seldom that I find virtually everything that I want within the confines of a single film.
September 22, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
A love story between a man and life itself. A story that should humble, challenge and inspire us all.
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
Sweet, witty and on the right edge of serious, The Sessions looks like an early 2013 audience favourite.
November 26, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Katie Smith-Wong
Flick Feast
A muddled, scattershot film of hollow platitudes anchored by two exceptional performances.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
This is a small film with a crack cast that elevates it beyond the banality of a movie-of-the week. It’s a possible dark horse candidate for Oscar recognition…
July 31, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
a powerful and touching film that never cheapens itself with false optimism or is careless with people emotions
July 22, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Chris Hunneysett
The Sunday People…
Plot
At the age of 38, Mark O’Brien, a man who uses an iron lung, decides he no longer wishes to be a virgin. With the help of his therapist and his priest, he contacts Cheryl Cohen-Greene, a professional sex surrogate and a typical soccer mom with a house, a mortgage and a husband. Inspired by a true story, The Sessions, follows the fascinating relationship which evolves between Cheryl and Mark as she takes him on his journey to manhood.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Helen Hunt’s performance in The Sessions includes several scenes of graphic nudity.
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