Muriel’s Wedding (1995)
86%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 12 nominations total
Heartfelt and quirky, though at times broad, Muriel’s Wedding mixes awkward comedy, oddball Australian characters, and a nostalgia-heavy soundtrack
Muriel’s Wedding is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and cringe all at the same time. It’s a rom-com that’s not afraid to get a little dark and twisted, but still manages to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Toni Collette is a gem as Muriel, a woman with big dreams and even bigger insecurities. The soundtrack is killer, and the confetti-filled wedding dress scene is iconic. Overall, it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves a good underdog story with a side of biting social commentary.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures
Distributor
Miramax Films, Miramax Home Entertainment [us]
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sex-related dialogue and some sexuality
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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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): Mar 10, 1994 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2011
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Toni Collette, Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths, Jeanie Drynan, Gennie Nevinson, Daniel Lapaine, directed by P.J Hogan, written by P.J Hogan, produced by Lynda House, Jocelyn Moorhouse, Comedy, Romance, R rating, box office gross $13.4M, budget unknown, reviewed by Duane Byrge, Caroline Westbrook, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Owen Gleiberman, Todd McCarthy, Geoff Andrew, Mal Vincent, James Croot, Chase Burns, Nick Levine, Cole Smithey, Emanuel Levy, ABBA soundtrack, Australian characters, nostalgia-heavy soundtrack, awkward comedy, politician father, small Australian town, big city of Sydney, redesigning her life, self-esteem issues, tragedy dressed in comedy’s clothes, heartfelt, quirky, socially awkward, outcast, ABBA obsession, police trouble, wish fulfillment, joyless solitude, intimacy, friendship, nostalgia
Worldwide gross: $15,485,598
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $30,450,258
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,544
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,320,639
US/Canada gross: $15,119,639
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $29,730,651
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,278
US/Canada opening weekend: $244,969
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $481,697
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,420
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $9,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,697,239
Production budget ranking: 1,427
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,529,963
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,223,056
ROI to date (est.): 12%
ROI ranking: 1,338
Bill Hunter – Bill Heslop
Rachel Griffiths – Rhonda Epinstalk
Jeanie Drynan – Betty Heslop
Gennie Nevinson – Deidre Chambers
Daniel Lapaine – David Van Arckle
Director(s)
P.J. Hogan
Writer(s)
P.J. Hogan
Producer(s)
Lynda House, Jocelyn Moorhouse
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
9 wins & 12 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (9)
It’s funny, strange and, best of all, graced with strong human compassion. Visually, Muriel’s Wedding is a bustling blend of wry humor and acerbic social satire.
April 2, 2020
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
There’s a high enough feelgood factor here to compensate for the detours off the comedy highway.
April 9, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This movie only shows true tact and understanding when it comes to flattering the audience; everyone on-screen is strictly up for grabs.
April 9, 2012
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The trouble with the movie is that there’s nothing to Muriel but her false dreams: We never quite glimpse the woman they’re hiding.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: C-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Most of the action is played for broad laughs, and Hogan demonstrates the ability to generate them, even if the humor is base and often cruel, making fun of people’s looks and ineptitude.
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
An engaging, funny and sometimes surprisingly tough romantic comedy.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Collette is delightful, or as delightful as she could be, as Muriel.
March 1, 2022
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
Hogan’s smart and sassy 1994 rom-com
February 22, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
It’s one of my favorite movies, it’s fundamental, and I think its movie poster-which shows Collette wearing a wedding dress, grinning, while confetti rains down on her-inspired a few lookalike movie posters.
December 8, 2021
Chase Burns
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
It’s an incredibly poignant film, both sweet and salty, with an excellent soundtrack…
May 10, 2021
Nick Levine
NME
October 10, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
August 10, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Muriel finds life in Porpoise Spit, Australia dull and spends her days alone in her room listening to ABBA and dreaming of her wedding day. A slight problem is she never had a date. Then she steals some money to go on a tropical vacation, meets a wacky friend, changes her name to Mariel, and turns her world upside down.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Toni Collette’s performance as “delightful, or as delightful as she could be, as Muriel.”
P.J.-Hogan.jpg
