Benny & Joon (1993)
85%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 4 nominations
Benny & Joon is a film that delicately balances the absurdity of its characters with the tenderness of its love story. While some may find the portrayal of mental illness unsettling, the film ultimately succeeds in its ability to find beauty in the unconventional. Johnny Depp’s performance is a standout, elevating the film beyond its shortcomings in writing and directing. With its use of color, costume design, and set design, Benny & Joon is a visually stunning and charming romantic comedy that is sure to delight those looking for something a little offbeat.
Benny & Joon is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. But in this case, you’re definitely getting a quirky and heartwarming love story that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. The cast is charming and the cinematography is stunning, making it a feast for the eyes. Sure, it may be a little saccharine at times, but who doesn’t need a little sweetness in their life? So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to fall in love with Benny & Joon.
Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Vtoroe Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., United International Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
301 N Cedar Street, Spokane, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for theme, a scene of mild sensuality and one use of harsh language
Year of Release
1993
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 38m
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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): Apr 16, 1993 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 13, 2001
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, CCH Pounder, directed by Jeremiah S Chechik, written by Barry Berman, Lesley McNeil, produced by Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth, Comedy, Romance, PG, box office gross $23.1M, budget unknown, reviewed by Peter Rainer, Matt Mueller, Owen Gleiberman, Patricia Bibby, David Ansen, Emanuel Levy, Richard Propes, Roger Hurlburt, Brian D Johnson, People Staff, Kristy Strouse, starring Johnny Depp as Sam, Mary Stuart Masterson as Juniper “Joon” Pearl, Aidan Quinn as Benjamin “Benny” Pearl, Julianne Moore as Ruthie, Oliver Platt as Eric, CCH Pounder as Dr Garvey, mentally disturbed sister, eccentric Sam, job at the video store, relationship, altercation, brother and sister, romantic fable, mentally ill, mental illness, quirky, charming, cheesy, compelling, unpredictable quirks, sharp chemistry, talent, wow-factor, forgettable, slow, forced, unsubtle, development, sequences, transitions, storytelling, effort, smoothness, quirkiness, charisma, straightman, subtle, concerning, mystery, dimension, impressive, unpredictable, enjoyable, consistently, wowing, impressive, fellow leads, sharp, chemistry, talent, unpredictable quirks, consistently enjoyable, charmer
Worldwide gross: $23,261,580
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,320,238
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,347
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,269,383
US/Canada gross: $23,261,580
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $48,320,238
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,084
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,285,063
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,823,914
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,042
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Mary Stuart Masterson – Juniper “Joon” Pearl
Aidan Quinn – Benjamin “Benny” Pearl
Julianne Moore – Ruthie
Oliver Platt – Eric
CCH Pounder – Dr. Garvey
Director(s)
Jeremiah S. Chechik
Writer(s)
Barry Berman, Lesley McNeil
Producer(s)
Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (31) | Rotten (10)
This sentimental stew is not without its flavors, and the cast tries hard to be winsome and adorably distraught.
June 17, 2020
Peter Rainer
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
This is a wisp of a movie, to be sure, but underneath all the absurd comic fringes and the much-abused crazies-are-really-sane theme beats the heart of a genuinely poetic love story.
June 17, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Matt Mueller
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Inconsequential as it is, Benny & Joon is that rare thing, a crazy-versus-sane movie that likes one kind as much as the other.
January 29, 2019 | Rating: B
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
There’s something vaguely unsettling about ”Benny & Joon,” a film that’s billed innocuously as a ”charming, offbeat comedy” that actually is about a woman suffering from mental illness.
June 12, 2018
Patricia Bibby
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
This fierce, smart jape gets you shaking with laughter, then leaves you simply shaking.
June 6, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
As the outsider who courts the mentally ill Mary Stuart Masterson, Johnny Depp renders a startling performance that elevates the romantic fable way above its writing and directing shortcomings; look for the young Julianne Moore in a small part.
April 8, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The film is blessed with a wonderful use of color and cinematography, stellar costume design and simple, but effective, set design.
September 2, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Benny & Joon is a curious movie that should not work but somehow does.
June 17, 2020
Roger Hurlburt
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
It is a funny, innocuous fable, a Sweet ‘N Low romantic comedy that seems a little facile at first, but has irresistible charm.
June 17, 2020
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
This film about love among the mentally ill is… as artificially sweet as a mouthful of saccharin. Still, it is irresistibly appealing in an old-fashioned, fantasy romance way.
June 17, 2020
People Staff
People Magazine
If you’re searching for something a little unconventional, Benny and Joon is sure to be a joy.
June 9, 2020
Kristy Strouse
In Their Own League
For all of its color and characters and fine details, Benny & Joon adds up to less than the sum of its parts.
June 6, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant…
Plot
In Spokane, Washington, Juniper Pearl – Joon to those that know her – is an artist. She is also a mentally challenged young woman who requires around the clock care, as she could cause harm to herself or others. Her brother Benny Pearl, who owns and operates a garage and who is her only living relative since their parents died twelve years ago in a car accident, has made the decision that she would live at home with him, in the process sacrificing being able to have a personal life of his own. He has hired full-time housekeepers to provide that care when he isn’t around. However, he has exhausted the list of housekeepers, who keep quitting because Joon is too much to handle. As such, Benny makes the decision that perhaps it would be best for all concerned if Joon were to live in a group home, something he is hesitating telling her for fear of her reaction. Into their lives comes Sam, the eccentric cousin of Benny’s friend Mike, who they obtained from Mike in a losing hand of poker. Among his eccentricities, Sam has a penchant for bursting into Buster Keatonesque physical comedy routines. As Sam ultimately makes a connection with both Benny and Joon, he becomes a complicating factor in their lives as Benny evaluates Sam’s fitness to handle both the good and bad of Joon.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Johnny Depp’s performance as the eccentric Sam is a standout in this quirky romantic comedy.
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