The Horse Whisperer (1998)
78%RT Audience Score: 72%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 19 nominations total
It might be a bit too eager to tug the heartstrings, but The Horse Whisperer is typically graceful, well-crafted Redford — on both sides of the camera
The Horse Whisperer is a heartwarming and mature drama that will make you want to hug your horse (or any animal, really). Robert Redford’s directing skills are on point, and the story comes alive on the screen in a way that will make you forget about the book. Sure, it may not be postmodern or modern, but who cares when you have gorgeous horses and a compelling journey to the cure? Plus, it’s always nice to have a good cry and feel all the feels. So, grab some tissues and get ready to be transported into another world.
Production Company(ies)
London Film Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Livingston, Montana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for a disturbing accident scene
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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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): May 15, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 10, 1998
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neill, Dianne Wiest, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Cooper, directed by Robert Redford, written by Nick Evans, Eric Roth, Richard LaGravenese, drama, PG-13, box office performance, $75.4M, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Todd McCarthy, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Andrew Sarris, Kenneth Turan, Ruthe Stein, Matt Brunson, Barbara Shulgasser, Brian Orndorf, Maitland McDonagh, cinematography by Robert Richardson, produced by Patrick Markey, Robert Redford, original release date May 15, 1998, runtime 2h 48m, aspect ratio 35mm, horse, Montana, healing, trauma, family, marriage, career, New York, magazine editor, horse whisperer, taming, countryside, tragedy, emotion, heartwarming, compelling, charm,
Worldwide gross: $186,883,563
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $342,957,690
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 442
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 37,399,966
US/Canada gross: $75,383,563
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $138,339,468
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 554
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,685,488
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $25,114,800
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 543
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $60,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $110,108,460
Production budget ranking: 346
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $59,293,406
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $173,555,824
ROI to date (est.): 102%
ROI ranking: 931
Kristin Scott Thomas – Annie MacLean
Sam Neill – Robert MacLean
Dianne Wiest – Diane Booker
Scarlett Johansson – Grace MacLean
Chris Cooper – Frank Booker
Director(s)
Robert Redford
Writer(s)
Nick Evans, Eric Roth, Richard LaGravenese
Producer(s)
Patrick Markey, Robert Redford
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 19 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (57) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (15)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Directing himself for the first time, Redford has lavished his usual meticulous care on popular material that comes alive on the screen in ways that it never could on the page.
November 8, 2007
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
This has loads of craft and honor but never quite takes off.
November 8, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
We are not talking postmodern or even modern here, but the best kind of old-fashioned.
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
That lack of identifiable passion is The Horse Whisperer’s most vexing problem.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 2.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
As good as Redford and Scott Thomas are at the outset, they can’t convey the passion necessary to make the affair believable.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4
Ruthe Stein
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Like Jaws, Carrie and The Bridges of Madison County, director Robert Redford’s screen version of Nicholas Evans’ smash bestseller has largely been deemed one of those rarities: a movie that improves on its source material.
November 22, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Gorgeous, slow-paced ’90s horse drama has mature themes.
March 29, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
Maintains a spiritual atmosphere and decent hold on personal problems, keeping the long journey to the cure compelling, with enough flashes of Heaven on Earth to bewitch even the most disengaged viewer.
September 28, 2012 | Rating: B-
Brian Orndorf
Blu-ray.com
Curl your cynical lip if you want, but there’s a place for heartwarming, life-affirming, even weepy dramas.
November 8, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide
I found it to be a compelling, adult film that transports you into another world.
April 9, 2005 | Rating: A-
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
A lovely piece of filmmaking.
May 14, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly…
Plot
After a teenage girl and her horse are traumatized by a riding accident, her mother takes them to a secluded Montana ranch where a legendary “horse whisperer” begins to heal the horse and stirs long-dormant feelings in the mother.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Horse Whisperer.
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