Magnolia (1999)
Kernel Score: 88% · 3,918 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 1999-12-17
Runtime: 189 minutes
Is Magnolia worth watching?
Worth watching. Nine lives collide in one day in the San Fernando Valley, with Tom Cruise as a standout. It's long, ambitious and sometimes overwrought, but the best scenes are remarkable.
Watch it if you
- like sprawling ensemble dramas
- enjoy ambitious, emotional filmmaking
- want a big cast doing big scenes
Skip it if you
- want a short, tidy plot
- dislike its famous strange late twist
Best for: Long solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Magnolia
- Stream: HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.
Magnolia parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Magnolia is an R-rated ensemble drama dealing with death, regret, and a suicide attempt.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes a suicide attempt and themes of dying and loss among its interwoven stories.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Magnolia
If you liked Magnolia, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Boogie Nights (1997) — 85%: Same director's earlier ensemble drama of ambition and fall
- Punch-Drunk Love (2002) — 81%: Same director's odd, tender, unpredictable love story
- There Will Be Blood (2007) — 89%: Same director's later, tougher epic of greed
- American Beauty (1999) — 94%: Suburban lives, secrets and quiet unhappiness
- 21 Grams (2003) — 81%: Linked lives touched by a single tragedy
- Amores Perros (2000) — 85%: Interlocking stories built around one event
Director
Cast
- Tom Cruise as Frank T.J. Mackey
- Philip Baker Hall as Jimmy Gator
- Philip Seymour Hoffman as Phil Parma
- Julianne Moore as Linda Partridge
- William H. Macy as Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
- John C. Reilly as Officer Jim Kurring
- Melora Walters as Claudia Wilson Gator
- Jeremy Blackman as Stanley Spector
- Jason Robards as Earl Partridge
- Melinda Dillon as Rose Gator
Magnolia FAQ
Is Magnolia worth watching?
Worth watching. Nine lives collide in one day in the San Fernando Valley, with Tom Cruise as a standout. It's long, ambitious and sometimes overwrought, but the best scenes are remarkable.
Where can I watch Magnolia?
In the US you can stream Magnolia on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Magnolia OK for kids?
Magnolia is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Magnolia is an R-rated ensemble drama dealing with death, regret, and a suicide attempt.
What movies are like Magnolia?
If you liked Magnolia, try Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood and American Beauty.