Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
81%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: Won 4 Oscars
21 wins & 24 nominations total
While it’s fueled in part by outdated stereotypes, Driving Miss Daisy takes audiences on a heartwarming journey with a pair of outstanding actors
Driving Miss Daisy is a movie that proves that sometimes, less is more. With its small and resonant story, it manages to capture the hearts of its viewers without resorting to sentimentality. And let’s not forget the amazing performances of Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman, who bring their characters to life with dignity and warmth. It’s a film that will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the power of silence. So, buckle up and enjoy the ride with Miss Daisy and Hoke!
Production Company(ies)
Road Movies Filmproduktion, Argos Films, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
822 Lullwater Road, Druid Hills, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1990
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 39m
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Language(s):English, Hebrew
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 1989 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd, Patti LuPone, Esther Rolle, Crystal R Fox, directed by Bruce Beresford, written by Alfred Uhry, Comedy, Drama, PG, Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D Zanuck, box office, $105.6M, reviewed by Nigel Andrews, Jay Carr, Henry Sheehan, David Stratton, Kathleen Carroll, Gene Siskel, Morgan Freeman as Hoke Colburn, Jessica Tandy as Daisy Werthan, Dan Aykroyd as Boolie Werthan, Patti LuPone as Florine Werthan, Esther Rolle as Idella, Crystal R Fox as Katie Bell, chauffeur, African-American driver, elderly Jewish widow, Atlanta, heartwarming journey, racial prejudices, social conventions, friendship, independence, outdated stereotypes, chamber movie, small, resonant, acting lesson, note-perfect, dignified warmth, hauntingly elegant performance, fine acting, subtle direction, good writing, realistic drama, unforgettable screen characters, dry wit, genuine warmth, perfect showcase, deserving actors, acting showcase, warm and tender, human story, romanticizes, rather than challenges, racial power politics, themes of prejudice, alienation, segregation, episodic, annoying, poorly-paced narrative, unbearable old lady, engaging performances, sentimental, typical Oscar bait
Worldwide gross: $145,793,296
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $336,110,314
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 449
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 36,653,251
US/Canada gross: $106,593,296
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $245,739,051
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 263
US/Canada opening weekend: $73,745
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $170,011
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,725
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,290,420
Production budget ranking: 1,445
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,310,891
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $309,509,003
ROI to date (est.): 1,164%
ROI ranking: 104
Jessica Tandy – Daisy Werthan
Dan Aykroyd – Boolie Werthan
Patti LuPone – Florine Werthan
Esther Rolle – Idella
Crystal R. Fox – Katie Bell (Boolie’s cook)
Director(s)
Bruce Beresford
Writer(s)
Alfred Uhry
Producer(s)
Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 4 Oscars
21 wins & 24 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup Winners, Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (12)
This is a chamber movie with the courage to stay small and resonant.
February 3, 2020
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Freeman is note-perfect with Hoke’s dignified warmth, and Tandy, whose every moment on screen is an acting lesson, turns in what by far is the most hauntingly elegant performance of the year.
April 27, 2018
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Every one of these dramatic maelstroms manages to appear fresh because Freeman and Tandy somehow manage to come up with new approaches, meting out complementary aspects of their characters.
December 13, 2017
Henry Sheehan
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Fine acting, subtle direction, good writing, in fact, a film for everyone to appreciate and enjoy.
January 25, 2017 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The movie never resorts to sentimentality. It has a dry wit as well as genuine warmth. Best of all it is the perfect showcase for two deserving actors — Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman.
February 23, 2015
Kathleen Carroll
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
One of the year’s best films, a rarity in that a play has been successfully transferred to film without having the dialogue seem “written.”
January 26, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It may be simple but it’s brilliantly told, with frequent humor, realistic drama, and the invention of unforgettable screen characters.
September 6, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
In Driving Miss Daisy…silence speaks volumes.
February 6, 2020
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
It romanticizes, rather than challenges the racial power politics it presents.
September 11, 2019
Kathi Maio
Sojourner
For all the artistry in the background and behind the camera, Driving Miss Daisy is ultimately an acting showcase. And its stars are ultimately responsible for the delight it creates.
February 20, 2019
Rick Chatenever
Santa Cruz Sentinel
A warm and tender, human story. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 1, 2018
Antonio Albert
El Pais (Spain)
All the good in this film ends up being shipwrecked by a cloying, but predictable, ending. [Full Review in Spanish]
February 28, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/5
Rodolfo Sánchez
Sensacine…
Plot
An elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta can no longer drive. Her son insists she allow him to hire a driver, which in the 1950s meant a black man. She resists any change in her life but, Hoke, the driver is hired by her son. She refuses to allow him to drive her anywhere at first, but Hoke slowly wins her over with his native good graces. The movie is directly taken from a stage play and does show it. It covers over twenty years of the pair’s life together as they slowly build a relationship that transcends their differences.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy deliver outstanding performances in Driving Miss Daisy.
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