Marvin’s Room (1996)
84%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 13 nominations total
Marvin’s Room rises above the pack of dysfunctional family dramas thanks to an impeccable cast that includes Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, and Leonardo DiCaprio
Marvin’s Room is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and question your own family dynamics. The performances from the all-star cast are top-notch, but let’s be real, we’re all here for Meryl Streep. The cinematography is beautiful, but if you’re not a fan of plinky-plink pianos and mewing oboes, you might want to bring some earplugs. Overall, it’s a heartwarming story about the strength of family bonds, and if you’re a fan of melodrama and over 60, you’ll love it. But if you’re not, well, there’s always Die Hard.
Production Company(ies)
Film Four UK Film Council Darlow Smithson Productions,
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
South Fernwood Rd, Rockledge, Florida, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief language
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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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): Dec 18, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 3, 2011
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Hume Cronyn, Gwen Verdon, directed by Jerry Zaks, written by Scott McPherson, drama, PG-13, box office gross $12.8M, Miramax Films, reviewed by David Ansen, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Lisa Alspector, Eric Brace, Brian Tallerico, Emanuel Levy, Austin Kennedy, Cole Smithey, Boyd van Hoeij, Robert Roten, Jake Euker, dysfunctional family, bone marrow transplant, illness, family reunion, Florida, Ohio, cinematography, emotional, family bonds, love, sacrifice, nursing home, leukemia, bedridden father, mental institution, eccentricities, compatibility, cosmetology degree, life paths, personality, top critics, fresh, rotten, audience score, Tomatometer
Worldwide gross: $12,803,305
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,866,396
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,648
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,602,660
US/Canada gross: $12,803,305
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,866,396
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,353
US/Canada opening weekend: $57,739
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $107,630
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,907
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $23,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $42,873,860
Production budget ranking: 895
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $23,087,574
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$42,095,038
ROI to date (est.): -64%
ROI ranking: 1,769
Leonardo DiCaprio – Hank
Diane Keaton – Bessie
Robert De Niro – Dr. Wally
Hume Cronyn – Marvin
Gwen Verdon – Ruth
Director(s)
Jerry Zaks
Writer(s)
Scott McPherson
Producer(s)
Robert De Niro, Scott Rudin, Jane Rosenthal
Film Festivals
Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 13 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (8)
Zaks knows enough not to get in the way of his three superb stars, who put on a display of emotional fireworks that is lovely to behold.
March 2, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The performances are overwhelmed by cinematography so gorgeous and distracting it makes the drama seem like just so much wheel spinning.
February 8, 2010
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It’s all plinky-plink pianos and mewing oboes, trying to jerk those tears a little too hard. No, a lot too hard. The music is awful. Stupendously bad.
February 8, 2010
Eric Brace
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
March 24, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Tallerico
UGO
TOP CRITIC
Based on a play by Scott McPherson’s who died of AIDS, it’s impossible to watch the well-acted film (particularly Diane Keaton, who should get an Oscar nod) without thinking of its themees: the various approaches to love and the strength of family bonds
December 26, 2006 | Rating: B-
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Great work from Dicaprio, De Niro, and especially Streep certainly make the film watchable, but it still can’t save it from feeling like a TV movie of the week. If you’re a fan of melodrama… and over 60, then you’ll find much to like.
May 2, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Austin Kennedy
Film Geek Central
November 4, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
June 10, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net
May 3, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
March 9, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)
June 23, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Years ago, the fiercely independent Lee took off for Ohio, while her older sister Bessie stayed home to look after their bedridden father, Marvin. Lee has troubles of her own, including her mischievous son Hank, who has a knack for burning down the neighborhood when she’s not looking. Seventeen years since her last visit, and after an unexpected call from Bessie, Lee’s packs up Hank and his younger brother Charlie for the trip home.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
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