Moonstruck (1987)
88%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: Won 3 Oscars
18 wins & 19 nominations total
Led by energetic performances from Nicolas Cage and Cher, Moonstruck is an exuberantly funny tribute to love and one of the decade’s most appealing comedies
Moonstruck is like a warm hug from your Italian grandmother, if you had one. It’s a romantic comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still manages to tug at your heartstrings. Cher and Nicolas Cage have great chemistry, and the supporting cast is just as delightful. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie that makes you want to eat pizza and sing opera? It’s a classic for a reason, and definitely worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1988
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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:1h 41m
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Language(s):English, Italian, Latin
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1987 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 1998
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello, Julie Bovasso, directed by Norman Jewison, written by John Patrick Shanley, comedy, romance, PG rating, box office gross $80.0M, reviewed by Joel Siegel, Anupama Chopra, Linda Deutsch, Candice Frederick, Chris Chase, Gene Siskel, Rene Jordan, Cory Woodroof, Philip French, Josh Larsen, Charlotte Harrison, Matt Brunson, family, love, Italian-American, Brooklyn, secret romance, marriage proposal, younger brother, accident, pursuit, moon, kitchen scene, exuberantly funny, appealing comedies, warm adult comedy, offbeat exploration, fidelity, human heart, perfect romantic comedies, cinematic chicken soup for the soul
Worldwide gross: $80,642,217
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,479,663
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 678
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 22,516,866
US/Canada gross: $80,640,528
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $206,475,339
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 332
US/Canada opening weekend: $127,599
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $326,710
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,515
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38,406,620
Production budget ranking: 988
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,681,965
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $147,391,079
ROI to date (est.): 249%
ROI ranking: 533
Nicolas Cage – Ronny Cammareri
Vincent Gardenia – Cosmo Castorini
Olympia Dukakis – Rose Castorini
Danny Aiello – Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Julie Bovasso – Rita Cappomaggi
Director(s)
Norman Jewison
Writer(s)
John Patrick Shanley
Producer(s)
Norman Jewison, Patrick J. Palmer
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
18 wins & 19 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (5)
Charmingly executed and hopeful, Moonstruck is a spun-sugar movie. It doesn’t nourish the mind, but for those who aren’t terribly demanding about their movie fare, it’s a sweet treat.
May 10, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Joel Siegel
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It’s wonderfully written and has just the right touch of sweeping romance that you need.
May 18, 2020
Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
TOP CRITIC
Here, at last, is the kind of warm adult comedy that often eludes Hollywood an offbeat exploration of family, fidelity and the foibles of the human heart.
January 29, 2019
Linda Deutsch
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
At times funny and clever, Moonstruck asks the questions: what does it mean to be in love? and is it ever okay to settle?
September 12, 2017 | Rating: B+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
This is a movie that makes you want to sing “Boheme” and walk in the moonlight and move to Brooklyn.
December 15, 2015 | Rating: 4/4
Chris Chase
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
You will not easily forget this incredibly robust family.
February 7, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Seems to me like a cold pizza badly reheated. [Full review in Spanish]
July 1, 2022
Rene Jordan
El Nuevo Herald (Miami)
*Leonardo DiCaprio jumps up and points at the screen when the big moon is out*
“That’s amore!”
June 15, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
Moonstruck is a constant delight. I’m unhappy about a certain narrative slickness, but there is real truth in its recognition of the way the light-headed and the heavy-hearted go hand in hand.
April 20, 2022
Philip French
Observer (UK)
A gem, in that theres really no other movie like it.
February 27, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
One of the most perfect romantic comedies there is. Cinematic chicken soup for the soul.
June 7, 2021
Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
While it leans a bit too heavily on the whimsy, Moonstruck is nevertheless a winning romantic comedy.
November 27, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy…
Plot
No sooner does Italian-American widow Loretta accept a marriage proposal from her doltish boyfriend, Johnny, then she finds herself falling for his younger brother, Ronny. She tries to resist, but Ronny lost his hand in an accident he blames on his brother, and has no scruples about aggressively pursuing her while Johnny is out of the country. As Loretta falls deeper in love, she comes to learn that she’s not the only one in her family with a secret romance.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Moonstruck.
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