Nobody’s Fool (1994)
88%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
5 wins & 10 nominations total
It’s solidly directed by Robert Benton and stacked with fine performances from an impressive cast, but above all, Nobody’s Fool is a showcase for some of Paul Newman’s best late-period work
Nobody’s Fool is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels. Paul Newman shines as the charming yet flawed Sully, and the supporting cast is just as delightful. It’s a heartwarming story about small-town life that doesn’t feel cheesy or overdone. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie where an old teddy bear is described as cuddly? If you’re in the mood for a feel-good movie that will leave you with a smile on your face, Nobody’s Fool is the perfect choice.
Production Company(ies)
Act III Communications, Buttercup Films Ltd., The Princess Bride Ltd.,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Beacon, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some language and nudity
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 50m
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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 23, 1994 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 4, 2013
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Paul Newman, Jessica Tandy, Melanie Griffith, Bruce Willis, Dylan Walsh, Pruitt Taylor Vince, directed by Robert Benton, written by Richard Russo, Robert Benton, drama, $38.3M box office, R rating, reviewed by Michael Sragow, Gene Siskel, Kenneth Turan, Caroline Westbrook, Jay Boyar, Jeff Shannon, Mal Vincent, Jonah Koslofsky, David Sterritt, Gary Thompson, Leah Rozen, Paul Newman’s best late-period work, father-son relationship, small-town life, odd-job carpentry, family dysfunction, heart condition, philandering, breast, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Judge, ensemble cast, adult responsibilities, showcase
Worldwide gross: $39,491,975
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $77,655,434
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,142
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,468,422
US/Canada gross: $39,491,975
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $77,655,434
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 871
US/Canada opening weekend: $92,838
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $182,553
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,700
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $39,327,197
Production budget ranking: 973
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $21,177,696
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $17,150,541
ROI to date (est.): 28%
ROI ranking: 1,249
Jessica Tandy – Miss Beryl
Melanie Griffith – Toby Roebuck
Bruce Willis – Carl Roebuck
Dylan Walsh – Peter
Pruitt Taylor Vince – Rub Squeers
Director(s)
Robert Benton
Writer(s)
Richard Russo, Robert Benton
Producer(s)
Scott Rudin, Arlene Donovan
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
5 wins & 10 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (5)
The movie is both a star vehicle and an ensemble piece; the other actors revolve around Newman yet give off more than just his reflected light.
October 29, 2013
Michael Sragow
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
We love to see our movie gods play flawed souls, especially a god with a face that looks like one on a Roman coin.
October 29, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Moviegoing holds few pleasures greater than watching an established star completely inhabit a role that exactly suits his personality and abilities. And seeing Paul Newman in Nobody’s Fool defines that pleasure.
October 29, 2013
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Nobody’s Fool is an unprecedented treat, populated with charming, believable characters and a parting shot so beautiful even the hardest of hearts will melt helplessly at its sight.
October 29, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Nobody’s Fool is funny at times and as cuddly as an old teddy bear. But this movie is being taken far too seriously in some circles.
October 29, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
While watching Robert Benton’s sublime adaptation of Richard Russo’s novel, it’s hard to avoid the realization that movies like this have become an endangered species.
October 29, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
Jeff Shannon
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately, it sends us a proud and entertaining message that we can express love for others.
February 25, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
The formula the film follows endears, because Newman is able to make Sully both charming and an enormous screw-up.
February 4, 2021
Jonah Koslofsky
The Spool
Robert Benton has made Nobody’s Fool, a return to the finely humanistic spirit that made his Places in the Heart and Kramer vs. Kramer’ so popular.
October 29, 2013
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor
Director Robert Benton captures the droll eccentricity of small-town life without any of the usual phony preciousness.
October 29, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News
Over time, the rhythms of small-town life and the eccentricities of its residents can grow on you. That’s exactly what happens as you watch this sharply observant movie.
October 29, 2013
Leah Rozen
People Magazine
An old hand at this kind of heart-warming fare, Benton doesn’t swamp it with sentimentality, allowing the crumpled charisma of Newman to effortlessly carry the drama.
October 29, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
John Ferguson
Radio Times…
Plot
Sully is a rascally ne’er-do-well approaching retirement age. While he is pressing a worker’s compensation suit for a bad knee, he secretly works for his nemesis Carl, and flirts with Carl’s young wife Toby. Sully’s long-forgotten son and his family have moved back to town, so Sully faces unfamiliar family responsibilities. Meanwhile, Sully’s landlady’s banker son plots to push through a new development and evict Sully from his mother’s life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Nobody’s Fool on Fresh Kernels.
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