Shattered Glass (2003)
87%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 11 wins & 28 nominations
A compelling look at Stephen Glass’ fall from grace
Shattered Glass is a film that will make you question everything you thought you knew about journalism. With a cast of talented actors, including a career-best performance from Hayden Christensen, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. And if you’re like Jessica Winter, you might even watch it twice in a row and listen to the DVD commentary instead of doing anything else with your life. But be warned, this film is not for the faint of heart. As Todd McCarthy notes, it’s best for older teens. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to have your mind blown.
Production Company(ies)
Tokuma Japan Communications, Studio Ghibli, Nibariki
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Montréal, Québec, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for language, sexual references and brief drug use
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States, Canada
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Shattered Glass, drama, PG-13, 1h 35m, directed by Billy Ray, written by Billy Ray, produced by Craig Baumgarten, Adam Merims, Gaye Hirsch, Tove Christensen, starring Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Melanie Lynskey, Steve Zahn, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Antonia Quirke, Todd McCarthy, Nell Minow, David Ansen, Jessica Winter,
Worldwide gross: $2,944,752
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,773,065
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,190
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 520,509
US/Canada gross: $2,220,008
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,598,348
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,897
US/Canada opening weekend: $77,540
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $125,682
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,852
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $9,725,230
Production budget ranking: 1,688
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,237,037
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$10,189,202
ROI to date (est.): -68%
ROI ranking: 1,794
Peter Sarsgaard – Chuck Lane
Chloë Sevigny – Caitlin Avey
Rosario Dawson – Andie Fox
Melanie Lynskey – Amy Brand
Steve Zahn – Adam Penenberg
Director(s)
Billy Ray
Writer(s)
Billy Ray
Producer(s)
Craig Baumgarten, Adam Merims, Gaye Hirsch, Tove Christensen
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
11 wins & 28 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (167) | Top Critics (54) | Fresh (154) | Rotten (13)
What Billy Ray’s confident debut lacks in situational dramatics…it more than makes up for in the central performance of young Hayden Christensen…
March 16, 2020
Joshua Rothkopf
In These Times
TOP CRITIC
Being a film about fibs, it is desperate not to tell any. Big mistake.
December 14, 2017
Antonia Quirke
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Ray propels the lamentable tale along at a brisk clip, is clear in his storytelling and mercifully avoids moralizing or self-congratulation.
April 27, 2011
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Journalistic scandal story best for older teens.
December 28, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Writer-director Ray has a no-fuss style that is quietly, thoroughly gripping.
November 1, 2007
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
[An] adept, often incisively funny recounting of the Glass debacle…
February 9, 2006
Jessica Winter
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
I did watch it at least twice in a row and then listen to the dvd commentary instead of doing literally anything else with my life…
November 10, 2020
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
Hayden Christensen and Peter Sarsgaard in the two main roles turn in career-best performances as their respective characters’ descent/ascent is so cleverly played out.
June 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Just as I was starting to wonder not only if I did really like Steve that much but also if it were possible that I was not even meant to, a story of his is challenged.
February 1, 2018
Mark Amory
The Spectator
It’s intriguing stuff that’s heightened by the efforts of a seriously impressive supporting cast…
November 27, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Using unexpectedly suspenseful character drama, “Shattered Glass” elevates itself to the upper echelon of journalism films. Unless there’s ever a 24 famous enough to warrant biopic treatment, this will likely be Christensen’s only great performance.
October 1, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
Perhaps the best exploration of American journalism this past decade has seen.
September 7, 2010 | Rating: A
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)…
Plot
This film tells the true story of fraudulent Washington, D.C. journalist Stephen Glass (Christensen), who rose to meteoric heights as a young writer in his 20s, becoming a staff writer at “The New Republic” for three years (1995-1998), where 27 of his 41 published stories were either partially or completely made up. Looking for a short cut to fame, Glass concocted sources, quotes and even entire stories, but his deception did not go unnoticed forever, and eventually, his world came crumbling down…
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a young Hayden Christensen in the lead role, before his infamous turn as Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels.
Billy-Ray.jpg
