Life as a House
Seen it?2001 | 125 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Audiences rate it highly (7.1 out of 10), though it had middling reviews (47% on Rotten Tomatoes) and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 5 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect drug use.
- Critics were cooler on it than audiences.
When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
47% on Rotten Tomatoes, 45 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 1 Golden Globe and 2 SAG Awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$24 million worldwide on a $18 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 84K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Irwin Winkler
- Kevin KlineGeorge Monroe
- Hayden ChristensenSam Monroe
- Kristin Scott ThomasRobin Kimball
- Jena MaloneAlyssa Beck
- Mary SteenburgenColleen Beck
- Ian SomerhalderJosh
- Jamey SheridanPeter Kimball
- Scott BakulaOfficer Kurt Walker
- Sandra NelsonNurse
- Sam RobardsDavid Dokos