Pleasantville
Seen it?1998 | 124 min | Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It collected a shelf of major awards, it earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and fantasy fans. If you loved Harvey or Mary Poppins, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone, mind-bending.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 4 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Supporting Actress. Won 1 PGA Award: Producers Guild of America Awards: Best Original Score. Also nominated for 3 Oscars, 1 more Critics' Choice Award and 1 DGA Award. Plus 16 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$60 million worldwide on a $60 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 296K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
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Mary Poppins
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed comedy.
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Sunday Safe BetAnother comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Twitches
Weeknight WatchAnother dramedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green Weeknight WatchAnother fantasy film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Gary Ross
- Tobey MaguireDavid
- Reese WitherspoonJennifer
- William H. MacyGeorge Parker
- Joan AllenBetty Parker
- Jeff DanielsMr. Johnson
- J.T. WalshBig Bob
- Paul WalkerSkip
- Don KnottsTV Repairman
- Marley SheltonMargaret Henderson
- Jane KaczmarekDavid's Mom