Where the Heart Is | Rotten Tomatoes

Where the Heart Is

PG-13

Released Apr 28, 2000

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

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Where the Heart Is: Trailer 1

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35%

Tomatometer

98 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

50,000+ Ratings

After Tennessee teen Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) is left literally barefoot and pregnant in a Wal-Mart parking lot by her no-good boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno), she manages to live within the mammoth megastore until her baby's abrupt arrival makes her a media darling. After this, Good Samaritan nurse Lexie (Ashley Judd) takes in Novalee and her newborn daughter. Before long, Lexie and Novalee form a life-changing bond of friendship and sisterhood.

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Critics Consensus

Poor script and messy plot undermines the decent cast.

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: F

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

A chick flick that's as yummy as eating bon-bons.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Not possessing much in the way of a character arc, saints are boring to watch and impossible to act.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 25, 2003

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 2/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Betsy Bozdech

Reel.com

Predictable, schmaltzy, and knock-you-over-the-head obvious in its attempts to be endearingly offbeat.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 1, 2006

Full Review

Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Rated: B

Jul 24, 2006

Full Review

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Audience Member

I read the book before seeing the movie, I thought it was a good rendition of the book without many differences.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/24

Full Review

Sofia P

One of my favourite movies growing up. I know it's not a masterpiece, but I have loved Natalie Portman unconditionnally ever since. Call it imprinting.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

Loreto Es. T

I saw a critic's review that the plot is messy. Listen, Honey, that's just the way life is — messy and full of surprises. You can't sanitize it like a clearly plotted hero's journey. Love the "messiness" of the plot. The one clear thread, though, when seeds of kindness are planted in the lives of people, their lives change in the most unexpected ways. In the end, LIFE (Love in Full Expression — thanks, Suzanne Giesemann, for this useful acronym) wins.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/23

Full Review

Andrea L

This movie has heart and stands the test of time. 23 years later, it still resonates. Still watchable and sweet. Recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/27/23

Full Review

sariah j

I signed up for a Rotten Tomatoes account just to write a review for this movie. I'm an avid movie watcher, and appreciate all genres. I am not usually squeamish. However this movie disgusted me so much. The part where Ashley Judd's character walks in on her young children being molested by her new boyfriend is FOUL! There are just some lines that human beings shouldn't cross. This is a prime example. I turned it off. Shame on the production company for allowing something like this to be portrayed on screen!! Hard pass

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

All time fav movie if you have the time sit down and watch it very much worth you're time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Matt Williams

Director

Natalie Portman

Novalee Nation

Ashley Judd

Lexie Coop

Stockard Channing

Thelma 'Sister' Husband

Joan Cusack

Ruth Meyers

James Frain

Forney Hall

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63%

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Anywhere but Here

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28 Days

24%

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Practical Magic

31%

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Home Fries

84%

73%

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Where the Heart Is: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After Tennessee teen Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) is left literally barefoot and pregnant in a Wal-Mart parking lot by her no-good boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno), she manages to live within the mammoth megastore until her baby's abrupt arrival makes her a media darling. After this, Good Samaritan nurse Lexie (Ashley Judd) takes in Novalee and her newborn daughter. Before long, Lexie and Novalee form a life-changing bond of friendship and sisterhood.

Director: Matt Williams
Producer: Susan Cartsonis, Carmen Finestra, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher, Matt Williams
Screenwriter: Billie Letts, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Wind Dancer Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.8M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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