August: Osage County | Rotten Tomatoes

August: Osage County

R

Released Jan 10, 2014

1 hr. 59 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

66%

208 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The death and funeral of their father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet (Meryl Streep), an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) -- along with their significant others and various other kin -- take the full brunt of their dysfunctional matriarch's venom, for Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them. Based on the play by Tracy Letts.

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Critics Consensus

The sheer amount of acting going on in August: Osage County threatens to overwhelm, but when the actors involved are as talented as Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, it's difficult to complain.

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Audience Member

In August Osage County family holds you up yet at the same time it tears you down Based on the stage play of the same name by Tracy Letts featuring a bonafide cast; Meryl Streep, Sam Shepard, Chris Cooper, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, and Juliette Lewis The matriarch is Violet Weston, her husband has died and the rest of her relatives come down to her house in Oklahoma to grieve and figure out what to do next But Violet is about as stubborn as a mule speaking her mind and in the process revealing dark secrets while suffering from a sickness The acting is spectacular and the melodrama is very effective Director John Wells gives these characters so many relatable problems I actually did buy them as real people Anyone whoever has a family this large with complicated dilemmas can relate a lot to the family dynamics and the dysfunctional relationships A lot of this is very character-driven and the performances are what really carries this Everything revolves around the destructive force of addiction, the danger of anger, the hurt of betrayal, and the pain caused by keeping secrets Even 10 years later this is a superbly acted piece of work by amazing players caught in a tangled mess of entanglements on the verge of falling over the edge It's hard to look away from an emotional train wreck such as this

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

Full Review

Mike P

Searing southern gothic melodrama about a severely disfuctional family; and the abusive matriarch who oversees it; coming back together on the occasion of the death of the patriarch. This is very Long Days Journey Into Night. Adapted from the (much longer) hit play; and highlighted by brilliant performances by Streep, Nicholson and Julia Roberts.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/23

Full Review

Isla P

Just when I already knew that Meryl Streep was the best actress of all time, I realize she's simply more unbeatable than I thought. This movie was pretty good. I liked the realism of the dysfunctional family we can all relate to, even if a little. But it's Meryl Streep's performance that makes this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/07/23

Full Review

Steve M

What a story line, a dysfunctional family with a capital D. As the arguing goes on, we learn more and more about each character till the last twist in the story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/27/23

Full Review

Harri K

The full arc is perhaps too melodramatic in its presentation of things but the writing is brilliant in the details and in philosophical notions embedded throughout. I love how the film shows how conflicts often have clear and direct but not obvious repercussions. Chemistry between characters is wonderful. Solid direction and beautiful camera work.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/17/23

Full Review

Sean M

The acting was superb in this movie. The story line and plot are basic, but I would recommend simply due to the amazing performances.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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John Wells

Director

Meryl Streep

Violet Weston

Julia Roberts

Barbara Weston

Ewan McGregor

Bill Fordham

Chris Cooper

Charles Aiken

Abigail Breslin

Jean Fordham

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Lisa Knisely

Bitch Media

August: Osage County is about morally flawed, sometimes cruel, and often unlikable women. And that's what makes August: Osage County good.

Jan 20, 2021

Full Review

Thelma Adams

Yahoo! Movies

Nothing makes you feel better about your dysfunctional family at the holidays than watching a messed-up clan unravel on screen, only armed with better zingers and prettier faces. That describes this adaptation of Tracy Letts's star-studded drama.

Rated: 3.4

Sep 12, 2014

Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

The film's director, John Wells... is never able to escape from the theatrical origins of this over-heated drama, though lovers of the Edward Albee style of marital confrontation will doubtless revel in the melodrama

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 6, 2014

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

There is a lot of acting going on in August: Osage County and that's fine.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

I was put off by these characters, their endless dysfunction, and their profane spite. This was a tiresome watch and tough movie to endure. It’s a shame because with this much talent I was expecting more.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

In the realm of performance-driven plays on film, August: Osage County is vital, if over-the-top, and heightened by its star-studded appeal.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

The death and funeral of their father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet (Meryl Streep), an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) -- along with their significant others and various other kin -- take the full brunt of their dysfunctional matriarch's venom, for Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them. Based on the play by Tracy Letts.

Director: John Wells
Executive Producer: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Ron Burkle, Claire Rudnick Polstein, Celia D. Costas, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein
Screenwriter: Tracy Letts
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Battle Mountain Films, The Weinstein Company, Smoke House, Jean Doumanian Productions, Grey Hour Production Services
Rating: R (Language|Drug Material|Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 10, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.7M
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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