Secret Window | Rotten Tomatoes

Secret Window

PG-13

Released Mar 12, 2004

1 hr. 35 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

45%

161 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

While in the process of an ugly divorce from his wife (Maria Bello), writer Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) relocates to his remote cabin in upstate New York for solitude. Attempting to recover his mental health, Rainey has the misfortune of being found by John Shooter (John Turturro), a farmer who claims Rainey plagiarized his work. At first, Rainey ignores the accusations, but Shooter has no intention of quietly disappearing. Soon, Shooter becomes increasingly vicious in his quest for retribution.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 16

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Secret Window on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Depp is quirkily entertaining, but the movie runs out of steam by the end.

Read Critics Reviews

Grace H

Hm. this movie feels scraped together

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Sarah D

Not sure why critics were so brutal regarding this film. Granted it's not the best but, entertaining and we were certainly surprised by the ending. Don't let the reviews dissuade you. I believe most people won't feel cheated out of time by watching this movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/29/23

Full Review

Alex C

I'm bored and I can't finish watching this movie. Give me something interesting to WATCH.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/23

Full Review

David N

Frustrating to watch because Depp's character keeps doing dumb things. Leaves the blinds open with a murderer outside. Leaves the door unlocked. Doesn't arm himself. Doesn't insist on the local police finding a Mississippi license plate. Then you find out why at the end. But by then, you probably figured it out, so the twist isn't much of a twist.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/14/23

Full Review

Burner M

Please be carful reading this review if you intend to watch this movie. I will have a spoiler section clearly marked. Spoiler free section: This movie lacked so much. Might be one of the worst books by King and to make a movie with such a large budget based on it is absurd. The best part of the movie was by far the acting. Johnny Depp did as best he could with such a poorly written character and the supporting cast did the same. But the plot is bland and obvious. This plot is one seen time and time again in cinema and provides no substance for its viewers. Viewers will make a simple guess of where the plot with in a few minutes and will be correct. Spoilers below: If you actually read in your highschool English class or are even loosely acquainted with the plot of The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde like most adult Americans, you will see this movie for what it is, a modern day rip off. Full of plot holes, direct plagiarism, and blatantly obvious foreshadowing that even annoy a child. This movie gives it self away from the start. I was second away from turning it off repeatedly. If you are looking for a psychological thriller, one that will leave you guessing again and again, analyzing every scene, every frame, this movie will sorely disappoint. Instead you will be sitting back, annoyed with the bland plot and knowing exactly what is coming next.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/06/23

Full Review

Tom M

The movie's conventional phsycho twist is almost salvaged by a second twist near the end. But the film should have stuck with keeping John Turturro to the end, as his chemistry with Johnny Depp fueled the movie's noir thriller fire.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

David Koepp

Director

Johnny Depp

Mort Rainey

John Turturro

John Shooter

Maria Bello

Amy Rainey

Timothy Hutton

Ted Milner

Charles S. Dutton

Ken Karsch

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

95%

93%

Hundreds of Beavers

TRAILER

for Hundreds of Beavers

80%

30%

The Stranger

TRAILER

for The Stranger

50%

93%

The Stolen Valley

TRAILER

for The Stolen Valley

93%

95%

Dune: Part Two

TRAILER

for Dune: Part Two

71%

60%

Immaculate

TRAILER

for Immaculate

82%

75%

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

TRAILER

for In the Land of Saints and Sinners

67%

89%

Sweet Dreams

TRAILER

for Sweet Dreams

56%

88%

DogMan

TRAILER

for DogMan

%

%

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

TRAILER

for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

%

33%

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critical Consensus: "Dead Man’s Chest" Is Overstuffed; "Scanner" Shines Darkly

Weinsteins To Present Estevez’s "Bobby"

Spielberg Puts Koepp to Work on "Indy 4"

View more photos

Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Actually, there isn't much of a movie here at all. But there is always Depp... By far the director David Koepp's best decision was to indulge in a riveted idolatry of his star.

Dec 15, 2017

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

It all feels recycled and re-recycled.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

Depp's ... wonderfully frazzled portrait of seething resentment almost makes this minor thriller seem fresh.

May 4, 2005

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

The Dispatch (Lexington, NC)

A delightfully twisted piece of cinematic fluff.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 5, 2019

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Johnny Depp is the saving grace of a sub-par, often boring mystery film with a spirited performance.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

While in the process of an ugly divorce from his wife (Maria Bello), writer Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp) relocates to his remote cabin in upstate New York for solitude. Attempting to recover his mental health, Rainey has the misfortune of being found by John Shooter (John Turturro), a farmer who claims Rainey plagiarized his work. At first, Rainey ignores the accusations, but Shooter has no intention of quietly disappearing. Soon, Shooter becomes increasingly vicious in his quest for retribution.

Director: David Koepp
Screenwriter: Stephen King, David Koepp
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, Pariah Entertainment Group, Grand Slam Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Violence/Terror)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 12, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.8M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now