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Lolita

Play trailer Poster for Lolita Released Jun 13, 1962 2h 32m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
With a screenplay penned by the author himself, Stanley Kubrick brings Vladimir Nabokov's controversial tale of forbidden love to the screen. Humbert Humbert (James Mason) is a European professor who relocates to an American suburb, renting a room from lonely widow Charlotte Haze (Shelley Winters). Humbert marries Charlotte, but only to nurture his obsession with her comely teenage daughter, Lolita (Sue Lyon). After Charlotte's sudden death, Humbert has Lolita all to himself -- or does he?
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Lolita

Lolita

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Critics Consensus

Kubrick's Lolita adapts its seemingly unadaptable source material with a sly comedic touch and a sterling performance by James Mason that transforms the controversial novel into something refreshingly new without sacrificing its essential edge.

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Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety An occasionally amusing but shapeless film. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Where Nabokov was witty, Kubrick is sometimes merely snide, but fine performances (particularly from Peter Sellers, as the ominous Clare Quilty) cover most of the rough spots. May 8, 2007 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Far more satisfying than his later works (one hesitates to call them mere movies). Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Pauline Kael Partisan Review The surprise of Lolita is how enjoyable it is: it’s the first new American comedy since those great days in the 1940’s when Preston Sturges recreated comedy with verbal slapstick. Sep 11, 2023 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Essentially, Kubrick uses Nabokov’s story, and sexual fixation in general, for a meditation on people driven mad by what they can’t have. Rated: A Aug 30, 2022 Full Review Dwight MacDonald Esquire Magazine Lolita is a disappointment because we have a right to expect more from Kubrick (he may come through with his next, which I am told is to be a satirical treatment of the nuclear "defense" problem). May 6, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member sometimes books should stay books. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/25 Full Review D. Hunter P It was an interesting and different adaptation from the book. The beats are still there and the acting is very, I think, intentionally over the top. I do have to agree just a little that showing part of the end of the book at the beginning did ruin a little bit of the suspense. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/25 Full Review thiago s filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, o filme temmuito dialogo para porra nenhuma, erolou muito para nada, no final o maluco queria fugir com lolita e não consegui nada, o filme é praticamente doentio, o cara quer ficar com uma menor de idade, que porra é essa. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/24/24 Full Review Isa B I love this film! It kept my attention for its entire runtime. The story, the acting, the dark comedy. Brilliant! Lolita is a unique work of art. James Mason was marvelous. Petter Sellers delivers an outstanding performance as Clare Quilty. That man was so talented. He does so much with so little with his subtle, seemingly disinterested moves on the dance floor. Hilarious! Sue Lyon made a remarkable debut. She acted like a true veteran thespian. Stanley Kubrick made a great picture in Lolita. I highly recommend! 92/100 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/14/24 Full Review Mason M A very interesting study on infatuation, Lolita is a great early Stanley Kubrick film. I love Kubrick's 1950s films like Paths of Glory or The Killing, so I was very excited to watch Lolita, and it did not disappoint. Lolita beautifully and subtly tells its story, full of amazing performances, well done dialogue, and great writing, making this an enthralling watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Shioka O It's old and long but well-paced and still enjoyable. I watched the tragic 90s remake and this Kubrick version is much smarter and laughable. Desirable direction for satire. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis With a screenplay penned by the author himself, Stanley Kubrick brings Vladimir Nabokov's controversial tale of forbidden love to the screen. Humbert Humbert (James Mason) is a European professor who relocates to an American suburb, renting a room from lonely widow Charlotte Haze (Shelley Winters). Humbert marries Charlotte, but only to nurture his obsession with her comely teenage daughter, Lolita (Sue Lyon). After Charlotte's sudden death, Humbert has Lolita all to himself -- or does he?
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Producer
James B. Harris
Screenwriter
Vladimir Nabokov
Distributor
MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Criterion Collection, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Transwood, Seven Arts Productions, Harris-Kubrick Productions, Anya
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 13, 1962, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 31, 2008
Runtime
2h 32m
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