Michael

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Michael

PG

1996

1h 45m

Drama

Fantasy

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

37%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When jaded journalists Frank (William Hurt) and Huey (Robert Pastorelli), along with angel expert Dorothy (Andie MacDowell), travel to a small town in Iowa to investigate a story, they find Michael (John Travolta), a disheveled man claiming to be an angel. But Michael is less than angelic: he drinks, smokes and basks in the attention of women. As the group travels to Chicago, Michael teaches them about relationships, faith and miracles, suggesting that he may be exactly whom he says he is.

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Critics Consensus

John Travolta plays an angel in Nora Ephron's maudlin Michael, a grating comedy that doesn't tap into the heavenly charms of her best work.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

12/07/2018

I feared that Nora Ephron's angel movie, Michael, would offer another heap of predigested uplift but was pleasantly surprised to find something quirkier and more off-center.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

12/27/2006

C-

Travolta's charismatic presence is the only positive element in Nora Ephron's flawed romantic fable marred by rough narrative spots and scattered direction, again showing that Ephron lacks the most basic technical skills.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

08/20/2003

3/5

Some moments as lovely as the smell of cookies, especially the dance number.

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Apr 10

D

No magic here; just John Travolta with dirty angel wings looking silly in a ridiculously inept story.

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Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

07/28/2022

4/5

Director Nora Ephron knows her way around feel-good.

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

09/23/2020

2/4

An unfocused mess that, despite a few highlights, is one of Ephron's weakest films.

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Cfunk D

@Cfunk2085 Mar 2

Silly movie thst goes nowhere. It's pretty dumb. Not worth watching more than once

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Shilo Y

@Shilo 01/09/2025

John Travolta (Michael) did a great job making me laugh on that car trip🤣… But that all changed when the dog gotten run over by a truck and Michael was able to Bring it back to life❤️‍🩹. At the end everyone found peace.🥹

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Kim P

@RT98672688 01/01/2025

Wow! I really don't understand all the hate for this little "feel good movie". It's lightweight, enjoyable fare with (at the very least) some memorable dancing to classic songs. Like a cinematic version of a funnel cake or caramel apple or corn dog. Not EVERY movie is supposed to "nourish" you...some are just meant to be fun. One of my favorite guilty pleasures.

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John D

@RT10671571 12/28/2024

I watched this movie just after it first came out, then again ten years later, and then again. The fallen angel, Michael, is still charming and more memorable with the passage of time. My wife and i find ourselves remembering and joking about the bar room scenes and Michael's irresistible smell" years later. Still a great way to pass the time and feel good for having done so, even at the age of 75.

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CM C

@RT85703481 06/15/2024

This movie may not be intellectually stimulating, but it is certainly feel-good. And, there are gentle wee lessons taught along the way. Good cast, and good music included. Definitely a good choice for a rainy Saturday afternoon....

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BradLee B

@RT67025210 09/16/2023

This movie was so beautiful!! A creative and inspiring masterpiece that I think would be great for family movie night!! Seriously AMAZING!!🤩

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Nora Ephron

Director

John Travolta

Michael

Andie MacDowell

Dorothy Winters

William Hurt

Frank Quinlan

Bob Hoskins

Vartan Malt

Robert Pastorelli

Huey Driscoll

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Synopsis

When jaded journalists Frank (William Hurt) and Huey (Robert Pastorelli), along with angel expert Dorothy (Andie MacDowell), travel to a small town in Iowa to investigate a story, they find Michael (John Travolta), a disheveled man claiming to be an angel. But Michael is less than angelic: he drinks, smokes and basks in the attention of women. As the group travels to Chicago, Michael teaches them about relationships, faith and miracles, suggesting that he may be exactly whom he says he is.

Director: Nora Ephron
Producer: James Jacks, Nora Ephron, Sean Daniel
Screenwriter: Peter Dexter, Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron, Jim Quinlan
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Alphaville Films, Turner Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $95.3M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround