Mother

Play trailer

2:22

Mother

PG-13

1996

1h 44m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A writer believes the key to solving his many troubles with the opposite sex can be found by retracing the steps of his youth. Science-fiction scribe John Henderson (Albert Brooks) can't find a solid relationship, so he moves back in with his mother, Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds). John means well, and he seems to genuinely believe that a better understanding of his mom will lead to dating success. But when they begin to bicker, both start rethinking the arrangement.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Albert Brooks' pugnacious insight is in fine form throughout Mother, a gentle showcase for the comedic curmudgeon and a sweetly acidic Debbie Reynolds.

Read Critics Reviews

Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

08/27/2024

The film is a loving yet obsessive parody of the generational stereotypes that stand between the Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation.

Go to Full Review

Richard Brody

The New Yorker

09/14/2020

Reynolds's exquisitely calibrated, mercurially comedic performance reveals the stifled passions that inform a lifetime of rigidly refined habits.

Go to Full Review

David Edelstein

Slate

06/05/2020

Brooks' minimalism can be amazingly jampacked, but Mother is perilously slack.

Go to Full Review

Joshua Ryan

FandomWire

10/01/2024

7/10

There’s nothing groundbreaking about the structure or ideas presented here; however, the film succeeds on the shoulders of Brooks’ charm and charisma.

Go to Full Review

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

03/25/2024

8.5/10

Like Brooks’ best work, there’s an aura of comfort and familiarity, of warmth amidst the neuroses, with a self-effacing acidity underneath.

Go to Full Review

Dave Giannini

InSession Film

02/20/2024

In some ways, Mother is the most frustrating kind of movie. It has a decent hook, and you can see what Brooks is going for. But it definitely never comes close to earning its way through that premise.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

M F

@RT86557815 Nov 11

Calm, feel good movie. Decent storyline and nice scenery.

See more

Leanne M

@Diaminds Aug 22

One of my favourite movies although he can appear a bit mean to “mother” at times. Some hilarious moments and parts of it are very relatable.

See more

randumb2020 T

@RT60863052 Aug 12

I love this movie I never saw it when it first came out back in the day but just happened upon it and it is a sweet funny gem of a movie Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds have wonderful mother-son chemistry.

See more

Mason M

@RT73597940 09/07/2024

Definitely not Brooks's best, but still a fun watch and again proving his talent at writing endings

See more

12/18/2020

Funny and poignant. Recommended for anyone who has or has had a mother. The negative reviewers obviously have mommy issues.

See more

steve d

@RT35616104 07/07/2020

I thought it was far nastier than funny.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Albert Brooks

Director

Albert Brooks

John Henderson

Debbie Reynolds

Beatrice Henderson

Rob Morrow

Jeff Henderson

Lisa Kudrow

Linda

John C. McGinley

Carl

Mother: Official Clip - Sweet Tooth

1:37

Mother: Official Clip - Oedipus Complex

2:00

Mother: Official Clip - Does That Look a Little Green to You?

2:03

Mother: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Move Back in With Mother

1:45

Mother: Official Clip - We Know Why She Hates Me

1:54

Mother: Official Clip - A Trip to the Mall

1:59

Mother: Official Clip - Follow Me

1:45

Mother: Official Clip - Shopping

1:40

Mother: Official Clip - That's a Lot of Cheese

1:43

Mother: Official Clip - Mrs. Henderson

1:59

View more videos

The School of Rock

92%

64%

The School of Rock

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The School of Rock

Tommy Boy

40%

90%

Tommy Boy

Watchlist

Zoolander

64%

80%

Zoolander

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Zoolander

Black Sheep

29%

70%

Black Sheep

Watchlist

The Brady Bunch Movie

63%

47%

The Brady Bunch Movie

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Brady Bunch Movie

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New Certified Fresh Movies and TV on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Mother: Trailer 1

2:22

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

A writer believes the key to solving his many troubles with the opposite sex can be found by retracing the steps of his youth. Science-fiction scribe John Henderson (Albert Brooks) can't find a solid relationship, so he moves back in with his mother, Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds). John means well, and he seems to genuinely believe that a better understanding of his mom will lead to dating success. But when they begin to bicker, both start rethinking the arrangement.

Director: Albert Brooks
Producer: Herb Nanas, Scott Rudin
Screenwriter: Albert Brooks
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now