Les Miserables

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Les Miserables

PG-13

Released May 1, 1998

2h 11m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

75%

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44 Reviews

83%

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25,000+ Ratings

After serving a lengthy prison sentence, Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson) turns his life around after an act of kindness opens his eyes, becoming a beloved mayor of a French town. A policeman, Javert (Geoffrey Rush), who was a prison guard when Valjean was locked up, has a vendetta against him and tries to denounce him as a criminal despite a lack of evidence. Spanning several decades, the story of Javert and Valjean's rivalry is set against the backdrop of post-Revolution French society.

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Critics Consensus

This intelligent, handsomely crafted adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel condenses the story's developments without blunting its emotional impact.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Without a doubt the most emotionally powerful and handsomely mounted production of the story yet.

Mar 26, 2009

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 24, 2002

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Rarely does the quality rise to feel particularly striking or transcendent, but to criticise that too much would be to punish the film for simply being really quite good instead of exceptional.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 23, 2021

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Neeson's is an outstanding, memorable Jean Valjean who does a mighty job of anchoring this film and keeping its drama earthy and humane.

Rated: 6/10

Jan 27, 2013

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David Poland

Movie City News

I feel like saying I hate this movie. I really don't. I was just bored out of my mind by its lack of anything real.

Dec 6, 2012

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Drew B

The 2012 film was not an improvement on this one imo. Much better. The scene between the lead chracter and the priest gets me every time. Literally a near perfect movie. There was no reason to create another imo.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Christopher W

Unbelievably powerful story! Every time it pops up as movie option, my wife and I both think "powerful." And compared with the 2012 musical Les mis, without the requirements of a musical score and rhyming, the story is better able to shine through.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/07/24

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SF D

I am speechless, it's a must see

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/24

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Lanfranco C

A good Summary of a great Novel.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

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Jelisije J

An adaption that focuses on the main character of the book adaption rather than the french revolution (which is basically ignored).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/23

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Audience Member

Remains truly unrivaled as the strongest film adaptation of the acclaimed French book. The screenwriter and director balance the strengths of the story with the medium of cinema wonderfully.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Bille August

Director

Liam Neeson

Valjean

Geoffrey Rush

Javert

Uma Thurman

Fantine

Claire Danes

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Hans Matheson

Marius

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Les Miserables: Trailer 1

2:27

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Synopsis

After serving a lengthy prison sentence, Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson) turns his life around after an act of kindness opens his eyes, becoming a beloved mayor of a French town. A policeman, Javert (Geoffrey Rush), who was a prison guard when Valjean was locked up, has a vendetta against him and tries to denounce him as a criminal despite a lack of evidence. Spanning several decades, the story of Javert and Valjean's rivalry is set against the backdrop of post-Revolution French society.

Director: Bille August
Producer: Sarah Radclyffe, James Gorman, Caroline Hewitt
Screenwriter: Rafael Yglesias
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Mandalay Entertainment, TriStar Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.9M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround

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