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Where the Heart Is

Play trailer 2:24 Poster for Where the Heart Is PG-13 Released Apr 28, 2000 2h 0m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
35% Tomatometer 98 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
After Tennessee teen Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) is left literally barefoot and pregnant in a Wal-Mart parking lot by her no-good boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno), she manages to live within the mammoth megastore until her baby's abrupt arrival makes her a media darling. After this, Good Samaritan nurse Lexie (Ashley Judd) takes in Novalee and her newborn daughter. Before long, Lexie and Novalee form a life-changing bond of friendship and sisterhood.
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Where the Heart Is

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Critics Consensus

Poor script and messy plot undermines the decent cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: F Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media A chick flick that's as yummy as eating bon-bons. Rated: 3/5 Dec 29, 2010 Full Review Rick Groen Globe and Mail Not possessing much in the way of a character arc, saints are boring to watch and impossible to act. Rated: 2/4 Apr 25, 2003 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 2/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Betsy Bozdech Reel.com Predictable, schmaltzy, and knock-you-over-the-head obvious in its attempts to be endearingly offbeat. Rated: 2/4 Sep 1, 2006 Full Review Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Rated: B Jul 24, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member 25 years later and I feel like this is a heavily overlooked feature Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd co-star in a drama based on the book by Billie Letts by director Matt Williams Portman plays Novalee, she’s a young Tennessee girl traveling with her boyfriend But after stopping at a Walmart he straight up abandons her; she has no job, no money, no transportation, and is pregnant A local librarian Forney then helps her go into labor one stormy night and Novalee becomes a news sensation After a stint with her estranged mother Novalee is forced to start a new life for herself Yet she finds kindness from many people including Lexie, a mother of several other children and neighbor Thelma Novalee is able to grow and heal with her new daughter This is very good even though many critics were mixed on it It’s kinda fascinating how Joan Cusack plays a double role here It’s pretty heart touching as well Natalie Portman's a good role here being a woman seemingly on verge of being alone and helpless She also has this fear of the number 5 being unlucky ever since her mom abandoned her Forney tells her she doesn’t deserve all these bad things though Ashley Judd is a terrific co-star though has not enough screen time and the film does drag a bit in the middle But it shows how one woman can find a new beginning, after all home is where the heart is and where your history begins, it’s also where someone catches you when you fall, you don’t have to hold onto your old life forever, it’s always possible to start fresh, we’ve got meanness in us but also goodness, the only thing worth living for is the good that’s why we have to pass it on, our lives can change with every breath we take, why does anyone lie? It’s more than a typical chick flick as it’s carried by some terrific performances with likable characters with an examination of the human spirit of peace/serenity through love, loss, taking an inspiring journey through the heart, and the greater need for view of modern community We can still be blessed with friends who help pick up the pieces of our lives Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/25 Full Review Jason M D I for one love this movie it is very good the cast was good the story was good Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Allexius W I love this movie 🥰 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Lizzie E I was surpisingly impressed by this movie. It dives into the concept of found family, and that won me over. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/01/24 Full Review Audience Member I read the book before seeing the movie, I thought it was a good rendition of the book without many differences. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/24/24 Full Review Sofia P One of my favourite movies growing up. I know it's not a masterpiece, but I have loved Natalie Portman unconditionnally ever since. Call it imprinting. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Where the Heart Is

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Movie Info

Synopsis After Tennessee teen Novalee Nation (Natalie Portman) is left literally barefoot and pregnant in a Wal-Mart parking lot by her no-good boyfriend, Willy Jack Pickens (Dylan Bruno), she manages to live within the mammoth megastore until her baby's abrupt arrival makes her a media darling. After this, Good Samaritan nurse Lexie (Ashley Judd) takes in Novalee and her newborn daughter. Before long, Lexie and Novalee form a life-changing bond of friendship and sisterhood.
Director
Matt Williams
Producer
Susan Cartsonis, Carmen Finestra, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher, Matt Williams
Screenwriter
Billie Letts, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Wind Dancer Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 28, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$33.8M
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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