Human Nature

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Human Nature

R

2002

1h 36m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A philosophical burlesque, "Human Nature" follows the ups and downs of an obsessive scientist, a female naturalist, and the man they discover, born and raised in the wild. As scientist Nathan (Tim Robbins) trains the wild man (Rhys Ifans) in the ways of the world - starting with table manners - Nathan's lover Lila (Patricia Arquette) fights to preserve the man's simian past, which represents a freedom enviable to most.

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Critics Consensus

As quirky as Being John Malkovich but not as funny, Human Nature feels too forced and unengaging.

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

Tries for both civilized wit and primitive joy -- and mostly misses both.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 20, 2002

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Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

The simplicity with which it depicts these [animal] forces eternally at war with each other is sometimes sublimely evocative.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 26, 2002

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

For all its highfalutin title and corkscrew narrative, the movie turns out to be not much more than a shaggy human tale.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 26, 2002

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

Gondry works ridiculously hard to transform his helming debut into a cinematic playground of tricks and fantasy, which doesn't always mesh with Kaufman's self-conscious probing of damaged people.

Rated: C

Jul 11, 2021

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Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

I appreciate the fact that Human Nature tackles more subject matter than it can coherently explore in one movie. Ambition is good.

Feb 27, 2020

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Jeffrey Chen

Window to the Movies

[Kaufman and Gondry] dive right into the subject [of sex] to lay bare the pain of it, and to have us laugh at it.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 8, 2009

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thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/25

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Audience Member

COMPLETELY UNWATCHABLE. Wow, that anybody got anything out of this is mind-boggling. The story is silly. Ok, than is it funny?= NO{, I didn't even smirk through out. I have no idea what any of these reviewers watched b/c this makes a B movie like an Oscar contender. I like Kaufman, not enough to give him a pass on this drek. Won't be keeping for sure, and wasted my time watching it. No offense to Robbins or Arquette- I love them both, but this movie sucked ass.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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Munkhchimeg T

Good artistic movie. Giving many deep senses. Very good

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

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Bahad j

I really liked the characters and actions of the actors

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

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Lucy M

Judging by the horribly unfair and simply shallow "critic" reviews for this movie, some people need to rethink their expectations of cinema as an art form. Human Nature is utterly fantastic. I've watched it last many years ago, but it has left a permanent and welcome mark on the way I see the world. It might not be as flashy as something like "Poor Things", but I feel a lot of the same themes are present, and actually better developed in "Human Nature" than the recent Oscar winner. It's a definite worth-while watch, and it's as good (possibly better) as any other Charlie Kaufmann work.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/24

Full Review

Audience Member

It's quirky, wrestles with interesting ideas, but for some reason isn't quite as engaging as it needs to be. It's like it can't figure the right balance of tones; whether it wants to slapstick humour, or a biting satire, it can't seem to figure out its direction. But points to Gondry (as usual) for his stylized and imaginative direction.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/22

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Michel Gondry

Director

Tim Robbins

Nathan Bronfman

Patricia Arquette

Lila Jute

Rhys Ifans

Puff

Miranda Otto

Gabrielle

Robert Forster

Nathan's Father

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Synopsis

A philosophical burlesque, "Human Nature" follows the ups and downs of an obsessive scientist, a female naturalist, and the man they discover, born and raised in the wild. As scientist Nathan (Tim Robbins) trains the wild man (Rhys Ifans) in the ways of the world - starting with table manners - Nathan's lover Lila (Patricia Arquette) fights to preserve the man's simian past, which represents a freedom enviable to most.

Director: Michel Gondry
Producer: Anthony Bregman, Ted Hope, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman
Screenwriter: Charlie Kaufman
Distributor: Fine Line Features
Production Co: Beverly Detroit, Partizan, Studio Canal, Good Machine
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $695.9K
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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