Adaptation

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2:23

Adaptation

R

Released Dec 6, 2002

1h 54m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

208 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage). While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), Kaufman's life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman, Orlean's book, become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the others'.

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Critics Consensus

Dizzyingly original, the loopy, multi-layered Adaptation is both funny and thought-provoking.

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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

There's no good reason why this should work-the picture is a schizzy, self-indulgent mess-but magically, it does.

Mar 16, 2020

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Adult stuff only but hilarious and fresh.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 2, 2010

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

In the wrong hands, the lunacy could have gotten out of control, but Jonze has near-perfect pitch. He never forces the farce, rooting even Kaufman's wildest digressions in real emotions.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

While not quite as absurd as Being John Malkovich had been, Adaptation was indeed plenty weird. (20th anniversary)

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2022

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

This is, essentially, a long demonstration of why not to give people more money for them to prove a point about how bigger-budget filmmaking is inherently an artistically self-defeating proposition.

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

This ceaselessly clever, brilliantly mind-bending film taps into the intangible spirit of Orlean's book by involving the viewer in Kaufman's painstaking translation to the screen.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 2, 2022

Full Review

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julie b

Clever and a very_Nicolas_Cage_movie. The meta of this is really fun, and the cast and performances are great, including a lovely Brian Cox cameo. Some of the scenes are laugh out loud good, like when he is manically writing or anything with Donald tbh, and the inner monologues are too real.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

Full Review

Ariel F

Incomparable brilliance from Kaufman. The originality of concept is bar-none and the self-deprecating humor rivals that of Woody Allan but darker. A brave film that cements him as an all time great. Secondarily, (and absurdly enough) the acting is absolutely fantastic. A bunch of A-listers taking pay-cuts to be a part of a magnum opus and we all came out winners for the efforts. One of Cage’s all time greatest efforts. Reminded me favorably of Sandlers performance in Punch Drunk Love. Kudos to Spike as well. Superlatives all around… 👏🏽

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/24

Full Review

Geke g

Cage is caged this film into the cage of tier 1 films

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Munkhchimeg T

Great cast and great story. Sooo excited while watching ✨

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Bahad j

I am very happy that the movie shows us the steps and choices that are necessary in the life of a great person. I like the movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Yannick L

The movie did what it set out to do but it comes off as a self indulgent “look at how different I am” motive. The movie is literally just Kaufman writing adaptation with some self degradation so it doesn’t come off entirely as a lazy ego stroking film with surface level substance. Writing a movie about your experience writing a movie isn’t genius it’s uninspired and lazy.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

Full Review

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Spike Jonze

Director

Nicolas Cage

Charlie Kaufman

Meryl Streep

Susan Orlean

Chris Cooper

John Laroche

Tilda Swinton

Valerie

Cara Seymour

Amelia Kavan

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Adaptation: Official Clip - You Are What You Love

2:08

Adaptation: Official Clip - Charlie Can't Adapt

1:51

Adaptation: Official Clip - Technology vs. Horse

2:03

Adaptation: Official Clip - Wasting McKee's Time

1:45

Adaptation: Official Clip - Sweating at the Meeting

2:03

Adaptation: Official Clip - The Deconstructionist

2:09

Adaptation: Official Clip - Donald's Script Pitch

2:04

Adaptation: Official Clip - Done with Fish

1:47

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Adaptation: Trailer 1

2:23

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Synopsis

Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage). While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), Kaufman's life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman, Orlean's book, become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the others'.

Director: Spike Jonze
Producer: Edward Saxon, Vincent Landay, Jonathan Demme
Screenwriter: Charlie Kaufman, Susan Orlean
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: InterMedia Film Equities Ltd., Clinica Estetico
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Some Drug Use|Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.2M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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