Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Adaptation

Play trailer 2:23 Poster for Adaptation R 2002 1h 54m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
90% Tomatometer 209 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, and her book, become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the others'.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Adaptation

Adaptation

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Joshua Rothkopf In These Times 03/16/2020
There's no good reason why this should work-the picture is a schizzy, self-indulgent mess-but magically, it does. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media 09/02/2010
5/5
Adult stuff only but hilarious and fresh. Go to Full Review David Ansen Newsweek 07/06/2010
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. Go to Full Review Charlotte Simmons The Treatment (Substack) Jan 31
Kaufman’s experience is not for me, just as my experience is not for anybody else, just as the experience that Charlie commits to at the outset of Adaptation is not for him. Go to Full Review Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine 12/13/2022
4/5
While not quite as absurd as Being John Malkovich had been, Adaptation was indeed plenty weird. (20th anniversary) Go to Full Review Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine 11/29/2022
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Keith C. @presto1989 May 4 One of the worst movies I have ever seen. I almost had to take my wifes movie renting privileges. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 1 Funny in 1 hour and 54 minutes. See more Shawan L @ShawanLLibang Feb 9 Adaptation. is a bold, emotionally sincere triumph funny, odd, and surprisingly touching. Nicolas Cage gives a standout dual performance, and Charlie Kaufman’s script turns creative turmoil into something meaningful. It’s smart, heartfelt, and endlessly rewatchable See more bao s @RT77741678 Dec 23 Genius. One of my all time favorites of my generation. See more Kim P @RT98672688 Sep 15 Such an interesting and unique movie! With the exception of Cooper's fate and Streep's sudden change in nature (think Danarys Targaryan), this fantastical story was somehow believable! See more Mirocko B @RT62052504 Aug 12 As I get older, I appreciate this film more and more. Somehow Charlie Kaufman makes Nick Cage Polanski, my bad, Nicolas Cage Coppola, No dad! I TOLD YOU! My name is CAGE now! Nick, look a lot like the insane, uncanny and oddly talented actor he will become years later in films such as Mandy and The Bees! Even Though He Himself Doesn't Know It Yet when this film is made! Whoa what a plot twist there buddy. You go, Cage. Shout-out to my man Robert McKee for 1) having a good sense of humor about the whole 'make fun of me and my life's work in a Hollywood movie' thing and 2)taking himself and everything oh so seriously every day of his life, which must be exhausting but what a payoff when he helps so many would be terrible writers cut their chops or give up, thankfully, and 3) fixing the writing in this once broken script IRL, turning Adaptation into something not just memorable but remarkable. Props to everyone involved. Wild ride and we love it, so thank you. Now go home. See more Read all reviews
Adaptation

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Spike Jonze

Director

Nicolas Cage

Charlie Kaufman

Meryl Streep

Susan Orlean

Chris Cooper

John Laroche

Tilda Swinton

Valerie

Cara Seymour

Amelia Kavan

Movie Clips

View All

Adaptation

Adaptation: Official Clip - You Are What You Love Adaptation: Official Clip - You Are What You Love 2:08 Adaptation: Official Clip - Charlie Can't Adapt Adaptation: Official Clip - Charlie Can't Adapt 1:51 Adaptation: Official Clip - Technology vs. Horse Adaptation: Official Clip - Technology vs. Horse 2:03 Adaptation: Official Clip - Wasting McKee's Time Adaptation: Official Clip - Wasting McKee's Time 1:45 Adaptation: Official Clip - Sweating at the Meeting Adaptation: Official Clip - Sweating at the Meeting 2:03 Adaptation: Official Clip - The Deconstructionist Adaptation: Official Clip - The Deconstructionist 2:09 Adaptation: Official Clip - Donald's Script Pitch Adaptation: Official Clip - Donald's Script Pitch 2:04 Adaptation: Official Clip - Done with Fish Adaptation: Official Clip - Done with Fish 1:47 View more videos

More Like This

View All
Human Nature 48% 61% Human Nature Watchlist Rachel Getting Married 85% 62% Rachel Getting Married Watchlist The Rules of Attraction 45% 71% The Rules of Attraction Watchlist TRAILER for The Rules of Attraction About Schmidt 86% 74% About Schmidt Watchlist My First Mister 53% 76% My First Mister Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Adaptation

Adaptation: Trailer 1 Adaptation: Trailer 1 2:23 View more videos
View All

Adaptation

Meryl Streep plays author Susan Orlean, a woman who discovers real passion for the first time in her life, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. Journalist Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) literally falls in love with her work, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. New Yorker writer Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) allows her professional assignment to grow into a private passion, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage, left) corners screenwriting guru Robert McKee (Brian Cox) in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Nicolas Cage find easy romance in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. Twin-brothers Charlie, left, and Donald Kaufman (both played by Nicolas Cage) discuss the finer points of screenwriting, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. John Laroche (Chris Cooper) tries to help journalist Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep) understand the true beauty of the orchid species, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep star in the Columbia Pictures presentation, ADAPTATION. Nicolas Cage (center) plays Charlie Kaufman, a stymied writer who seeks advice from screenwriting guru Robert McKee, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. When screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) tries to adapt The Orchid Thief to the screen, he develops a serious case of writer's block, in Columbia Pictures' unconventional comedy Adaptation. View more photos

Movie Info

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, and her 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
Clinica Estetico, InterMedia Film Equities Ltd.
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)