Adaptation

R

Released Dec 6, 2002

1 hr. 54 min.

Comedy

Drama

TRAILER

for Adaptation: Trailer 1

List

90%

210 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Dionisis T

Nicolas Cage in this one is so me...Definitive and definitely worth viewing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

Nol P

On Nick Cage and the movies: Adaptation and Family Man, (both from the early 2000's). Nick Cage WAS one fine actor! Even with hard scripts and some weird scripts, he was always interesting back in the day. In Adaptation I really had some trouble figuring what was going on! I was not sure if there were two identical brothers or if it was his alter ego! Then it was disclosed later on! Regardless, Nick was brilliant! The movie itself was a tad weird and was confusing at times, but his performance(s) was again Oscar worthy! Nick's performance in Adaptation: 9 out of 10. Overall: 7 out of 10. Family Man was interesting and if not for his fine performance, it would have dragged! Would not have been as good without Nick! I had not seen Family Man or Adaptation before believe it or not! Enjoyed both but yes, both were a tad weird. Family Man got bonus points having a Christmas time theme. Nick's performance in Family Man: 8 out of 10. Overall: 6.5 out of 10. In Pig, Nick was great again! After so many yrs!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Richard L

A brilliant film that messes with traditional structure in a way not many could pull off without becoming pretentious or clichéd. Every single character is interesting and extremely human, and the weird and extravagant plot comes together in a way that must be seen to be understood.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Christina J

Definitely holds up. Cage is so so good

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/26/23

Full Review

dave O

Loved this movie. Original story that nicely focuses on a screenwriter and writer in context.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

Supposedly original and whimsical filmmaking is meant to make this a real marvel. I was just bored throughout, never grew any affinity to the film or characters and was delighted when it ended. Hated it.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/23

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

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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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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
Executive Producer: Peter Saraf, Charlie Kaufman
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
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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