The Age of Innocence

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The Age of Innocence

PG

Released Sep 17, 1993

2h 18m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

88%

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64 Reviews

75%

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10,000+ Ratings

Wealthy lawyer Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is engaged to sweet socialite May Welland (Winona Ryder) in 1870s New York. On the surface, it is a perfect match. But when May's beautiful cousin Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is estranged from her brutish husband, arrives in town, Newland begins to question the meaning of passion and love as he desperately pursues a relationship with Ellen, even though she has been made a social outcast by Archer's peers.

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Critics Consensus

Equal measures romantic and wistful, Martin Scorsese's elegant adaptation of The Age of Innocence is a triumphant exercise in both stylistic and thematic restraint.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

Life in the New York of the eighteen-seventies may have been constrained, but it was never dull—not if Scorsese’s camera is anything to go by.

Jul 24, 2023

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Joanne Woodward's narration is soothing without ever being folksy, while the closing scene, a shattering portrait of unbearable poignancy and regret, remains one of Scorsese's strongest endings...

Rated: 5/5

Mar 17, 2023

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

The Age of Innocence is a luxurious work of art.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 15, 2023

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James Croot

The Post NZ

A movie of stolen moments, arranged meetings and outright lies, The Age of Innocence is potentially anything but what that title suggests.

Oct 16, 2023

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Scorsese has made 42 features but is mostly known for his six movies about organized crime. With “Age,” Scorsese stepped far out of his comfort zone and delivered one of the finest films, not only of his career, but from anyone over the last 50 years.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 12, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a magnificent piece of filmmaking, rich and textured and at times lovingly mannered as Scorsese appropriates and integrates silent movie devices into his yesteryear portrait.

Oct 15, 2022

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David E

We did not care for this. We kept waiting for something good to happen or for some appropriate resolving of his relationship with Ellen. Never happened, stupid ending.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

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Kyle M

Evident passion well performed, musically caressed, and elegantly crafted with absolute polish and thematically grasped integrity, but all let down by how romantically bland it gradually reduces with disengaging narration that signifies its sole compel exclusively for those who are affectionate for any love stories. (B-)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

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Audience Member

Watching this in 2025 — and it simply doesn't hold up. The acting feels stiff, the pacing is slow, and the plot is overly simplistic. Compared to Pride and Prejudice (2005), which still feels fresh and emotionally engaging, this movie comes across as dragged out and outdated. It hasn’t aged well at all.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

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Audience Member

Beautiful film. Scorsese surprised me.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/29/25

Full Review

Tim M

Martin Scorsese and the period romantic drama aren't a natural fit, but The Age of Innocence largely captures the ardor of its source novel all the same.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

Full Review

BJ M

A very lush set. Lots of great costumes. Solid actors. But I have to say I was bored. This just wasn't very entertaining. I mean if you get a chance to cast Michelle Pfeiffer in a film - don't miss the opportunity for at least one steamy love making scene. What a blown opportunity.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

Full Review

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Martin Scorsese

Director

Daniel Day-Lewis

Newland Archer

Michelle Pfeiffer

Ellen Olenska

Winona Ryder

May Welland

Richard E. Grant

Larry Lefferts

Alec McCowen

Sillerton Jackson

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - There Is Another Woman

2:28

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - Don't Make Love to Me

3:26

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - Pregnancy Trap

2:49

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - The End of the Affair

2:43

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - You Gave up What You Wanted Most

2:28

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - The Ship and the Lighthouse

1:50

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - Everybody Knows

2:02

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - Impossible Love

2:31

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - A False Life

2:19

The Age of Innocence: Official Clip - Is There Someone Else?

2:46

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The Age of Innocence: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Wealthy lawyer Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is engaged to sweet socialite May Welland (Winona Ryder) in 1870s New York. On the surface, it is a perfect match. But when May's beautiful cousin Countess Ellen Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is estranged from her brutish husband, arrives in town, Newland begins to question the meaning of passion and love as he desperately pursues a relationship with Ellen, even though she has been made a social outcast by Archer's peers.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Producer: Barbara De Fina
Screenwriter: Martin Scorsese, Edith Wharton, Jay Cocks
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Production Co: Cappa Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.9M
Runtime: 2h 18m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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