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August: Osage County

Play trailer Poster for August: Osage County R Released Jan 10, 2014 1h 59m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 205 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
The death and funeral of their father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet (Meryl Streep), an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) -- along with their significant others and various other kin -- take the full brunt of their dysfunctional matriarch's venom, for Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them. Based on the play by Tracy Letts.
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August: Osage County

August: Osage County

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Critics Consensus

The sheer amount of acting going on in August: Osage County threatens to overwhelm, but when the actors involved are as talented as Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, it's difficult to complain.

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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Knisely Bitch Media August: Osage County is about morally flawed, sometimes cruel, and often unlikable women. And that's what makes August: Osage County good. Jan 20, 2021 Full Review Thelma Adams Yahoo! Movies Nothing makes you feel better about your dysfunctional family at the holidays than watching a messed-up clan unravel on screen, only armed with better zingers and prettier faces. That describes this adaptation of Tracy Letts's star-studded drama. Rated: 3.4 Sep 12, 2014 Full Review David Stratton At the Movies (Australia) The film's director, John Wells... is never able to escape from the theatrical origins of this over-heated drama, though lovers of the Edward Albee style of marital confrontation will doubtless revel in the melodrama Rated: 3.5/5 Feb 6, 2014 Full Review JD Duran InSession Film The family dynamics feel real and authentic in most cases, however some scenes and narrative pieces are very contrived. Rated: B+ Aug 12, 2024 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies There is a lot of acting going on in August: Osage County and that's fine. Rated: 4/5 Dec 28, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies I was put off by these characters, their endless dysfunction, and their profane spite. This was a tiresome watch and tough movie to endure. It’s a shame because with this much talent I was expecting more. Rated: 2/5 Aug 19, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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YIYI X This is the second time that I watched this film. The first time was more than 10 years ago; I didn't finish it because there was no translation. This time I opened it, and the violets looked with and without hair, reminding me of Julia and Sophie. I am quite astonished that there are so many familiar faces for me because I am not familiar with many American actors. Especially, the scene where the whole family has dinner after the funeral. As a third party, the talk content is true, but still harsh. I know that the elder generation pays a lot and sacrifices a lot to earn a living for the next generation. But, they should not always make such painful experiences as excuses, and repeatedly say really bad things to their closest relatives. I know such behavior is like a release for them. But I really don't like it. Maybe it is more like the drama tension in a movie, but it reminds me of a scenario in my own life where the elder and the eldest generation spoke at each other. And the scene where Violent told their daughters that she never got those fantasy boots, and did not have the opportunity to impress the crush boy, is truly sad. We all gave our earnest wishes to others. Hope that other people could help us to realize it. But for me, it seems I almost lost faith or hope to trust anyone. And I think it is good to just believe in myself. I really hope that I will never let myself down. The first time the finance talked with unmatured Jean, I knew immediately that he was not a nice person. Persuade a young girl to 'enjoy' something really bad. Ivy took many years to look after her parents, endure cancer, finally thought she found her soulmate, and made a decision to begin her new life with her beloved. And desperately discover that the beloved one was her brother and leave. After Violent took off her fake hair, she became the weak one immediately. I even felt her face more pale than ever. All her relatives left, leaving her with a look-after person. Although each character is not that 'normal', it is exactly the person we are. Each one with the unique story. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Eye C What a rush, gossiping hard with this. I’m a sucker for this family dramas. And what encounter between Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. All the cast is great. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/07/25 Full Review Les N Good god is that acting? I never thought I would be Streep and Roberts in a movie like this! Frankly unbelievable acting. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/03/25 Full Review Brittany P This is a great movie! For some, the plot could be a little dull, but for me, it’s all about the acting! It all feels so real and it’s appreciated :) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/18/25 Full Review Iaminfinite E Still makes the bottom of my list as the worst film ever made. No element of the film is entertaining, interesting, relatable, or even captivating. It’s an overly indulgent, cruelly long, and needless presentation on white American narcissism, privilege, and abuse culture…without any stance or viewpoint highlighted by the direction. It’s hyper-focused melodrama for the sake of performing already performative emotions. It’s a five layer cake of bs. Neither the story nor the characters have any redeeming qualities, purpose, or need beyond self-defeating and willful victimization and unnecessary harm. Just an unflinching seat at a table with willfully deranged, evil, wastes of time who disrespect human life. This films only purpose is to deplete you. There are enough real-life examples of these people from afar…they are compelling enough from far away…not recommended that you tread closer with this film. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/14/25 Full Review Sheila L DEPRESSING! For nearly the entire movie, the characters scream hateful insults at each other. Some of the acting was good, but the sheer meanness of the family members toward each other is intolerable. Don't watch unless you want to come away with a bad mood. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review Read all reviews
August: Osage County

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Movie Info

Synopsis The death and funeral of their father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet (Meryl Streep), an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) -- along with their significant others and various other kin -- take the full brunt of their dysfunctional matriarch's venom, for Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them. Based on the play by Tracy Letts.
Director
John Wells
Producer
Steve Traxler, Jean Doumanian, George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Screenwriter
Tracy Letts
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Production Co
The Weinstein Company, Jean Doumanian Productions, Battle Mountain Films, Smoke House, Grey Hour Production Services
Rating
R (Language|Drug Material|Sexual References)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 10, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 28, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.7M
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Datasat, Dolby Digital
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