Becoming Jane

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Becoming Jane

PG

2007

2h 0m

Biography

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

140 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Though Jane Austen's (Anne Hathaway) financially strapped parents (James Cromwell, Julie Walters) expect her to marry the nephew of wealthy Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), the young woman knows that such a union will destroy her creativity and sense of self-worth. Instead, she becomes involved with Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a charming but penniless apprentice lawyer who gives her the knowledge of the heart she needs for her future career as a novelist.

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Critics Consensus

Although Becoming Jane is a well-crafted period piece, it lacks fresh insight into the life and works of Jane Austen. The film focuses too much on wardrobe and not enough on Austen's achievements.

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Debbie Day

Premiere Magazine

"The reality of love's disappointments enriches the film's heroine, who never married in real life, and brings a 200-year-old figure into living focus."

Rated: 3/4

Nov 3, 2016

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Not only is that a huge stretch of the facts, it makes for a dull and overly familiar melodrama.

Aug 14, 2007

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Hathaway never makes us think the woman could write anything more complex than a diet book.

Aug 10, 2007

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Director Julian Jarrold ticks all the right boxes - stunning costumes, gorgeous scenery and dishy lead.

Jan 31, 2022

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

An affecting portrait, in a Masterpiece Theatre kind of way, of the early years of one of the world's most beloved authors.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 31, 2021

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Robert Gottlieb

The New York Review of Books

Its surface is plausible enough, and Hathaway's performance is persuasive enough, for us to indulge in the delusion that we're actually encountering the famously elusive Jane Austen.

Aug 23, 2018

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Cate H

I thought that it was really good, but the ending was SO sad. Though I am a regency romance girl, so It was pretty good.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraca, o filme tem cenas fracas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacana, mas quase ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, e os personagens são mais ou menos.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

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annette Z

very old fashionesd and kind of boring

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Pinkie P

Mostly emotionally sterile

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

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Eye C

An underrated movie that not too many people know about it, and this is sad, I like it a lot, I think that Anne makes a wonderful job once again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

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amelia n

Even if it isn't a particularly history-focused portrayal of Austen, the story is very compelling, the characters rather well-rounded and the costumes and makeup - amazing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Julian Jarrold

Director

Anne Hathaway

Jane Austen

James McAvoy

Tom Lefroy

James Cromwell

Mr. Austen

Maggie Smith

Lady Gresham

Julie Walters

Mrs. Austen

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Synopsis

Though Jane Austen's (Anne Hathaway) financially strapped parents (James Cromwell, Julie Walters) expect her to marry the nephew of wealthy Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), the young woman knows that such a union will destroy her creativity and sense of self-worth. Instead, she becomes involved with Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a charming but penniless apprentice lawyer who gives her the knowledge of the heart she needs for her future career as a novelist.

Director: Julian Jarrold
Producer: Robert Bernstein, Graham Broadbent, Douglas Rae
Screenwriter: Kevin Hood, Sarah Williams
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: UK Film Council, Scion Films, Blueprint Pictures, HanWay Films, Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board
Rating: PG (Mild Language|Brief Nudity)
Genre: Biography, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.7M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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