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Being John Malkovich

Play trailer Poster for Being John Malkovich R Released Oct 29, 1999 1h 52m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 136 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In this quirky cult-favorite comedy, unemployed New York City puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) reluctantly takes a temp job as a filing clerk for the eccentric Dr. Lester (Orson Bean). While at work, Craig discovers a portal that leads into the mind of renowned actor John Malkovich. When he lets his attractive co-worker Maxine (Catherine Keener) in on the secret, they begin both an unusual business scheme and an odd relationship that involves Craig's restless wife, Lotte (Cameron Diaz).
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Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich

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Critics Consensus

Smart, funny, and highly original, Being John Malkovich supports its wild premise with skillful direction and a stellar ensemble cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Kaufman and Jonze steer us through a truly twisted psychological and existential swamp. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 30, 2019 Full Review David Germain Associated Press Fabulously funny and delightfully disturbed, "Being John Malkovich'' is the ultimate voyeur movie, a dark and at times malevolent take on what it's like to be in someone else's skull, looking out. Jun 12, 2018 Full Review Chris Chang Film Comment Magazine The beauty of the film is the way it elevates John Malkovich from an actor to an axiom. Mar 22, 2018 Full Review Alan Jones Radio Times The fact that it manages to carry its open-mouthed audience through every awesomely enigmatic turn is its greatest accomplishment. Rated: 5/5 Jun 7, 2024 Full Review Chuck Klosterman Akron Beacon Journal It sometimes seems like there is more legitimate creativity in [Malkovich] than there's been in almost every other movie released this year. The script is completely insane and consistently brilliant, and it's funny on almost every level imaginable. Rated: 4/4 Oct 30, 2023 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand ... a devastatingly funny portrait of unhappiness, desperation, desire, and the vicious things we do for love... Apr 8, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mirocko B No comparison. Truly original, no small feat. A stunning film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/25 Full Review Sayan C This is not only weird but good weird. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review Connor O I've never seen a movie I found less valuable or more pretentious than this bit of garbage that should have been left in the bin. All performances bad, all characterizations thin, all plot points DOA. I hate this movie with every fiber of my being. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/14/25 Full Review Christopher R It is 2025 and there are people who have never seen this film. And you call yourself a movie lover? Well you probably don't. Still. Surrealism at its very best. In bed with speculative fiction And personality disorders. Tsk tsk, you say, but Thrupples never work out! You may be right. Quadrupples however... Just might. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review john h This film is a living definition of surrealism at its most original and an unofficial, strikingly familiar film to this one is Coraline. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Audience Member I still think about this movie years after seeing it. The same way Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Amelie haunted me with their avant garde perspectives. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Being John Malkovich

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Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Dance of Despair and Disillusionment Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Dance of Despair and Disillusionment 2:14 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Craig's Escape From Malkovich Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Craig's Escape From Malkovich 2:13 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - John Malkovich Becomes a Puppeteer Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - John Malkovich Becomes a Puppeteer 2:11 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Malkovich Inside Malkovich Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Malkovich Inside Malkovich 2:14 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Malkovich Discovers J.M. Inc. Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Malkovich Discovers J.M. Inc. 2:13 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Malkovich Gets Paranoid Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Malkovich Gets Paranoid 1:38 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Sad Man Becomes John Malkovich Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Sad Man Becomes John Malkovich 2:11 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Craig Wins a Date With Maxine Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - Craig Wins a Date With Maxine 2:10 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - 7 1/2 Floor Orientation Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - 7 1/2 Floor Orientation 2:13 Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - The Speech Impediment Being John Malkovich: Official Clip - The Speech Impediment 2:23 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In this quirky cult-favorite comedy, unemployed New York City puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) reluctantly takes a temp job as a filing clerk for the eccentric Dr. Lester (Orson Bean). While at work, Craig discovers a portal that leads into the mind of renowned actor John Malkovich. When he lets his attractive co-worker Maxine (Catherine Keener) in on the secret, they begin both an unusual business scheme and an odd relationship that involves Craig's restless wife, Lotte (Cameron Diaz).
Director
Spike Jonze
Producer
Steve Golin, Vincent Landay, Sandy Stern, Michael Stipe
Screenwriter
Charlie Kaufman
Distributor
USA Films
Production Co
Propaganda Films, Single Cell Pictures, Gramercy Pictures
Rating
R (Sexuality|Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 29, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.9M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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