Benny & Joon

PG

Released Apr 16, 1993

1h 38m

Romance

Comedy

List

76%

41 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Benny (Aidan Quinn), who cares for his mentally disturbed sister, Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), also welcomes the eccentric Sam (Johnny Depp) into his home at Joon's request. Sam entertains Joon while he dreams of a job at the video store. Once Benny realizes Joon and Sam have started a relationship, he kicks Sam out of the house. This leads to an altercation between brother and sister. Joon runs away with Sam, who soon realizes that she may need more support than he alone can provide.

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Madie R

How Johnny Depp manages to display immense chemistry with all of his female co-stars is a good chunk of the reason why his characters become so likable. The physical comedy Johnny Depp lends to this quirky, eccentric rom-com provides some of the best moments of the entire film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/17/23

Full Review

Shirley C

An absolute MUST SEE if you haven't already. A cult-classic. A gem. One of those film you can watch again and again when you're in the mood to laugh and have place for teary eye. Buster Keaton at his best with Johnny Depp playing the part. He must have studied the character long and hard, cause he couldn't have done a better job. The entire cast was perfect for each part.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/23

Full Review

Kathryn V

This was such a sweet movie that leaves you smiling at the end. I could watch it over and over. With the swinging back and forth at the hospital window, the Buster Keaton things he was doing, right down to clothes. Older movie, but I just recently watched it. Then I watched it again and again and again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/23

Full Review

David C

Warm, funny, and enchanting, this is a romantic comedy with real heart and empathy. The main characters' struggles with their mental health issues have hindered their ability to thrive independently, but when they come together, their strengths as a unit seem to outweigh and overcome any obstacles. A beguiling performance from JD, with great casting in MSM, AQ, and JM

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/23

Full Review

Ted B

3 stars; it was good watching an early Johnny Depp movie. This was back when he played off the wall character roles with some tenderness and just enough crazyness which created and empathy for the character. In her role in this film, the same can be said for Mary Stewart Masterson. So I guess this movie asks the question is the love between two people with special needs any different than the love between others.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

Full Review

Kelly S

family friendly, fun and educational.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Jeremiah S. Chechik

Director

Johnny Depp

Sam

Mary Stuart Masterson

Juniper "Joon" Pearl

Aidan Quinn

Benjamin "Benny" Pearl

Julianne Moore

Ruthie

Oliver Platt

Eric

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Benny & Joon: Official Clip - A Quick Diversion

1:58

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Meeting Sam

2:23

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Sam Swings By

2:09

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - You Need Me to Be Sick

1:28

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Sam's Troublesome Hat

2:13

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Sam's Park Routine

1:16

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Fingerpainting

1:33

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Prom Queen Mutilator

1:13

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - The Dance of the Rolls

2:10

Benny & Joon: Official Clip - Grilled Cheese Sandwich

1:43

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Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

This sentimental stew is not without its flavors, and the cast tries hard to be winsome and adorably distraught.

Jun 17, 2020

Full Review

Matt Mueller

Empire Magazine

This is a wisp of a movie, to be sure, but underneath all the absurd comic fringes and the much-abused crazies-are-really-sane theme beats the heart of a genuinely poetic love story.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 17, 2020

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Inconsequential as it is, Benny & Joon is that rare thing, a crazy-versus-sane movie that likes one kind as much as the other.

Rated: B

Jan 29, 2019

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The film is blessed with a wonderful use of color and cinematography, stellar costume design and simple, but effective, set design.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 2, 2020

Full Review

Roger Hurlburt

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Benny & Joon is a curious movie that should not work but somehow does.

Jun 17, 2020

Full Review

Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

It is a funny, innocuous fable, a Sweet 'N Low romantic comedy that seems a little facile at first, but has irresistible charm.

Jun 17, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Benny (Aidan Quinn), who cares for his mentally disturbed sister, Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), also welcomes the eccentric Sam (Johnny Depp) into his home at Joon's request. Sam entertains Joon while he dreams of a job at the video store. Once Benny realizes Joon and Sam have started a relationship, he kicks Sam out of the house. This leads to an altercation between brother and sister. Joon runs away with Sam, who soon realizes that she may need more support than he alone can provide.

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik
Producer: Bill Badalato
Screenwriter: Barry Berman, Lesley McNeil
Distributor: United International Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Roth-Arnold Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 16, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 29, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.1M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Surround

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