Benny & Joon

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Benny & Joon

PG

1993

1h 38m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

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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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

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Dylece Y

This movie is glorifying mental health challenges and making people question their own personal lives the movie should have been about the brother Benny finally becoming his own person and becoming free not his sisters twisted love life I used to watch this as a child now we're watching this as an adult I realize that this was not a child's movie and it was really messed up not appropriate

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/25

Full Review

Rhyan D

Quite simply: a perfect film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/19/25

Full Review

Cera F

This is how movies nowadays should be. They don't make them like this anymore and unfortunately this film has all but fell into obscurity. You literally have to think about it and remember it to watch it. It's on tubi now and I thank tubi for reminding me of it. It's a great and heartwarming film that keeps you entertained and happy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

Full Review

Farah R

A sincerely acted, heartwarming film about family and love, Benny & Joon is a reminder of the simple films no longer made in favor of cash-grabbing reboots and sequels.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/25

Full Review

Nicole M

A touching and stellar movie. The purity and kindness of Sam, the creativity and the ability to see truth like Joon sparked a wholesome and friendship-first romance that I imagine everyone hopes their inner child could have- no fear, no judgment, full of play and earnest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

Full Review

Bahad j

I really liked how the actors got into their roles so well. I think that people watching the movie and other people really liked the fact that he is so naturally and elegantly immersed in his role.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/24

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

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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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: Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth
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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