The Bridges of Madison County

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The Bridges of Madison County

PG-13

Released Jun 2, 1995

2h 15m

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

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61 Reviews

87%

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25,000+ Ratings

A moving love story about a photographer on assignment to shoot the historic bridges of Madison County. He meets a housewife, whose husband and children are away on a trip, and the film traces a brief affair that is never sordid but instead one of two soul mates who have met too late.

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Critics Consensus

Sentimental, slow, schmaltzy, and very satisfying, The Bridges of Madison County finds Clint Eastwood adapting a bestseller with heft, wit, and grace.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

The strength of Eastwood's Bridges is in its patience, and how it lets the love story develop from start to finish, even though the audience knows from the beginning the broad strokes of what's going to happen.

Rated: 4/5

May 5, 2014

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Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

With Eastwood as Kincaid and Meryl Streep as Francesca, this carefully observant love story turns Waller's pop-lit passion into screen art.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 31, 2013

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Carrie Rickey

Philadelphia Inquirer

Bridges is an admirable achievement, one that probably does more to reposition its maker as someone who can carry a movie without carrying a gun than as the director/star of a Love Story for the Loving Care set.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 31, 2013

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Laura Ferrero

El Pais (Spain)

... Beyond telling us the non-story of a couple, The Bridges of Madison County tells us our story, of all those times we failed to turn the wheel. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 2, 2023

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Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

This film starts as a yawnfest, but if you can tough it out through the first 15 minutes it turns into quite a little gem of a movie.

May 13, 2022

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Their story might be small, unglamorous, and generally unexciting, but there's no denying its pleasantness and significance.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 11, 2020

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Victor M

Un clasico.. que todos deben ver, al menos una vez

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/24

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Mike P

And no this is NOT about Lloyd, Jeff and Beau having a big family reunion in Kentucky...No...THIS is a solid iteration of a much derided soap opera romance novel that everyone hates but everyone buys...It's one of THOSE NOVELS...But this version is lifted up by Clint Eastwood's thrifty and effective direction and Meryl Streep's outstanding performance. They wring the maximum effectiveness from this story about a photographer and a housewife having an affair while her family is away... Somehow these two together get blood from a turnip. Overall: Recommended

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/03/24

Full Review

Elise P

This is my most favourite film in the whole wide world- ever. Although I cry every time at how sad it is, I love the love story, the passion, the depth of longing, conflicted with the emotions of betrayal and what is desired & wanted over what is ‘right’. The music, the photography, the bridges are all so beautiful. The children telling the story of their mother and reading her letters to each other with the gradual change in their emotions from being angry and upset, to the realisation and acceptance that she was totally in love… just wonderful story telling. I would urge anyone to watch it. But you’ll need tissues. I’m so lucky to have this myself- just happens once in a lifetime……

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/24

Full Review

Aender S

As so often in Clint Eastwood films, there are great shots of landscape, an element that pleases the hiker in me. But although I like being nice and living romance, this film is too cheesy for my taste.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

Eye C

A slow burn story with so much sexual tension and a lot "What ifs". Don't know why but I don't buy Mr. Eastwood as a romantic. Although is a nice picture, I like it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

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Carlotta F

Clint at his unconventional best. A treat!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/24

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

Robert Kincaid

Meryl Streep

Francesca Johnson

Annie Corley

Carolyn Johnson

Victor Slezak

Michael Johnson

Jim Haynie

Richard Johnson

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Synopsis

A moving love story about a photographer on assignment to shoot the historic bridges of Madison County. He meets a housewife, whose husband and children are away on a trip, and the film traces a brief affair that is never sordid but instead one of two soul mates who have met too late.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Producer: Clint Eastwood, Kathleen Kennedy
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros., Malpaso Company, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 2, 1995, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.5M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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