Carol

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1:30

Carol

R

Released Jan 8, 2016

1h 58m

Romance

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

323 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences.

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Critics Consensus

Shaped by Todd Haynes' deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Carol lives up to its groundbreaking source material.

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Grace Manger

Bitch Media

A wonderful and all-too-rare film.

Feb 9, 2021

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Heather Hogan

Autostraddle

It makes me wish the word "epic" hadn't been completely diluted so I could bring the full weight of its meaning to bear on this love story. Extraordinary? Singular? Remarkable? Yes, all of those things too.

Jun 26, 2018

Full Review

Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

Complex

To call Carol a Christmas miracle feels like a gaudy understatement, but that's sort of exactly what it is.

Rated: 4.5/5

Feb 27, 2017

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Jack Walters

Loud and Clear Reviews

"Carol uses its beautiful winter atmosphere to guide the audience through a holiday journey of romance, heartbreak, and longing."

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 18, 2025

Full Review

Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Carol is arguably my pick for the most beautiful film I’ve seen in 2015. By choosing to focus primarily on setting and theme to drive the story, the true colors of this film are able to shine more clearly...

Aug 2, 2024

Full Review

Malinda Lo

Malinda Lo

I loved it. I’m so glad that I saw it and that it exists in the world. It has definitely moved representations of lesbians forward, and I hope that the next time a movie like this is made, more viewers will be better able to feel it.

May 6, 2024

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Jami T

A beautiful love story for the ages. The undeniable attraction is palpable and soul-stirring. The heart wants what the heart wants.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

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Paula R

My favourite movie. I think I have watched this film about 6 times now. And each time I love it more and more. It's beautifully made, sad, gorgeous and tragic at the same time. What can we say about Cate Blanchett that isn't positive? Anything. Such a great actress on everything she does. The emotions of this movie. I could feel what they were feeling. I always cry like a baby. I think that if movies could be soulmates, this one would be mine.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

Full Review

Micaela M

Cinematically beautiful absolutely well done moving. From the filming, to the score, to the emotions portrayed by the actresses, this is a film done right. This is truly one of my favorite comfort movies of all time. Rest assured, the ending is very satisfying and pays off after watching a well done movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

Full Review

Marjorie C

Carol is a tender, forbidden waltz of glances and longing, a love story carved out in stolen moments and whispered rebellions. Cate Blanchett’s Carol is elegance masking a storm, while Rooney Mara’s Therese is a quiet bloom, drawn irresistibly to her orbit. Their chemistry hums with an ache that feels both fragile and fated, each scene a study in desire and restraint. To watch Carol is to ache, to fall in love with the sheer audacity of wanting, of choosing oneself and another in a world built to deny both. It’s a film that doesn’t end so much as it lingers, a soft kiss that stays on your lips long after it’s over. For every lesbian heart that’s yearned and every woman who’s dared to love in defiance, Carol isn’t just a film—it’s a hymn.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

Full Review

anne 2

Carol is a tender and forbidden love and self-discovery. Its profound beauty lies in the unspoken emotions, lingering gazes, and quiet bravery of twptures the ache of longing and thrage to choose love despite the risks, all portrayed through Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara's stunning performances. The cinematography, music, and delicate storytelling weave a timeless tale that resonates deeply, making it a masterpiece of emotional authenticity and visual elegance. It’s a love story that feels personal, profound, and unforgettable. my favourite and comfort movie, I love cate blanchett so much haha

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

Full Review

Greg K

While I certainly liked Blanchetts powerful performance and the down to storyline, I do not see why this lovestory is more special than others.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

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Todd Haynes

Director

Cate Blanchett

Carol Aird

Rooney Mara

Therese Belivet

Sarah Paulson

Abby Gerhard

Jake Lacy

Richard

John Magaro

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Carol: Trailer 2

1:30

Carol: B-Roll

12:21

Carol: Trailer 1

1:46

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Synopsis

Aspiring photographer Therese spots the beautiful, elegant Carol perusing the doll displays in a 1950s Manhattan department store. The two women develop a fast bond that becomes a love with complicated consequences.

Director: Todd Haynes
Producer: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Christine Vachon
Screenwriter: Phyllis Nagy
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Killer Films, Larkhark Films Limited, Number 9 Films
Rating: R (Nudity|Brief Language|Scene of Sexuality)
Genre: Romance, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.7M
Runtime: 1h 58m

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