Chocolat

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Chocolat

PG-13

Released Jan 5, 2001

2h 1m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

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119 Reviews

83%

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250,000+ Ratings

When mysterious Vianne and her child arrive in a tranquil French town in the winter of 1959, no one could have imagined the impact that she and her spirited daughter would have on the community stubbornly rooted in tradition. Within days, she opens an unusual chocolate shop, across the square from the church. Her ability to perceive her customers' desires and satisfy them with just the right confection, coaxes the villagers to abandon themselves to temptation -- just as Lent begins.

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Critics Consensus

Chocolat is a charmingly light-hearted fable with a lovely performance by Binoche.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The moral argument may be pat and predictable, but the movie disarms you with its charm and its solid craftsmanship...However familiar, the taste is still sweet, the texture light as a souffle, the sentiments pleasantly high caloric.

Mar 6, 2018

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Chocolat is like being force-fed chocolate for two hours.

Jan 8, 2018

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Fabulous French fairy tale and romance for teens and up.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a watchable piece of work that generally manages to pass the time in a fairly unexceptional way.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 7, 2023

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s the performances that carry this film and there are enough interesting developments in the story to keep things moving.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 19, 2022

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

Hallstrm should refrain from preachy parables and move on to an entre

Rated: C

May 16, 2012

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Riccardo D

Just a small beautiful and heartwarming story that's needed whenever one's feeling down. The story takes place in a post WW2 world, around the 60's in a small village in France that could very well be in a world of its own as it's immersed in its own atmosphere and little community. The viewer hardly ever sees references to the rest of the world except for small things such as "ireland's finest" or "american's rock". This sets the stage for a story of acceptance, friendship, and love that touches important messages while staying light and fun, and is accompanied by a great and immersive soundtrack by Rachel Portman, as it happened in other Lasse Hallström's films. Characters are fun and most also have quite a nice development arc that helps giving a sense of satisfaction by the end. Protagonists give good lighthearted interpretations. Worth watching and rewatching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/25

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Horror fan 4

A beautiful romantic movie with a stellar cast. An absolutely must see film.. Tim Treakle

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

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Nathan W

A splendid and delicious 😋 movie ever made chocolatiers taste the sweetness of chocolate 🍫.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

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Michael H

Pleasant escapism. A few holes in the plot (like the clothes disappear when the transformation from human to Wolf happens, But when it goes the other way, the clothes don’t reappear), And no discussion on why their tradition of human prey getting to the river are free, Was not honored.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/20/24

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Gary L

Delightful movie. Old style but warm and authentic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/24

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Audrey B

An extremely endearing movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

Full Review

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Lasse Hallström

Director

Juliette Binoche

Vianne Rocher

Johnny Depp

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Lena Olin

Josephine Muscat

Judi Dench

Amande Voizin

Alfred Molina

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Synopsis

When mysterious Vianne and her child arrive in a tranquil French town in the winter of 1959, no one could have imagined the impact that she and her spirited daughter would have on the community stubbornly rooted in tradition. Within days, she opens an unusual chocolate shop, across the square from the church. Her ability to perceive her customers' desires and satisfy them with just the right confection, coaxes the villagers to abandon themselves to temptation -- just as Lent begins.

Director: Lasse Hallström
Producer: David Brown, Kit Golden, Leslie Holleran
Screenwriter: Joanne Harris, Robert Nelson Jacobs
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films, David Brown Productions, Fat Free Limited
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Scene of Sexuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 5, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $165.5K
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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