Cookie's Fortune

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Cookie's Fortune

PG-13

1999

1h 58m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After learning that her aunt, an elderly Mississippi widow (Patricia Neal), has taken her own life, Camille (Glenn Close) hatches an unusual postmortem plan. With her sister (Julianne Moore) in tow, Camille hides evidence that points to suicide, deciding instead to make the death look like a murder. Her scheme, fueled by vanity and greed, is not victimless, as it appears that a local handyman (Charles S. Dutton) might take the fall for a crime that never occurred.

Critics Consensus

Robert Altman's gift for diffuse storytelling is employed to breezily enjoyable effect in Cookie's Fortune, a mirthful caper that layers on a generous helping of Southern charm.

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

This isn't great Altman but it's fun Altman.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 21, 2010

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Most of what transpires is low-key, affectionate comedy and a fair amount of fun.

Jul 21, 2010

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Cookie's Fortune is a wittily diagrammed portrait of a small town shaken to its roots by this deceptive calamity. The movie, though, never really becomes more than a diagram.

Rated: B-

Jul 7, 2010

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

This is black comedy light, but you'll catch the undercurrent of ingrained racism in the hands of Glenn Close's villainess character Camille Dixon.

Rated: A

Dec 18, 2020

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This serio comedy about an eccentric Southern family is a minor work in Altman's oeuvre, but it's well acted and enjoyable.

Rated: B-

Aug 10, 2011

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Film4 Staff

Film4

Despite several silly twists near the end, the acting is quite charming.

Jul 21, 2010

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Isa B

I love Robert Altman's signature moving camera work. I like this film very much. Robert Altman is one of the greatest filmmakers who ever lived and is, unfortunately, quite underrated. This is, by no means, his greatest film, but it is a good one. I recommend it. 86/100

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

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Mason M

A just delightful film to watch, funny and entertaining with a wonderful cast of characters from Altman. It will always be a fun watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

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Audience Member

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie last night. Set in a small Mississippi town the story reveals it's twists and turns at its own pace. Ultimately there is only one "villain" while all of the others come together as the friends and family they are. A welcome enjoyable story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

the acting is terrible. You'd think that with a stellar cast, it would be great but everything is so stiff and none of it is believable. Its also super predictable and the writing is some of the worst I think I've ever experienced.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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steve d

Not even slightly amusing, or entertaining.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Despite some strong individual performances, this film takes far too long in exposition and moves glacially. Even before Cookie dies I had lost all interest in the outcome of the story. Altman was on the decline on this one, unfortunately. Don't bother.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Robert Altman

Director

Glenn Close

Camille Dixon

Julianne Moore

Cora Duvall

Liv Tyler

Emma Duvall

Chris O'Donnell

Jason Brown

Charles S. Dutton

Willis Richland

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Synopsis

After learning that her aunt, an elderly Mississippi widow (Patricia Neal), has taken her own life, Camille (Glenn Close) hatches an unusual postmortem plan. With her sister (Julianne Moore) in tow, Camille hides evidence that points to suicide, deciding instead to make the death look like a murder. Her scheme, fueled by vanity and greed, is not victimless, as it appears that a local handyman (Charles S. Dutton) might take the fall for a crime that never occurred.

Director: Robert Altman
Producer: Ernst Etchie Stroh
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Primer Plano Film Group S.A., Argentina Video Home, Budapest Film Rt., Bac Films
Production Co: Moonstone Entertainment, Sandcastle 5 Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Surround