Doubt

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Doubt

PG-13

Released Dec 25, 2008

1h 44m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

220 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1964 the winds of change are sweeping through Sister Aloysius' (Meryl Streep) St. Nicholas school. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic priest, is advocating reform of the school's strict customs, and the first black student has just been accepted. When a fellow nun (Amy Adams) tells Sister Aloysius that Father Flynn may be paying too much personal attention to the student, Sister Aloysius begins a personal crusade against the priest -- despite her lack of evidence.

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Critics Consensus

Doubt succeeds on the strength of its top-notch cast, who successfully guide the film through the occasional narrative lull.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Don't miss it.

Rated: A

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

The moral grey area of the title perhaps worked better in the stage play; exposed on screen it's not "doubt" being expressed, it's the sound of Streep's headmistressy voice demanding, "That Oscar - on my desk, NOW."

Rated: 2/5

Feb 10, 2009

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Doubt looks like some sort of upscale horror film, complete with crows and swirling leaves like The Omen. It's actually a terminally muddled piece of star-studded Oscar-bait.

Rated: 1/5

Feb 6, 2009

Full Review

Kenneth R. Morefield

1More Film Blog

He is either innocent or guilty. I can respect a film that says we don’t always get to know the answer. But I can't respect a film, however well shot and acted, that says the answer hardly matters.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 27, 2025

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

An expert film, with a precision and lucidity in its intellectual quandary that few motion pictures can muster, making the experience at once entertaining and full of substance.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 5, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Doubt never feels too theatrical in adapting for the screen but the powerhouse performances by the cast only serve to elevate John Patrick Shanley's script.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 1, 2024

Full Review

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Kat H

Storyline was weak. Left me doubting if I had wasted my time watching it. Poor ending Meryl Streep crying and saying ' I have so many doubts'

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

Full Review

Jelena M

Movie is flat, nothing happens. To us as audience it is unclear why they are so tensed, did anything really happen, why are they accusing the priest. Then at the end we also have no idea if it was an empty threat, why priest changed churches so many times including this one. Nothing has happened or developed from the beginning, it could have been a 15 min video telling a short drama story. The actors are amazing but the story is not developed enought.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

Full Review

Sam A

This film will leave you questioning and doubting. No conclusion as you need to draw your own. Streep was excellent in it and the guy who played the priest.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/25

Full Review

Alec B

Now that we are many years past the film's aggressive Oscar campaign and the endless debates over the film's effectiveness as an adaptation of a massively successful play, I think we can assess it on its own merits. Frankly I think the movie is very clear eyed about what happened and what this all means and the performances are uniformly great.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/25

Full Review

Scott H

Critics and audience alike are all luvvy darling how wonderful what performances blah blah blah. I don’t get it. There is no reason for Streeps certainty. She has no ulterior motive and no proof. She is not mad nor is she looking for revenge. The story is fundamentally flawed.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

Full Review

Ian W

Don't know how I'd missed this film. Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman kind of guaranteed a decent film. Effectively a two hander with a bit of Amy Adams thrown in for good measure. Great script. Great acting. An uncomfortable ending. Not a great advert for the Catholic faith.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

Full Review

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John Patrick Shanley

Director

Meryl Streep

Sister Aloysius

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Father Flynn

Amy Adams

Sister James

Viola Davis

Mrs. Miller

Alice Drummond

Sister Veronica

Doubt: Official Clip - What Have I Done?

2:10

Doubt: Official Clip - I Will Do What Needs to Be Done

2:05

Doubt: Official Clip - I Have Such Doubts

2:09

Doubt: Official Clip - Crisis of Faith

2:12

Doubt: Official Clip - Sweet Tooth

1:40

Doubt: Official Clip - Pagan Christmas Songs

2:03

Doubt: Official Clip - Feathers of Gossip

2:13

Doubt: Official Clip - Supper Time

0:43

Doubt: Official Clip - Dirty Nails

1:29

Doubt: Official Clip - I Am Concerned

2:10

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Doubt: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 1964 the winds of change are sweeping through Sister Aloysius' (Meryl Streep) St. Nicholas school. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic priest, is advocating reform of the school's strict customs, and the first black student has just been accepted. When a fellow nun (Amy Adams) tells Sister Aloysius that Father Flynn may be paying too much personal attention to the student, Sister Aloysius begins a personal crusade against the priest -- despite her lack of evidence.

Director: John Patrick Shanley
Producer: Scott Rudin, Mark Roybal
Screenwriter: John Patrick Shanley
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Scott Rudin Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.4M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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