Driving Miss Daisy

Play trailer

2:10

Driving Miss Daisy

PG

1989

1h 39m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), an elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta, is determined to maintain her independence. However, when she crashes her car, her son, Boolie (Dan Aykroyd), arranges for her to have a chauffeur, an African-American driver named Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Daisy and Hoke's relationship gets off to a rocky start, but they gradually form a close friendship over the years, one that transcends racial prejudices and social conventions.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

While it's fueled in part by outdated stereotypes, Driving Miss Daisy takes audiences on a heartwarming journey with a pair of outstanding actors.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 12, 2023

Driving Miss Daisy retains its coziness and its slightness, but it has been filmed eloquently.

Go to Full Review

David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

Jul 26, 2022

Mild but pleasing... The movie, passing in time from the fifties through the civil-rights period, lovingly measures the precise shadings of irritation, affection, and dependence that flow back and forth between two characters.

Go to Full Review

Bob Fenster

Arizona Republic

Jul 26, 2022

2/4

Is this supposed to represent an achievement of dignity and freedom?... What I saw was an improbable saintlike character persecuted by a cranky, bigoted tyrant who became slightly less cranky but never less condescending with time.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 18, 2025

3/4

A pleasant piece, but it’s hardly Best Picture material.

Go to Full Review

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Jun 27, 2023

It's hard not to grimace at some of the racial politics in Driving Miss Daisy. Naïve and self-satisfied, the film contrives the emotions rather than earns them.

Go to Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Nov 16, 2022

It has been a long time since a film arrived, at once, very modest and rich. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Mickey B.

@Mickerdoo Jun 4, 2026

Freeman is a charmer. Glad to see him stand just the right amount of ground to nurture a friendship. Pivotal time in history for the pair.

See more

Kyle M

@RT77296778 May 28, 2026

One of the sweetest, gentlest films with a pure, socially challenged heart that frames a beautifully humane portrait on friendship, and an emotionally earnest look towards life so delicately processed, becoming a well-driven simplicity with hefty merits and exceptional showcases from a nice cast performing at their best. (A-)

See more

Max W

@MaxthorWoo Mar 31, 2026

Heartwarming, simple, and delicately detailed in its slice-of-life portrayal, the interactions between Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy make these everyday moments truly engaging.

See more

Levi J

@Lev77 Mar 29, 2026

Funny, heartfelt movie about friendship with great acting!

See more

thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 22, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e o drama salva um pouco o filme

See more

Jacob B

@JB3.0 Mar 20, 2026

Not sure if this was good enough to warrant winning the Best Picture Oscar. It does have the feel of a play in movie form, since it was based off of one. Be that as it may, Driving Miss Daisy is still a nice lightweight drama that's more about growing old during some very racially-charged periods of time rather than necessarily about race relations. Morgan Freeman and the late Jessica Tandy's evolving dynamic is the clear selling point and the way it develops over the decades is interesting to watch with a good mix of levity and poignancy, especially near the end with regards to the latter. All in all, one of the weaker Best Picture Oscar winners but still a good film in its own right. Maybe one day I'll see if Do the Right Thing was snubbed and see if it lives up to its comparatively bigger pop culture impact. 1989 really was THE year for blockbusters over artsy Oscar crap, wasn't it?

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Bruce Beresford

Director

Morgan Freeman

Hoke Colburn

Jessica Tandy

Daisy Werthan

Dan Aykroyd

Boolie Werthan

Patti LuPone

Florine Werthan

Esther Rolle

Idella

Curly Sue

13%

50%

Curly Sue

Watchlist

White Hunter, Black Heart

84%

62%

White Hunter, Black Heart

Watchlist

Steel Magnolias

73%

89%

Steel Magnolias

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Steel Magnolias

Miss Firecracker

82%

52%

Miss Firecracker

Watchlist

Housekeeping

92%

84%

Housekeeping

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Morgan Freeman’s 10 Best Movies

Driving Miss Daisy: Trailer 1

2:10

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Daisy Werthan (Jessica Tandy), an elderly Jewish widow living in Atlanta, is determined to maintain her independence. However, when she crashes her car, her son, Boolie (Dan Aykroyd), arranges for her to have a chauffeur, an African-American driver named Hoke Colburn (Morgan Freeman). Daisy and Hoke's relationship gets off to a rocky start, but they gradually form a close friendship over the years, one that transcends racial prejudices and social conventions.

Director: Bruce Beresford
Producer: Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck
Screenwriter: Alfred Uhry
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $105.6M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings