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The Family Stone

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for The Family Stone PG-13 2005 1h 44m Holiday Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
52% Tomatometer 159 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) wants to bring his girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), to meet his bohemian Connecticut family at Christmas. Straitlaced Meredith, feeling she needs backup, asks her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come along. Hoping to win the approval of her boyfriend's parents Sybil (Diane Keaton) and Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) and the rest of the family, instead Meredith succeeds only in highlighting her uptight personality and making Everett doubt his intentions.
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The Family Stone

The Family Stone

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Critics Consensus

This family holiday dramedy features fine performances but awkward shifts of tone.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 07/07/2010
The Family Stone works hard to warm the cockles of our hearts. The cast is attractive. The sentiments are commendable. But the love Bezucha wants us to feel for the family couldn't possibly compete with the love they already feel for themselves. Go to Full Review
Andrew Sarris Observer 01/05/2006
I can't deny the incidental pleasures of watching these talented players giving it their all, even in such a misguided project. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Movie Mom 12/21/2005
B
Like the character of Meredith, the film's bravado cannot mask a messy soul but should be given respect for showing up and sticking it out. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast 07/26/2023
I just can't stand this group and the ending is unbelievable Go to Full Review
Matt Wilstein The Daily Beast 12/05/2022
By the end of the film...I always find myself tearing up. Go to Full Review
Michael Cuby them. 09/26/2022
The Family Stone flips the script by having Thad be loved and supported by all his siblings and both his parents. Nothing can compete with Diane Lane, as Thad’s mom... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Janyce M @juicyj 17h SJP was bad for the most part in sitc, she's even worse in this movie!! See more Jacob B 5d Has predictable plot beats, dubious sympathy towards the characters (wait, Sarah Jessica Parker expressing homophobic views was meant to vindicate the family's chilly reception rather than it being a simple case of "open mouth, insert foot"?) and an episodic feel with some undercooked subplots. Nevertheless, The Family Stone does have an ensemble cast trying their best, a few poignant moments that I thought genuinely worked (why did Diane Keaton have to die this year? Now I feel bad after seeing her here) and I did gain some amusement out of the occasional cringe comedy. Plus, I suppose deaf people might appreciate being represented in a manner I thought was respectful. This isn't some essential Christmas classic but I surprisingly didn't hate it all that much. Maybe my judge of character leaves something to be desired? See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch 5d The Family Stone remains one of the most emotionally grounded holiday films of the 2000s, driven by Sarah Jessica Parker’s heartfelt performance as Julie Stone. She brings vulnerability and authenticity to a character desperate to belong, turning awkward moments into deeply human ones. Parker’s work anchors the film and makes Julie the emotional center of the story. The late Diane Keaton adds warmth and complexity, creating a matriarch who feels real rather than idealized. The screenplay shines through its honest portrayal of family conflict, grief, love, and acceptance, allowing characters to clash, grow, and heal without rushing resolution. Unlike louder Christmas staples, this film relies on emotional truth instead of spectacle, which gives it lasting power. Its exploration of tradition, chosen family, and forgiveness makes it endlessly rewatchable. Quietly underrated, The Family Stone is a holiday classic that resonates because it reflects real families, real flaws, and real love!! See more Tina M @THutchinson Dec 7 The cast was the attraction of watching the movie, but the negative reviews found online was a turnoff. I'm glad I still chose to watch the movie and found it a romantic comedy with enough dysfunctional family drama to make it fun. The family dynamics make you self-reflect and ends with the deeper implication that family should value the time together that they have been given. I cried at the end and what more could you want from a Christmas movie than to move your heart. It's definitely worth the watch. See more @gnglng Dec 6 SO BAD. Such a gross storyline, siblings switching lovers is disgusting, is this supposed to be some kind of Greek tragedy?! Terrible acting, a disappointment from such high profile actors, especially SJP. Lots of weird lengthy silences. There were 10 entertaining minutes in the last 20 but don't waste your time on this movie. See more Pamela H @Pamiejo Dec 6 This film has every trope imaginable-the slapstick, the maudlin tear-at-your-heart, the lovers who look like they’re separating, only to run to each other, and the happy/sappy ending. Every member of the family, with the exception of the dad, is deplorable. See more Read all reviews
The Family Stone

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Movie Info

Synopsis Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) wants to bring his girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), to meet his bohemian Connecticut family at Christmas. Straitlaced Meredith, feeling she needs backup, asks her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come along. Hoping to win the approval of her boyfriend's parents Sybil (Diane Keaton) and Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) and the rest of the family, instead Meredith succeeds only in highlighting her uptight personality and making Everett doubt his intentions.
Director
Thomas Bezucha
Producer
Michael London
Screenwriter
Thomas Bezucha
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Michael London Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Drug References)
Genre
Holiday, Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 16, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$60.1M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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