Garden State

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Garden State

R

Released Jan 16, 2004

1h 49m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

191 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After many years away, television bit part actor Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) returns to his small home town in New Jersey to attend his mother's funeral. There he is confronted by various aspects of the life he left behind, including his overbearing father (Ian Holm). Largeman also meets compulsive liar and amateur musician Sam (Natalie Portman), with whom he feels an immediate connection. Together with several other figures from his past, Largeman heals old wounds and forges new friendships.

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Critics Consensus

Delivering a quirky spin on familiar twentysomething tropes -- with a cannily-placed soundtrack -- Garden State has enough charm to mark a winning debut for first-time director Zach Braff.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

On the basis that it behoves all of us to keep a little nugget of our 15-year-old selves locked up in our breasts, I'm going to say this is a loveable film and that you should all go and see it to awake your inner adolescent.

Dec 20, 2017

Full Review

Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Braff captures the specific, self-involved ennui of the aimless 20-something, and he doesn't do it from a point of smug detachment.

Jun 21, 2016

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Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Rated: A

Nov 7, 2011

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Garden State’s original sin is abandoning the original story of how to resolve the numbness of the beginning with tropes like stop taking your prescription medicine, socialize and live. Braff treats the central concept, why the protagonist is so numb

Jun 12, 2024

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

The fact that the pinnacle of this film puts the three lead characters in garbage bags yelling nonsense into the air is much more scathing than any review that could ever be written.

Jun 15, 2022

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

I found myself experiencing fits of laughter and tears for a good two hours following my viewing of Garden State.

Rated: 4.0/4.0

Sep 8, 2020

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Mason M

This directorial debut from Zach Braff is a surprisingly amazing film. I, of course, have seen Scrubs and know Braff from that. But I had no idea that he was such a talented writer and director too. Garden State was a hilarious coming of age drama that was perfectly sincere while still remaining funny. I really loved the pacing of this film. It was perfect in its pacing, how it always is drudging along at a slow rate the whole time. It never stops or goes faster, it's always just in motion. And the world that Braff creates in this film is perfect in how the scenarios always are absurd and funny in their absurdity, but still feel believable as something that could happen. The character of Andrew in this film also is stellar, he's a very layered and emotional creation which is one of the best film characters I've seen in awhile. The soundtrack is amazing here, the whole cast gives great performances, the photography is great, it's all a great film. Braff's world-building here is phenomenal, and the whole film is a deep and emotionally full project.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

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Faiz D

Good little movie, good acting by Zach, Natalie and Peter.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Tony S

This is a movie that I put off watching for a long time. I'm glad I finally saw it. The story revolves around a dysfunctional family, former high school friends who are losers, and a young woman who comes into the life of a man and changes his life. Neither he nor she has answers, but they resolve to work on life together. In the end, that's a hopeful outcome.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/25

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Drew B

An earthy and endearing movie. For someone who experience things like depression or just a desire to do something no ones done before, this might strike a nerve with you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

kew p

I miss the early 2000s when liking garden state and vampire weekend would get me girls, truly simpler times.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

Full Review

Tyler G

The ultimate finding yourself rom com. Great cast, writing it poetry, cinematography has so many memorable shots, the perfected manic pixie dream girl character. The best soundtrack in movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

Full Review

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Zach Braff

Director

Zach Braff

Andrew Largeman

Ian Holm

Gideon Largeman

Ron Leibman

Dr. Cohen

Method Man

Diego

Natalie Portman

Sam

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Garden State: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After many years away, television bit part actor Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) returns to his small home town in New Jersey to attend his mother's funeral. There he is confronted by various aspects of the life he left behind, including his overbearing father (Ian Holm). Largeman also meets compulsive liar and amateur musician Sam (Natalie Portman), with whom he feels an immediate connection. Together with several other figures from his past, Largeman heals old wounds and forges new friendships.

Director: Zach Braff
Producer: Pamela Abdy, Richard Klubeck, Gary Gilbert, Dan Halsted
Screenwriter: Zach Braff
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Jersey Films, Large's Ark Productions, Camelot Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Scenes of Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.8M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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