Garden State

R

Released Jan 16, 2004

1 hr. 49 min.

Comedy

TRAILER

for Garden State: Trailer 1

List

86%

191 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Ram L

Marvelous. Wonderful. Lovely. Beautiful. Splendid. OK, just dig out the thesaurus and start with "marvelous" or "splendid." —Seriously, one of the greatest things about this movie is the sheer range of human experience it depicts—and the sheer range of emotions it portrays *and* generates. Unless the synopsis on RT makes you actively wish to not watch it, go ahead and watch this movie now if you can!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

Full Review

Gloria 2

couldn't get into it. acting wasn't great and plot lacks depth/ authenticity

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

Kyle M

Zach Braff's directorial debut is impressive as the picture ponders soulful rehabilitation in confronting the distanced, welcomed past with excelled embodiment, to the assured relatable extent, alongside Natalie Portman's embraced eccentricity that affectively brightens the overall balance. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

Full Review

Darren B

Weird, depressing characters in a faux-sophisticared comedy called Garden State that has ZERO to do with New Jersey.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Jess L

My all time pick me up and be happy movie. Ultimate favorite!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Don T

Absolutely great. And the soundtrack. OMG

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

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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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

Full Review

Christy Lemire

Associated Press

Rated: A

Nov 7, 2011

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Film4

Although flawed, Garden State is a good-natured film whose very likeability leaves you willing to overlook its shortcomings.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 7, 2011

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Screenwriter: Zach Braff
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Jersey Films, Camelot Pictures, Large's Ark Productions
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
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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