Girl With a Pearl Earring

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Girl With a Pearl Earring

PG-13

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1h 39m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

177 Reviews

68%

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50,000+ Ratings

When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). When wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.

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Critics Consensus

Visually arresting, but the story could be told with a bit more energy.

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Anthony Lane

The New Yorker

What keeps Webber's movie alive is the tenseness of the setup (will this girl stay in the artist's household, and, if so, will she become his lover or his muse?), and, above all, the presence of Johansson.

May 10, 2021

Full Review

Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Little happens -- save for several family arguments and the artist worrying about money and the integrity of his ambition -- yet it is unforgettable, and, shot to look like a moving Vermeer painting, effortlessly profound.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 14, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Older teens and adults will enjoy. Book is better.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Felicia Feaster

Creative Loafing

[A] satisfying, provocative film.

Jan 29, 2020

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

A visually stunning masterpiece with the beauty and elegance of a single perfect pearl.

Nov 7, 2019

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

The film is an intriguing speculative account of the creation of one of Vermeer's most famous and sensual paintings. Every shot in the film looks like it was taken right out of a painting from Delft, Holland circa 1665...

Rated: B+

May 9, 2009

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thiago s

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

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

Full Review

Daniel M

It was a well made movie and I enjoyed the setting and the time period of the film, I just couldn’t get into the story too much and I had to force myself to finish watching it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

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Alec B

It's all tawdry melodrama in the end but the cinematography is on another level here

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

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alex r

Pale adaptation of the book

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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colin m

A good film. A bit slow though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

lanfranco c

The Making of a Famous Painting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Peter Webber

Director

Colin Firth

Johannes Vermeer

Scarlett Johansson

Griet

Tom Wilkinson

Van Ruijven

Judy Parfitt

Maria Thins

Cillian Murphy

Pieter

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Artistic Affection

1:32

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Catharina Sees the Painting

2:19

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - The Colors of the Clouds

1:49

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Painting You at My Pleasure

2:10

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Girl With a Pearl Earring

2:19

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Faithful to One Mistress

1:31

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - A Camera Obscura

2:15

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Tools of the Trade

1:59

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - I Need to See Your Face

2:10

Girl with a Pearl Earring: Official Clip - Master and Maid

2:14

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Synopsis

When her father goes blind, Griet (Scarlett Johansson) must go to work as a maid for painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). While cleaning the house, Griet strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vermeer, which both agree to keep secret for fear of provoking the painter's jealous wife, Catharina (Essie Davis). When wealthy patron Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson) begins to lust after Griet, and commissions a painting of her, Vermeer and Griet are obliged to spend long hours alone together.

Director: Peter Webber
Producer: Andy Paterson, Anand Tucker
Screenwriter: Olivia Hetreed
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Delux Productions, UK Film Council, Archer Street Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.6M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround