Heartburn

R

1986

1 hr. 48 min.

Drama

List

45%

22 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Rachel Samstat (Meryl Streep), a New York food critic, beds Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson), a Washington, D.C., newspaper columnist. The two fall in love, and Rachel relinquishes her job and relocates to be with a man who views himself as unfit for marriage. They try to build a life together -- literally -- as they struggle with the construction crews renovating their home. When Rachel gets pregnant, Mark is enthusiastic, but then soon begins doubting whether he could be a family man.

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Critics Consensus

Despite an astonishing collection of talent across the board, Heartburn's aimless plot inspires mild indigestion instead of romantic ardor.

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D M

A good old fashion film. Pretty straight forward in the messaging and I'm sure a significant amount of marriages have seen this same story in theirs.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Alec B

A far more subtle comedy than it was given credit for. The performances across the board as great and Nichols observes such small moments with great care (i.e. when two supporting characters become aware of Nicholson's infidelity due to a single line of dialogue).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Entropy O

Pretty disappointing for such a great cast. Depressing but not in a deep or thoughtful way, and the ending is particularly underwhelming with the child's nursery song supposed to pull everything together.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

Full Review

Sandy M

Terrible. Just terrible

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

Adam E

An adaptation of Nora Ephron's own novel, which was semi-autobiographical, Heartburn is a 1986 romantic dramedy about a relationship turning sour after the husband is suspected of having an affair. When Rachel (Meryl Streep) meets political columnist Mark (Jack Nicholson) at a friend's wedding, they click instantly and it's not long before they begin a relationship. Soon after, they themselves get married and buy a house together, though the latter needs a lot of work. They eventually have a child but things quickly deteriorate when Rachel finds out that Mark has been cheating on her. Heartburn is every bit as sharp and witty as you'd expect a Nora Ephron-penned script to be, the film aptly showing the ups and downs of a relationship that, very much like the house Rachel and Mark purchase, needed a lot of work from the start. Despite Jack Nicholson having to replace the original lead actor a day into the film's shoot, Mike Nichols' direction is seamless and the film never drops the ball. Meryl Streep is reliably excellent as Rachel, getting the bulk of the emotional work here and nailing it, while Jack Nicholson is unfortunately not always convincing when it comes to the sweeter moments between Mark and Rachel but he certainly makes sure that the pie-in-the-face scene feels earned, though seeing more clashes between the two of them could have helped sell it even more. Not showing any of Mark's work life makes him a particularly frustrating character and this was a smart move as it helps put you in Rachel's suspicious and anxious frame of mind. The supporting cast, which includes Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels and Stockard Channing, is solid and look out for a young Kevin Spacey in his first movie role. It may not be as upbeat as the likes of When Harry Met Sally but Heartburn hits the right notes and it's worth seeing for the talent involved alone. From the writing to the performances, this is a well crafted film that deserves a second look, even if it could have been even punchier. Quite good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

Jelisije J

An average movie about an average marriage where nothing exciting ever happens.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

Full Review

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Mike Nichols

Director

Meryl Streep

Rachel Samstat

Jack Nicholson

Mark Forman

Maureen Stapleton

Vera

Jeff Daniels

Richard

Stockard Channing

Julie Siegel

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Heartburn: Official Clip - Living in a Dream World

2:02

Heartburn: Official Clip - I Don't Believe in Marriage

2:13

Heartburn: Official Clip - Can't We Get Someone Else to Do It?

2:12

Heartburn: Official Clip - Missing Socks

1:56

Heartburn: Official Clip - Imagining Things

1:35

Heartburn: Official Clip - Baby Songs

1:59

Heartburn: Official Clip - Apparently They Don't Have Doors Either

2:13

Heartburn: Official Clip - You Just Threw it in the Drawer

2:12

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

What's profound about it is its intimacy. You feel as if you were there, and it happened to you, and its heroism, the heroism of everyday life, is yours.

Jan 2, 2018

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

This is the most disappointing film of the year, considering its pedigree -- a Mike Nichols film from a Nora Ephron script, starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 16, 2013

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Uneven script, but brilliant performances.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 21, 2005

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a mostly stirring endeavor that fares better than one might’ve anticipated.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 22, 2022

Full Review

Elissa Suh

Moviepudding

You get the impression its meant to be funny, in that sardonic half-chortle sort of way, but nothing ever quite lands.

Mar 2, 2022

Full Review

Octavi Marti

El Pais (Spain)

Heartburn is another example of the crisis American cinema is undergoing. [Full Review in Spanish]

Mar 11, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Rachel Samstat (Meryl Streep), a New York food critic, beds Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson), a Washington, D.C., newspaper columnist. The two fall in love, and Rachel relinquishes her job and relocates to be with a man who views himself as unfit for marriage. They try to build a life together -- literally -- as they struggle with the construction crews renovating their home. When Rachel gets pregnant, Mark is enthusiastic, but then soon begins doubting whether he could be a family man.

Director: Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Nora Ephron
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.3M

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