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Heavenly Creatures

Play trailer Poster for Heavenly Creatures R Released Nov 16, 1994 1h 39m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 108 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through their shared love of handsome big screen tenor Mario Lanza and games of make believe. But when their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense friendship is becoming unhealthy, the girls decide to run away to America, hatching a dark plan for those who threaten to keep them apart.
Heavenly Creatures

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Dark, stylish, and captivating, Heavenly Creatures signals both the auspicious debut of Kate Winslet and the arrival of Peter Jackson as more than just a cult director.

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Critics Reviews

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Stella Bruzzi Sight & Sound A beautifully choreographed descent into the realm of the personal and therefore the inexplicable. May 16, 2023 Full Review Jami Bernard New York Daily News A film as fascinating as the obsessive friendship it depicts. Rated: 4/4 May 16, 2023 Full Review Geoff Brown The Times (UK) The film explores their minds with wonder and sympathy, plotting the course of an intense relationship that traps the girls in their own fantasies. May 16, 2023 Full Review Karl Puschmann New Zealand Herald Heavenly Creatures is a haunting film that stays with you. It’s dark and disturbing and strangely beautiful. Like a lonely walk through a solitary park on a brisk Christchurch afternoon in June. Aug 5, 2024 Full Review Malinda Lo AfterEllen.com As it is, watch Heavenly Creatures for excellent acting and direction, but not for its portrayal of lesbianism. May 1, 2024 Full Review Barbara Vancheri Pittsburgh Post-Gazette It's disturbing but powerful stuff. May 16, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lorenz L Ah, yes! Just what we all need! A morality fable for matricidal teenage lesbians! Perhaps we can just chalk it up to age: at 31, it’s not holding up well. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/31/25 Full Review Bernard M Excellent film based on a true story. Fabulous performances and writing. The set design really captures the feel of 50’s New Zealand. I am not an admirer of Peter Jackson’s work but this film is outstanding in all aspects. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Eric W. I believe this is Kate Winslet’s first feature film. It’s no wonder Peter Jackson went on to become a celebrated director. Actual true stories that can be proven make my stomach churn. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/25 Full Review Dani G The transition to cinematic maturity of Peter Jackson and a lovely young Kate Winslet in this rather obscure teen drama Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Blu B All Time Classic. It's like someone took Tim Burton & Sam Raimi and merged them together, you'd get this. It's a dark drama, comedy, and fantasy mixed together in one of the most surreal things I've seen. The bizarre frantic camerawork, amazing fantasy scenes, and just very quirky original scenes in general are almost unforgettable overall. If I can find one fault the acting is really good but Kate Winslet is incredible in this and no one comes up to her level of energy and obsession. whenever it just involves Pauline it's not as riveting but fortunately the two are together the majority of the time. It's amazing how surreal, charming, and twisted this can be and never feels out of place. Everyone should give this a try once. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/24 Full Review Leaburn O Well directed. Feels silly at first but builds creepily to a weird ending. Masterfully reflects the rambling idiocy of a young teenage girl’s mind as written in her diary. Watched on DVD. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Heavenly Creatures

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Jackson

Director

Melanie Lynskey

Pauline Yvonne (Parker) Rieper

Kate Winslet

Juliet Hulme

Sarah Peirse

Honora Parker Rieper

Diana Kent

Hilda Hulme

Clive Merrison

Dr. Henry Hulme

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Heavenly Creatures

Heavenly Creatures (1994) Heavenly Creatures (1994) Heavenly Creatures (1994) Heavenly Creatures (1994) Heavenly Creatures (1994) Heavenly Creatures (1994) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through their shared love of handsome big screen tenor Mario Lanza and games of make believe. But when their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense friendship is becoming unhealthy, the girls decide to run away to America, hatching a dark plan for those who threaten to keep them apart.
Director
Peter Jackson
Producer
Jim Booth
Screenwriter
Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Distributor
Miramax Films, Miramax Home Entertainment [us]
Production Co
Miramax Films
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 16, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$870.8K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround, Stereo