Heavenly Creatures

R

Released Nov 16, 1994

1 hr. 39 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

95%

108 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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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Jeff M

Like a fine wine, the experience of this movie continues to improve with age, and I become more and more spellbound after each viewing. The fact that this is a true story makes it even more remarkable. I have never seen a film that balances so well the transition between reality and fantasy. Jackson brings the daydreams of these teenage girls to splendid life. Lynskey and Winslet are beyond wonderful, but I want to give a special notice to Sarah Peirse as Pauline's mom. It is a heartbreaking performance, and my heart absolutely bleeds for her.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

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Luis M. D

Both in style and substance this movie succeeds. It's an excellent depiction of child psychopathy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/24/23

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Tim G

I can see why things turned out pretty well for Peter Jackson.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/22/23

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Gareth v

Jackson shows his talents as a director in this dreamlike telling of one of NZ's most infamous crimes. Both Winslet & Lynskey are captivating in the lead roles.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/18/23

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dave s

Before he got wrapped up in his big budget Tolkien adaptations, director Peter Jackson made an odd little movie called Heavenly Creatures. When high school students Juliet (Kate Winslet), a confident and cultured young woman, and the withdrawn Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) meet, an unusual bond is formed, ultimately leading them to blur the line between fantasy and reality. A crime film meshed with an in-depth character study, it effectively captures a realistic ‘50s vibe while simultaneously indulging in surrealistic elements. Winslet and Lynskey, both in their big screen debuts, are excellent throughout, as are the secondary characters. While the movie probably won't appeal to all audiences, it's interesting to see a Jackson movie that isn't filled with hobbits, dwarves and elves.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

s r

1001 movies to see before you die. This one came across as over the top, but then it took a turn for the odd. Focusing on developing an unusual relationship of odd young ladies and how they found happiness with each other. It delved into their fantasy world in a way I haven't seen before, so that was something unique about the film. It also was interesting to learn about NZ conventions that they had to face. However, I don't plan to see this again. I saw it on STG DVD.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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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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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

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

Barbara Vancheri

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It's disturbing but powerful stuff.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Constitution

A movie as swooningly self- intoxicated as its schoolgirl protagonists.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

A powerful impression of the hazy line that may be drawn between imagination and reality by immature minds.

May 16, 2023

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Hanno Huth
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
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo