Heavenly Creatures

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Heavenly Creatures

R

Released Nov 16, 1994

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

95%

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108 Reviews

83%

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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.

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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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

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Barbara Vancheri

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It's disturbing but powerful stuff.

May 16, 2023

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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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