Hope Floats

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Hope Floats

PG-13

Released May 29, 1998

1h 54m

Romance

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Popcornmeter

27%

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33 Reviews

72%

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50,000+ Ratings

Birdee Pruitt (Sandra Bullock) has been humiliated on live television by her best friend, Connie (Rosanna Arquette), who's been sleeping with Birdee's husband, Bill (Michael Paré). Birdee tries starting over with her daughter, Bernice (Mae Whitman), by returning to her small Texas hometown, but she's faced with petty old acquaintances who are thrilled to see Birdee unhappy -- except for her friend Justin (Harry Connick Jr.). As he helps Birdee get back on her feet, love begins to blossom.

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Critics Consensus

Hope Floats sinks under a deluge of melodramatic turns and syrupy sentimentality, although Sandra Bullock remains a winning star.

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Xan Brooks

Independent (UK)

A winsome piece that turns a loving eye on Sandra Bullock as a down-in-the-dumps ex-beauty queen.

Mar 29, 2019

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 12, 2002

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Carly Kocurek

Common Sense Media

Redemptive drama ready made for family viewing.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2011

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Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

... just horrible, horrible, horrible.

Rated: D-

Jan 27, 2005

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Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 2/10

Jul 26, 2004

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Dave C

A long, protracted story that never really peaks. The schmaltzy, angsty emotional states don't help either, as nothing really resolves, and most of the characters aren't developed enough to show us anything remotely close to depth. As such, all efforts fall short, and it ends up being a disappointing, forgettable film

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Audience Member

I disagree with most critics and find myself instead very close to several common people. Ok it is not a masterpiece but is a hearthwarming movie with a great Sandra Bullock. What I liked most is that it manages to be a movie not just about a single theme as many other movies, even acclaimed ones, are. Sandra is a desirable sexy woman, an abandoned wife, a depressed person, a mom having to deal with complicated parenting issues, a job-seeker, a goofy character, a daughter in need of her parents’ comfort, has to deal with old friendships good and bad…all at the same time - and does all of it convincingly. In other words, resembles a real person in the real world. I think this is uncommon in movies. And it shows, not a perfect happy life or happy ending, but simply that by sticking to your humanity and true values, relying on the persons close to you, you can manage to live a decent (not perfect) life in spite of many bumps. Not a bad movie at all.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

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Audience Member

Good drama that makes you cry

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/24

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EllaJo r

Great job and this cute sad and then happy movie, kinda wish you could have played out more of her first marriage to get everyone more shocked.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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Melanie V

This movie is one of my all time favorites of Sandra Bullock. Speed, 28 days, hope floats, miss congeniality, lost city, and more. Every movie she is in, is a smash hit.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

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Jenna R

So cheesy, absolutely no plot. There were so many loose ends and unexplained turns of events, I couldn't form a connection with any of the characters.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/25/23

Full Review

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Forest Whitaker

Director

Sandra Bullock

Birdie Pruitt

Harry Connick Jr.

Justin Matisse

Gena Rowlands

Ramona Calvert

Mae Whitman

Bernice Pruitt

Michael Paré

Bill Pruitt

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Synopsis

Birdee Pruitt (Sandra Bullock) has been humiliated on live television by her best friend, Connie (Rosanna Arquette), who's been sleeping with Birdee's husband, Bill (Michael Paré). Birdee tries starting over with her daughter, Bernice (Mae Whitman), by returning to her small Texas hometown, but she's faced with petty old acquaintances who are thrilled to see Birdee unhappy -- except for her friend Justin (Harry Connick Jr.). As he helps Birdee get back on her feet, love begins to blossom.

Director: Forest Whitaker
Producer: Lynda Obst
Screenwriter: Steven Rogers
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox, Fortis Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 29, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.0M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Surround

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