I Smile Back

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1:46

I Smile Back

R

2015

1h 25m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

71 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Addicted to drugs and alcohol, a housewife's (Sarah Silverman) self-destructive behavior starts to take its toll on her husband (Josh Charles) and two young children.

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Critics Consensus

I Smile Back serves as a powerful showcase for Sarah Silverman's dramatic range, but fails to surround her committed performance with a movie worthy of its depth.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/01/2017

D

... the ending is one of those conclusions of a film that you see coming a few minutes before it does yet you pray it actually doesn't end that way because you know you'd feel like throwing your shoe at the screen.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

08/22/2016

3/4

I Smile Back might not rewrite the addiction or mental illness melodrama rule book but that doesn't make it less affecting, Silverman's spectacular performance alone making the price of a ticket well worth spending.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

05/30/2016

'I Smile Back' could very well be just another addiction drama, were it not for the power and force of Silverman's performance, which she plays with such raw openness that she transcends the material.

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David Bax

Battleship Pretension

01/11/2021

I Smile Back is, according to the goals it set itself, a successful movie. But is that the same as being a good one?

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Brigid Presecky

FF2 Media

08/16/2019

3.5/5

Although the script by Amy Koppelman and Paige Dylan falters in its bizarre, grotesque depiction of suburban housewives, Silverman's transformation is mesmerizing.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

07/02/2019

In the case of I Smile Back, there is no insight, just the endurance contest of watching a woman with mental illness and addiction.

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Adri P

@Adpel Jan 1

Sucked. Waste of amazing talent. Not every novel is meant to be a film.

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Robert H

@Rwhobbs198 Dec 16

I Smile Back delivers solid performances and a very realistic look at the mental strain that can come from everyday adult life — bills, children, marriage, career, and the quiet pressure of holding it all together. The film effectively shows how emotional trauma, addiction, and feeling stuck in long-term ruts can bleed into the decisions people make well into adulthood. It’s not especially detailed or expansive, and it doesn’t aim to be — this is a small, emotionally focused story. At times it’s a rough watch, but that discomfort feels intentional. While it didn’t fully click with me or leave a lasting impact, I didn’t mind the one-time viewing, and it may resonate strongly with the right audience.

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Angela W

@Ang3la Dec 6

It is a wonderful film for ppl that come from broken families to have a good life to 💯 family lol jk

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R T

@RT88164790 Dec 2

It was ok. Sara Silverman was good but it had an abrupt ending.

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Laura R

@RT68729542 Nov 30

I had to turn it off when she dry humps her kids toy in the kid's bedroom while they are sleeping. I used to think she was funny, but this was just gross.

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown 10/21/2023

I Smile Back is meant to make you irk at the pain of addiction, especially as a parent in a family. Silverman makes the viewer so uncomfortable, just like it was meant to be.

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Adam Salky

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I Smile Back: Trailer 1

1:46

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Synopsis

Addicted to drugs and alcohol, a housewife's (Sarah Silverman) self-destructive behavior starts to take its toll on her husband (Josh Charles) and two young children.

Director: Adam Salky
Producer: Brian Koppelman, David Levien, Mike Harrop, Richard Arlook
Screenwriter: Paige Dylan, Amy Koppelman
Distributor: Broad Green Pictures
Production Co: Oscar Crosby Films, Film House Germany
Rating: R (Substance Abuse|Disturbing Behavior|Strong Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 23, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.7K
Runtime: 1h 25m