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The Majestic

Play trailer Poster for The Majestic PG Released Dec 21, 2001 2h 32m Comedy Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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42% Tomatometer 143 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Rising Hollywood screenwriter Peter Appleton (Jim Carrey) is blacklisted in the early 1950s Red Scare. Following a drunken car accident, he wakes with amnesia near the small town of Lawson, Calif., where the residents mistake him for Luke Trimble, a local boy declared missing in action during World War II. As Peter helps Luke's father (Martin Landau) and high school sweetheart (Laurie Holden) reopen the town's sole movie theater, questions arise about his true identity and motivations.
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The Majestic

The Majestic

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Critics Consensus

Ponderous and overlong, The Majestic drowns in forced sentimentality and resembles a mish-mash of other, better films.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek I staggered out of this shameless, interminable movie feeling as if I'd been force-fed a ton of mealy, artificially sweetened baby food. Mar 8, 2018 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media This corny movie may not appeal to kids. Rated: 3/5 Dec 28, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault A gentle, toothless, shameless movie, with a Jim Carrey performance to match. Rated: D Sep 17, 2022 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens The Majestic -- it will make your heart, and your soul, smile. Enjoy the show! Nov 13, 2019 Full Review Matt Brunson Creative Loafing The first part of the movie will strike some viewers as inspiring and others as manipulative; at any rate, it's clearly the better half, since the final act is patently false and a queer whitewash of a tragic chapter in US history. Rated: 2/4 Mar 4, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Anthony R A little long...maybe...a little slow...maybe...a little to sentimental...maybe, but overall it touched on a very troubled time in US history with the "red scare and Joseph McCarthy hearings which destroyed many fine careers. Now we're in another "troubled time" with a different tool about to be sworn in to the presidency- Putin's orange sock puppet. These really are troubled times, so this movie has added relevance. Great acting by the two main characters also helps. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review David C I think this is Jim Carey's finest work outside of comedy. This movie got really bad ratings, because I think movie critics are always looking for that existential experience. This is a really good movie, good drama, and great acting. The cast is ALL STARS, and it never got a really good shake. I would LOVE to see more of this kind of acting from Jim, especially because it needs Deep Rest away from the Comedic Genious roles he's known for. We love you Jim, thanks for the Memories and great times. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review Alec B A profoundly weird movie (It invokes classic Capra but takes place after those movies were made. Amnesia is major plot point but there is no big reveal for the audience. There is palpable nostalgia but it mostly comes from the characters rather than the filmmakers) but that's what makes it watchable and not the disaster everyone thinks it is. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Joshua W It tried. It felt like putting on a putting green, where close is good but not nearly good enough. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Shay C A really good movie. Good for all audiences. Music is good, too, which always helps. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/24 Full Review jithin m A neat simple feel good movie. All the actors were really convincing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Majestic

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Rising Hollywood screenwriter Peter Appleton (Jim Carrey) is blacklisted in the early 1950s Red Scare. Following a drunken car accident, he wakes with amnesia near the small town of Lawson, Calif., where the residents mistake him for Luke Trimble, a local boy declared missing in action during World War II. As Peter helps Luke's father (Martin Landau) and high school sweetheart (Laurie Holden) reopen the town's sole movie theater, questions arise about his true identity and motivations.
Director
Frank Darabont
Producer
Frank Darabont
Screenwriter
Michael Sloane
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
NPV Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, Village Roadshow Pictures, Darkwoods Productions, Polyphony Digital
Rating
PG (Mild Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 21, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$27.8M
Runtime
2h 32m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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