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Mask

Play trailer Poster for Mask PG-13 1985 2h 0m Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz) is an intelligent, outgoing and humorous teenager who suffers from a facial deformity called "lionitis" and has now outlived his life expectancy. While his mother, Rusty (Cher), struggles to fight for his acceptance in the public school system, he proves himself to be a highly accomplished student. Though Rocky endures ridicule for his appearance, he finds love and respect from his mother's biker gang family, and even experiences his first love.

Critics Reviews

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Dolores Barclay Associated Press 10/22/2018
Directed with great sensitivity by Peter Bogdanovich, Cher portrays Rusty with an almost sweet vulnerability. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/26/2010
4/5
Complex, moving story most appropriate for teens. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 07/18/2007
The film's undeniable impact comes from Bogdanovich's willingness to go too far with practically every emotional moment, while maintaining a distant, classical visual style that gives the film a surface dignity and reserve. Go to Full Review
Quentin Crisp Christopher Street 05/06/2024
With this rather hazy material, Cher works wonders. Around the vagueness of the story, she weaves her own personal mystery. Go to Full Review
Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 01/05/2022
There was so much I loved about Mask. Eric Stoltz's excellent performance as the real-life Rocky Dennis, a funny and kind sixteen-year-old with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia... Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 04/16/2011
B+
Exremely well acted family melodrama about a disfigured boy that in the hands of another director could have been a schmaltzy TV Movie of the Week Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Louise M Sep 17 I watched this movie as a kid and bought it when I got older. Cher is just amazing and I gave full admiration for the mother of Rocky. It's a really sad film. Sad because of Rocky's disability and sad because he touched the hearts of so many who genuinely loved him. His mother was obviously a 'not taking any sh' bad ass and I loved that. She obviously had a wave of support which was lovely to see. In a world where people are treated badly because of their indifference, Rocky shows himself to the world with no shame, no hiding. He is who he is. Everyone he meets loves him but not as much as his mother. It's so sad when he dies. To know this great acting is based on a true story makes it even more heart wrenching. Brilliant film. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 4 Based on a true story in 2 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Cher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Mar 9 The mask is usually the face we see or not used to seeing Directed by the late Peter Bogdonovich and based on the true story of Rocky Dennis in 1978 California who suffered a facial deformity called “lionitis” A calcium deposit abnormality since childbirth caused Rocky to appear abnormal and it’s affecting his cranium along with his spinal chord His life expectancy is expected to not exceed already what he’s lived Meanwhile his mom Rusty struggles to get him into the public school system being part of a biker gang Rocky also falls for a girl named Diana at a summer camp and one of the few people who see him for his humor, humanity, and intelligence Eric Stolz does a solid job as this young man looking to belong and Cher is spectacular as his mother It actually stinks that Laura Dern doesn’t show up until after an hour and 21 min which makes the flow of the film feel a bit off 2 hours is lengthy but the film shows this young man’s vulnerability and spirit able to uplift many See more Garrett B @gmoney637 Jan 25 Way too much foul language, but it has solid performances and emotional moments See more Michelle R 10/07/2024 Entretenida, la actuación de Cher deja muuucho qué desear See more Horror fan 4 03/18/2024 One of the best movies of the 1980's. Cher, Eric Stoltz and Sam Elliot give great performances. Absolutely love this movie. Tim Treakle See more Read all reviews
Mask

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Mask

Mask: Official Clip - Rocky & Diana Mask: Official Clip - Rocky & Diana 2:37 Mask: Official Clip - A Hooker for Rocky Mask: Official Clip - A Hooker for Rocky 2:20 Mask: Official Clip - First Day of School Mask: Official Clip - First Day of School 2:55 Mask: Official Clip - School Registration Mask: Official Clip - School Registration 2:18 Mask: Official Clip - Rusty Remembers Rocky Mask: Official Clip - Rusty Remembers Rocky 1:43 Mask: Official Clip - The Story of Troy Mask: Official Clip - The Story of Troy 2:14 Mask: Official Clip - Meeting Diana's Parents Mask: Official Clip - Meeting Diana's Parents 2:07 Mask: Official Clip - Prostitute Fallout Mask: Official Clip - Prostitute Fallout 1:59 Mask: Official Clip - Rocky's Test Results Mask: Official Clip - Rocky's Test Results 1:28 Mask: Official Clip - Rocky's Lionitis Mask: Official Clip - Rocky's Lionitis 2:20 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz) is an intelligent, outgoing and humorous teenager who suffers from a facial deformity called "lionitis" and has now outlived his life expectancy. While his mother, Rusty (Cher), struggles to fight for his acceptance in the public school system, he proves himself to be a highly accomplished student. Though Rocky endures ridicule for his appearance, he finds love and respect from his mother's biker gang family, and even experiences his first love.
Director
Peter Bogdanovich
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Biography, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 8, 1985, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 22, 1997
Runtime
2h 0m