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Music of the Heart

Play trailer Poster for Music of the Heart PG Released Sep 6, 1999 2h 4m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.
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Music of the Heart

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Critics Consensus

Meryl Streep's depiction of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things transcends, inspires, and entertains.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Adams Time Out Meryl dominates the proceedings. She simply disappears into the role, and the movie, for all its educational impulses, becomes about watching her do it. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Kay Dickinson Sight & Sound The standard plotline of a teacher bearing the torch of liberal enlightenment to an educationally bereft group comes off rather dubiously here. Dec 2, 2002 Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution Streep's extraordinary performance makes this the rare inspirational movie that actually is, well, inspirational. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...the picture grows increasingly engrossing as it builds towards its tremendously satisfying finale... Rated: 3/4 Jul 30, 2023 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com I highly recommend the film for those seeking inspiration, motivation, and affirmation of the power that one person can have on the life of another. Rated: 3.0/4.0 Sep 17, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews The vacuous but well-meaning pic is poorly executed and seems as if it were a TV movie. Rated: C+ Sep 4, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jerod S Belief, encouragement and a little grit went a long way in a NYC school district that took a risk on a violin program. Streep is good and the NSync/Estefan duet at the end will take you back! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review steve d Insetting choice for Craven, familiar material but well delivered. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best inspiring movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Frances H A wonderful movie with a delightful cast and an inspiring story to tell. The wonderful music is lovely as well. The cast of great violinists is far from a turn off either. Very heartwarming and enjoyable. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/19/17 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful anomaly in the filmography of a famous horror director, Meryl Streep's inspired performance about bringing music into young people's lives is a great feelgood movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Despite some genre clichés and uneven pacing, MUSIC OF THE HEART is still a heartwarming, inspirational story about the transformative power of music. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Music of the Heart

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Cast & Crew

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Wes Craven

Director

Meryl Streep

Roberta Guaspari

Aidan Quinn

Brian Turner

Angela Bassett

Janet Williams

Cloris Leachman

Assunta Guaspari

Gloria Estefan

Isabel Vasquez

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Music of the Heart

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Movie Info

Synopsis After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.
Director
Wes Craven
Producer
Susan Kaplan, Marianne Maddalena, Walter Scheuer
Distributor
Miramax Films, Buena Vista International [us]
Production Co
Miramax Films, Craven-Maddalena Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 6, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.8M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Surround
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