Music of the Heart

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Music of the Heart

PG

Released Sep 6, 1999

2h 4m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

90 Reviews

72%

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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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Streep's extraordinary performance makes this the rare inspirational movie that actually is, well, inspirational.

Jan 1, 2000

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...the picture grows increasingly engrossing as it builds towards its tremendously satisfying finale...

Rated: 3/4

Jul 30, 2023

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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

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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

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Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 4 minutes!!!!!!!!! Happy 26th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

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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

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steve d

Insetting choice for Craven, familiar material but well delivered.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

The best inspiring movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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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

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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

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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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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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