The Notebook

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2:13

The Notebook

PG-13

Released Jun 25, 2004

2h 4m

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

182 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. When Noah goes off to serve in World War II, it seems to mark the end of their love affair. In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden). But when Noah returns to their small town years later, on the cusp of Allie's marriage, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over.

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Critics Consensus

It's hard not to admire its unabashed sentimentality, but The Notebook is too clumsily manipulative to rise above its melodramatic clichés.

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Scott Tobias

AV Club

In a romance where paradise is a duck-filled pond, it helps to be mild-mannered.

Feb 2, 2019

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Dentistry in the Renaissance could not have been more painful than watching this.

Rated: 1/5

Feb 2, 2019

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Leslie Felperin

Times (UK)

A honey-dipped love story with a surprisingly tart aftertaste, The Notebook is a better-than-you'd-expect adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's bestselling novel of the same name.

Feb 2, 2019

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Patricia Karounos

Refinery29

The Notebook is one of those movies that is so sad, you could break out into tears just thinking about it.

Oct 23, 2023

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

A tearjerker? It'll make you cry but it's not manipulative. A chick flick? It's just an inspiring love story that will touch your heart and make you believe true love can last a lifetime and conquer all. Isn't that what we all want?

Rated: 4/5

Apr 21, 2023

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Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

There is always cinema room for the unabashed tearjerker, & THE N delivers on that "note." Any film that has Gena Rowlands in it will at least shine when she is on the screen & this was no exception. David Thornton with a handlebar mustache ... exquisite!

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 25, 2023

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Shayla

Your review will help others decide whether to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/25/21

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Mark W

Woman cheats on good guy fiancé because reasons. Idiot builds her a house anyways.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Charlotte D

Best movie i've ever seen!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

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Jiny S

The movie is incredibly fun, romantic, and bittersweet. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the stereotypical happy American couple from the 1940s. Life seemed so much simpler back then—people appeared to have a great deal of freedom and were unburdened by the complexities of modern life. It reminds me of *The Great Gatsby* in some ways, but this is a purely romantic tale with a happy ending.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

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Santa F

The notebook never fails to make me ball my eyes out, the love between them is just beautiful and real, i think the fact he remembered what kind of house she wanted set the standard really high for every man.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

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Jackeline T

I love how The Notebook tells a slow-paced, deeply passionate love story. Noah and Allie’s relationship develops naturally, piece by piece, making every moment feel meaningful. Their connection isn’t just about grand gestures but the quiet, intimate moments that define true love. This movie beautifully captures the feeling of falling in love—slowly, intensely, and completely.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

Full Review

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Nick Cassavetes

Director

Ryan Gosling

Noah Calhoun

Rachel McAdams

Allie Hamilton

James Garner

Duke

Gena Rowlands

Allie Calhoun

James Marsden

Lon

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Synopsis

In 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. When Noah goes off to serve in World War II, it seems to mark the end of their love affair. In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden). But when Noah returns to their small town years later, on the cusp of Allie's marriage, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over.

Director: Nick Cassavetes
Producer: Mark Johnson, Lynn Harris
Screenwriter: Nick Cassavetes, Jeremy Leven, Nicholas Sparks, Jan Sardi
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Avery Pix
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexuality)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $81.0M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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