Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

2023

1 hr. 45 min.

Documentary

Biography

LGBTQ+

TRAILER

for Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed: Trailer

List

91%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Archival footage and interviews with close friends provide insight into the life and career of Hollywood icon Rock Hudson.

Read More

Read Less

Max

Watch Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed with a subscription on Max.

Critics Consensus

If it presents an incomplete picture of the actor's life and legacy, Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed remains an absorbing and poignant glimpse of Hollywood history.

Read Critics Reviews

Jeff M

It seems to me there have been an inordinate number of celebrity biographies and documentaries the last couple years. It feels like half the reviews I've written have been films of this type. Thankfully, this one will go down as one of my favorites - for a couple reasons. Firstly, although I know the name Rock Hudson, I've never seen one of his movies or TV projects, so the bulk of what I saw here truly felt informative and interesting. Secondly, I was relieved that this was as much a tribute to a life as it was a concentration on a death. I think when most people think of Hudson, they go immediately to AIDS. And it is, of course, addressed here quite substantially - it has to be. But it's also a wonderful examination of a nice guy in a public profession who spent his entire life not being able to live his truth - and making the best of it. Based on what I saw here, Hudson seemed to be happy, or at least content, throughout his life. And that's good to know. I will be looking forward to discovering his movies and finding out what I've missed. (Incidentally, I'd also recommend an entertaining Larry King show with some of Hudson's friends and colleagues that can be found on YouTube - it's a nice epilogue to this documentary.)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Jerod S

There's an obvious part to Rock's story that was hidden during his career as an actor. This biopic focuses on that part exclusively and no other aspects of his life.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/22/23

Full Review

Lorenzo B

Imperfect but engrossing nonetheless. For those of us old enough to remember the hysteria and despair of the early-mid 80s and who, like Mr. Kevoian in the film struggle to understand why we are still here while far, far too many aren't, it's a painful, personal time capsule that puts it all back front and center. Odd too how now that we're decades removed from this, it feels so historical.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/23

Full Review

Matty F

"an incomplete picture of the actor's life and legacy" !? Huh? That's all the film is about!!! How do you land on that summary after reading all these great reviews? I thought the film was extraordinary - and having lived through the AIDS crisis, found it terribly moving. It has a sweeping scope but is also very intimate and dishy in parts, a fresh point of view I found incredibly welcome, especially as a queer viewer. Bravo to the whole team - and shame on RT - such a backhanded way to present the film. Follow the fresh tomatoes - it's well worth a watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Jane W

Swoon. I always loved the films he made with Doris Day but had sort of forgotten about him - until I read about this film. Found it to be a spectacular reintroduction to him and his movies - really appreciated the time taken to talk about some of his great films, especially Giant - they really don't make 'em like that anymore! I was swept up in this film, and surprised by how emotional I got by the end - truly tragic but very very touching. I loved meeting his old friends, hearing from Doris and Linda Evans, etc. Editing was funny, clever, loved seeing all the clips - a real education about gay history and film history. Truly can't say enough good things about this film. I hope younger generations will discover him through this - Rock was one of the greats, he deserves to be remembered - and this film really puts him up there - a shining diamond!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/12/23

Full Review

darren m

Just awful. Paper thin. The nonstop unidentified excerpts of his films used to oddly tell something about his life are ABSURD. And nothing will prepare you for a truly inappropriate and unnecessary comment by one of his gay associates. The director is strangely obsessed with finding MATCHING dialogue to every element of the already thin narrative. Rock deserves better than this.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

100%

86%

Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine

98%

80%

Circus of Books

83%

82%

Kubrick by Kubrick

85%

73%

The Princess

100%

83%

June

TRAILER

for June

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed: Trailer

2:19

View more videos

View more photos

Patrick Sproull

Little White Lies

A bit one-note in scope but compellingly made.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 23, 2023

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

This is a perfectly watchable film, though it perhaps could have delved deeper into the contradictions.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 18, 2023

Full Review

Rex Reed

Observer

A funny, sad, meticulously researched and painstakingly detailed documentary,

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 3, 2023

Full Review

Jason Blake

Limelight

Meticulously assembled from film clips, news footage and interviews with former co-stars and intimates, Stephen Kijak’s documentary All That Heaven Allowed is everything you already knew about the Hollywood actor Rock Hudson and probably a little more.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 8, 2023

Full Review

Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

Taking a flaws-and-all exposé approach, the film isn’t afraid to open the door of his closet so we can really see the man whose death had as much of a legacy as his life.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 9, 2023

Full Review

Brian Viner

Daily Mail (UK)

For anyone interested in that golden era of Hollywood, it's compelling stuff.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 27, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Archival footage and interviews with close friends provide insight into the life and career of Hollywood icon Rock Hudson.

Director: Stephen Kijak
Executive Producer: Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Andy Mayson, Mike Runagall
Distributor: HBO
Production Co: Altitude Film Entertainment, Universal Studios
Genre: Documentary, Biography, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 28, 2023

Most Popular at Home Now