Running With Scissors

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Running With Scissors

R

Released Oct 27, 2006

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

32%

Tomatometer

135 Reviews

56%

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100,000+ Ratings

As the son of an alcoholic father (Alec Baldwin) and a mentally ill mother (Annette Bening), young Augusten Burroughs (Joseph Cross) faces a challenging childhood at the very least. His life takes an unexpected turn when his mother gives him to her unorthodox therapist (Brian Cox), and the boy becomes a member of the doctor's own strange, extended family.

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Critics Consensus

Despite a few great performances, the film lacks the sincerity and emotional edge of Burroughs' well-loved memoir.

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Will Lawrence

Empire Magazine

Well-acted by the superb ensemble cast but there just isn't a likeable character amongst them to care about.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 29, 2007

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

In the real world, mental illness is a serious problem. In this film, it gives everyone a license to run around like characters in a Lewis Carroll story -- all of it set to predictable pop hits from the 1970s.

Oct 31, 2006

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Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Murphy's take on Burroughs' hellish childhood is tonally fractured, unleavened with black-as-pitch gallows yuks and -- very nearly its saving grace - a series of performances that pitch and yaw between 'normal' and utterly mad.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 30, 2006

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

A few hysterical moments can't compensate for the prolonged weirdness that blankets the picture.

Rated: 4/10

Nov 21, 2020

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Paul Constant

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

This movie doesn't work because an honest adaptation of Running with Scissors can't work. Without Burroughs's narration, we're left with a Tobe Hooper horror film.

Mar 1, 2018

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Strictly for the Anderson-Baumbach crowd of privileged idiots

Aug 28, 2009

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Ed .

Looking for Attention Prime example of a film that starts out 'interesting' and then wears thin and wears my patience. The string of weird scenes for the sake of being weird unravels well before the film's end. In my opinion, its author courts drama and invents it when it serves his purposes. Even his name change demonstrates this. Having said all this, I give him much credit for overcoming his additions and staying sober. He has talents that others enjoy. C'est la vie! YMMV.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

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LeVeta S

My daughter and I loved it. What a crazy childhood.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

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Jen S

So depressing to watch

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/10/25

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Brad S. R

An ugly and thoroughly unpleasant experience.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

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Temple s

Read the brilliant, darkly funny and heartbreaking memoir. Skip the movie. It's one of the most shallow, disappointing book-to-film adaptations I've ever seen. I hope in the future someone else will try to do a better job of adapting this gem of a memoir to film.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

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ira m

Boring. Never found out why anyone cares about these people. I certainly didn't.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/04/23

Full Review

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Ryan Murphy

Director

Annette Bening

Deirdre Burroughs

Gwyneth Paltrow

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Brian Cox

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Synopsis

As the son of an alcoholic father (Alec Baldwin) and a mentally ill mother (Annette Bening), young Augusten Burroughs (Joseph Cross) faces a challenging childhood at the very least. His life takes an unexpected turn when his mother gives him to her unorthodox therapist (Brian Cox), and the boy becomes a member of the doctor's own strange, extended family.

Director: Ryan Murphy
Producer: Brad Grey, Ryan Murphy, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner
Screenwriter: Ryan Murphy
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Plan B Films
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexuality|Substance Abuse|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.8M
Runtime: 2h 0m

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