Sherrybaby

R

Released Jan 25, 2006

1h 35m

Drama

List

76%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

57%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

After serving time in prison, former drug addict Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns home to reclaim her young daughter from family members who have been raising the child. Sherry's family, especially her sister-in-law (Bridget Barkan), doubt Sherry's ability to be a good mother, and Sherry finds her resolve to stay clean slowly weakening.

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Critics Consensus

Maggie Gyllenhaal delivers riveting performance as a recovering drug addict in a depressing and not entirely believable movie.

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Jul 27, 2007

Full Review

Michael Booth

Denver Post

It's the movie for you if you liked the pessimistic street view of Half Nelson.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 26, 2007

Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Observer

As an actress, Ms. Gyllenhaal seems to steer clear of any parts that seek to exploit an audience's weakness for conventionally happy endings. Her films are therefore always worth seeing.

Oct 4, 2006

Full Review

Heather Boerner

Common Sense Media

Gyllenhaal shines in gritty, haunting drug drama.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 18, 2010

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance is wonderful, diving into this character that has barely anything worth sympathizing with...

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

"Sherrybaby" is an insightful and penetrating drama that never condescends or sentimentalizes its subject. Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a tour de force performance that is not to be missed.

Rated: A-

Apr 19, 2009

Full Review

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dave s

In Sherrybaby, Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has just been paroled from prison and, as per her parole officer, needs to stay straight. On top of this, her priority is to reconnect with a young daughter who she barely knows, a task that may be beyond her abilities. Gyllenhaal gives a career-defining performance as a woman on the verge of spiraling out of control, swinging wildly between tenderness, despair, vulnerability, and manic anger. Despite the fact that the narrative has little dramatic arc and there's little or no character-development (until the last couple of minutes) to speak of, Gyllenhaal's performance makes Sherry Baby worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

steve d

Maggie Gyllenhaal's fantastic performance brings to life a complicated character and it makes for an engaging film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Maggie Gyllenhaal is one of Americas finest actresses' and in " Sherry Baby " she pulls out a performance that is out wrenching, painful to watch meaning that her acting was very well done and is believable, I haven't seen her in this type of films, In my opinion at least she should of been nominated for an Oscar. So for that I give " Sherry Baby " a C.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

In this quietly devastating drama sensitively directed by Laurie Collyer, Maggie Gyllenhaal renders a spellbinding performance as the eponymous former female convict coming to realise that rebuilding her life after prison proves to be so unimaginably hard.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A complex and sad movie. Not something I would see again but I liked it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Maggie Gyllenhaal's painfully realistic and brave performance is really the only reason to see this movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Laurie Collyer

Director

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Sherry Swanson

Brad William Henke

Bobby Swanson

Danny Trejo

Dean Walker

Giancarlo Esposito

Officer Hernandez

Ryan Simpkins

Alexis Parks

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Synopsis

After serving time in prison, former drug addict Sherry Swanson (Maggie Gyllenhaal) returns home to reclaim her young daughter from family members who have been raising the child. Sherry's family, especially her sister-in-law (Bridget Barkan), doubt Sherry's ability to be a good mother, and Sherry finds her resolve to stay clean slowly weakening.

Director: Laurie Collyer
Producer: Lemore Syvan, Marc Turtletaub
Screenwriter: Laurie Collyer
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Big Beach, Red Envelope Entertainment, Elevation Filmworks
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Drug Content|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2006, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $198.4K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital