Six Degrees of Separation

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Six Degrees of Separation

R

Released Dec 8, 1993

1h 51m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

34 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Privileged art dealers Flan (Donald Sutherland) and Ouisa (Stockard Channing) are hosting a dinner party when Paul (Will Smith), a blood-soaked young man, arrives on their doorstep. He claims to be a friend of their Ivy League children, and charms his way into the house. But when the couple discover the truth about Paul and his real identity, they kick him out. As the couple trades stories with their friends about Paul, his presence proves surprisingly hard to shake.

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Critics Consensus

Though it betrays its theatrical roots, Six Degrees of Separation largely succeeds thanks to astute direction and fine performances -- particularly from an against-type Will Smith.

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Daniel Fienberg

Zap2it.com

It walks like a play and talks like a play, but thanks to the gentle direction and the performances from the crack cast -- particularly Channing and a never-better Smith -- it's satisfying as a movie.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 8, 2005

Full Review

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

It's too clever by half, an inside joke aimed at the New York gentry.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

The temporal experience of watching Six Degrees of Separation is one of absorption and intrigue.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Steve Warren

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Six Degrees of Separation is a bit intellectual for a mass audience, but it's got some very funny moments and is loaded with thought-provoking social satire.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

It was the first major film role for Will Smith, and some would say that despite the star he has become in years since, this early role is still his best.

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

Steve Persall

Tampa Bay Times

A mystery wrapped inside an enigmatic nation, flawlessly acted and difficult to predict. I'm always impressed when a movie informs about a foreign culture while it entertains, and this one is powerful art in that regard.

Rated: A

Mar 2, 2012

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Chris G

Perhaps I was too young to appreciate the subject matter when I watched this movie years ago. But it ranks as one of only 2 movies that for me were so bad that I shut them off before watching to the end.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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Mitch C

Knowing the high powered cast, I hung in there. The fine acting, occasionally humorous dialog and semi-relevant social commentary fails to overcome the problem. It's a giant bore. Pass.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/20/23

Full Review

farah r

An unusual film that feels more like a play than a motion picture. Six Degrees of Separation struggles with pacing issues and delivering a clear message but benefits from combing comedy and drama to alleviate the monotony of its narrative. Will Smith takes on a role unlike his usual and gives it his all, raising the question of why his career was spent playing action heroes.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

A lot of fun. Smith's star turn is worth watching really for how it lampoons affluent Upper East siders.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

I like the portrayal of rich white people in it. Other than that it doesn't really offer much.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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steve d

A strong cast makes it a really interesting watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Fred Schepisi

Director

Stockard Channing

Ouisa

Will Smith

Paul

Donald Sutherland

Flan

Bruce Davison

Larkin

Ian McKellen

Geoffrey

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - I Loved That Shirt!

2:07

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - We'll Have a Wonderful Life

2:11

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - I Was Mugged

2:13

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - Paul Seduces Rick

1:59

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - A Terrible Match

2:09

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - Chaos, Control

2:04

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - Stripping for Info

2:13

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - A Painter Losing a Painting

1:45

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - The Worst Kind of Yellowness

2:12

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - Six Degrees of Separation

1:49

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Synopsis

Privileged art dealers Flan (Donald Sutherland) and Ouisa (Stockard Channing) are hosting a dinner party when Paul (Will Smith), a blood-soaked young man, arrives on their doorstep. He claims to be a friend of their Ivy League children, and charms his way into the house. But when the couple discover the truth about Paul and his real identity, they kick him out. As the couple trades stories with their friends about Paul, his presence proves surprisingly hard to shake.

Director: Fred Schepisi
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Fred Schepisi
Screenwriter: John Guare
Distributor: Argentina Video Home, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Maiden Movies, Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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