The Giver

PG-13

Released Aug 15, 2014

1 hr. 37 min.

Drama

Action

Sci-Fi

List

35%

170 Reviews

Tomatometer

55%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) lives in a seemingly idyllic world of conformity and contentment. When he begins to spend time with The Giver (Jeff Bridges), an old man who is the sole keeper of the community's memories, Jonas discovers the dangerous truths of his community's secret past. Armed with the power of knowledge, Jonas realizes that he must escape from their world to protect himself and those he loves -- a challenge no one has ever completed successfully.

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Critics Consensus

Phillip Noyce directs The Giver with visual grace, but the movie doesn't dig deep enough into the classic source material's thought-provoking ideas.

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toasteroven

Terrible. It's almost as if whoever developed this thing never even read the book, and was just given a short and bland summary of it by someone. For one, all of the main characters look older. Then, shortly afterwards, they aren't even assigned to the right jobs. Asher was never a drone operator, and Fiona was never a nurturer. Jonas receives colors too early. Jonas and Fiona's relationship go too far. Then, apparently Rosemary played piano?? Afterwards, it is revealed in the movie that the river is actually in Elsewhere, rather than running through The Community, like it supposed to. It's just one thing after another of false events that never should have happened. Oh yeah, also "elephants used to be real"

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Ripper J

It was ok; not great, but I did make it to the end. It's basically Brave New World light written for tweens. The movie might have been better if they had better actors for the younger cast members. The boy was atrocious; his character was completely unconvincing. Fiona was slightly better, but her critical scene fell flat. The adult actors were decent, but these children were blah. I've noticed there are very few younger actors coming up who have any talent or screen presence at all. Bridges, Streep and Skarsgard, even with his limited role, eclipsed the children without trying. Maybe the book is better, but I'd rather read Huxley.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Nate A

One of the worst movies I've seen in quite some time, maybe of all time. (Not including campy B movies, which can sometimes be fun.) By far one of the worst adaptations I've ever seen. This belongs in film school textbooks as a case study of every terrible crime against art a film can commit. I'm going to go take a shower.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

Carson B

It was okay, not the best but not the worst. It is funny though cause when the guys clap it looks like they're jerking it. Also it didn't follow the plot of the boom very well and at times was very of course from the book but it was okay.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

Owen T

This movie provokes a strong desire in me. A desire to regurgitate and writhe around on the floor in wrath. I can confidently state that not only is this a disgrace to the wonderfully written novel, it is a disgrace to all of society. If this move was a tomato, it would somewhat resemble my foot. Crusty, Musty, Rusty, Dusty, crawling with bugs and overtaken by grimy fungus.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Michael W

This movie stinks. The book was very good, and I would recommend it. Even if you didn't read the book this movie will make you mad. Its plotline is convoluted and weird. The book details so much more. Also, the pacing of this movie is terrible. The acting is also pretty bad. The character that plays Jonas just makes me so annoyed every time he speaks. I am so sorry to Lowis Lowry that her work got butchered like this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

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Phillip Noyce

Director

Jeff Bridges

The Giver

Meryl Streep

Chief Elder

Brenton Thwaites

Jonas

Alexander Skarsgård

Father

Katie Holmes

Mother

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Riese Bernard

Autostraddle

Taylor Swift showed up as a piano-playing hologram with a bad wig and it officially became a comedy.

Aug 13, 2021

Full Review

David Sims

The Atlantic

Noyce tries to thread the needle by hewing close to his source material while peppering in some grander-scale sci-fi business to keep things moving. It doesn't remotely work.

Sep 22, 2016

Full Review

David Ehrlich

Complex

The fatal irony at the heart of The Giver is too hilariously blatant to ignore: here is a dystopian teen drama about the perils of sameness that feels exactly like all of the other movies in its increasingly crowded genre.

Rated: 1.5/5

Sep 27, 2014

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

As both an adaptation and a stand-alone film, The Giver is something of a mess.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 5, 2022

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

Lumination Network

Noyce and company have made a reverent film that both honors its beloved beginnings and provides audiences with a thoughtful piece of family entertainment.

Feb 11, 2022

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

A small movie with big ideas about individual freedoms, memory, traditions and customs. Important themes one and all, but they're wrapped in a movie that does not do them justice.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 1, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) lives in a seemingly idyllic world of conformity and contentment. When he begins to spend time with The Giver (Jeff Bridges), an old man who is the sole keeper of the community's memories, Jonas discovers the dangerous truths of his community's secret past. Armed with the power of knowledge, Jonas realizes that he must escape from their world to protect himself and those he loves -- a challenge no one has ever completed successfully.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Executive Producer: Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Dylan Sellers, Ron Burkle, Alison Owen, Ralph Winter, Scooter Braun
Screenwriter: Michael Mitnick, Robert B. Weide
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Tonik, As Is Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Sci-Fi Action and Violence|A Mature Thematic Image)
Genre: Drama, Action, Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 15, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $45.1M

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