The Giver

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The Giver

PG-13

Released Aug 15, 2014

1h 37m

Drama

Action

Sci-Fi

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Popcornmeter

35%

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168 Reviews

55%

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50,000+ Ratings

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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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

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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

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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

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JD Duran

InSession Film

The Giver is a studios way of pandering to the dystopian teen drama crowd...

Rated: C+

Aug 19, 2024

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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

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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

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Gabriel A

I believe this movie had its flaws and changes from the book but I believe that for people that have and haven’t read the book its an absolutely must watch because of how they use what we had in the book for a more young adult audience which is great

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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Peter F

So full of cliches and so horribly soulless and empty it beggars belief. A highly cynical movie that treats its viewers as absolute, utter cretins. Turned it off after 30 minutes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/08/25

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Emily B

I watched this so-called “movie” in my 8th grade English class. My friend and I both agreed we hated it. Letter Grade: F

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/05/25

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centi p

Feels like fanfiction that should've stayed on Wattpad. The movie skims over important moments in the original book, and only covers surface level themes of The Giver.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/24/25

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fiona n

My 15yr old daughter watches this today and she has come home and told me how much she enjoyed it and how great it was to watch in English class today. Her recommendations are always accurate, So it’s one I’ll definitely be watching myself when I get the chance and is on my to watch list! 😀

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Deb J

I've read the book: And it's absolutely awesome. I couldn't put it down - and the plot line was interesting & creative. The movie does have some noticeable changes; but I can't complain. Even if it's different, it was a great movie and I think most people will enjoy. In the book they are years younger, but I think it makes sense if they are 18 (like they are in the movie).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

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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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
Producer: Nikki Silver, Jeff Bridges, Neil Koenigsberg
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
Runtime: 1h 37m

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