The Glass Castle

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The Glass Castle

PG-13

Released Aug 11, 2017

2h 7m

Biography

Drama

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Popcornmeter

52%

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165 Reviews

70%

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5,000+ Ratings

Based on a memoir, four siblings must learn to take care of themselves as their responsibility-averse, free-spirit parents both inspire and inhibit them. When sober, the children's brilliant and charismatic father captured their imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Meanwhile, their mother abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want to take on the work of raising a family.

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Critics Consensus

The Glass Castle has an affecting real-life story and a hard-working cast in its corner, but they aren't enough to outweigh a fundamentally misguided approach to the material.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

It's misery porn at its most prettily dishonest, but against all odds, Harrelson, Brie Larson and a gaggle of talented child stars render it soapishly watchable.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 13, 2017

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Larson is the weak link here as the adult Jeannette, a born-again neoliberal in an 80s power suit, failing to integrate her rich, boring boyfriend into her unconventional family.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 8, 2017

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Woody Harrelson gives a performance of borderline unwatchable hamminess in this really tiresome film, which sentimentally neutralises parental abuse into a supposedly fascinating angel/devil split.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 6, 2017

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

The Glass Castle has soul-rattling scenes and themes that are nearly unbearable to condone or embrace, no matter how true they are to the novel.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 14, 2024

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s depiction of the dark side of Janet Walls’ painful childhood is clear-eyed, visceral, and hard to watch. But it badly undersells a significant part of this profoundly penetrating true story.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 21, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Neither a faithful adaptation nor a film that leaves you feeling good about its manipulations.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 22, 2022

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CG B

With all due respect to the actors and the book, I am completely put off with making these parents anything except the abusive, selfish, dangerous parents that they were. Making these parents look heroic or loving is a real disservice to the reality of the pathetic lives that they gave their children.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

Daniel G

All families merit their own movie, but this one in particular really made for a hell of a story - challenges abounded, but dealt with in a touching manner. Of course, presenting the family at the end was like the cherry on the cake. Sure, this is Hollywoodian, but still realistic enough.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

donnie m

i don't like woody in this WAY tooooo dramatic in everything he does and why is he wearing some kind of pants that you can see his 'junk' ? and...he treats oldest daughter like she's his wife and i almost changed the channel but it was worth it, just to see oldest daughter, finally tell him off!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

Full Review

Quinn W

Idk why this didn’t get way better reviews honestly, seems like the book worms aren’t too happy about this one but coming from someone who didn’t read the book I thought it was a great movie, although I’m not sure how accurately it represented the tree story. I’m definitely interested in reading the book now but I’m scared, sometimes it ruins the movie lol. Highly suggest watching this on some edibles if you’re into that kind of ride.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

Full Review

Tim H

Having not read the book, it would be a decent movie thanks to good acting and okay directing and filmmaking. But having read the book this story doesn't come close to well representing the book. Various plot lines are completely different or just missing entirely and the cuts to present day are confusing and not even present in the book at all. The movie is so bad it makes the events seem untrue.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/07/24

Full Review

Rosana B

Tudo lindo e colorido entretanto revoltante e irresponsável… Alguém comentou que não havia motivo suficiente para Jean odiar o pai, mas deixar quatro crianças passar fome, viver em lugar insalubre e precário por opção (ela descobre que os pais tinham uma terra avaliada em U$ 1 milhão), com mãe esquizofrênica e pai alcoólatra, ambos irresponsáveis e que deixaram marcas irreparáveis nas crianças… Até que elas cresceram bem demais, uma linda e triste biografia, pais tóxicos existem e muito...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

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Destin Daniel Cretton

Director

Brie Larson

Jeannette

Woody Harrelson

Rex

Max Greenfield

David

Sarah Snook

Lori

Naomi Watts

Rose Mary

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The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Sink or Swim

2:45

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Hospital Breakout

2:53

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Arm Wrestle for Your Honor

2:54

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - You Can't Take Care of Us

2:59

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - She's a Big Girl

2:50

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - The Nicest House in the County

2:47

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Never Want to See You Again

2:58

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Grandma's Rules

2:33

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - A Lot to Regret in My Life

2:53

The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Throw Mama Out the Window

2:42

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The Glass Castle: 'Dream' Trailer

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The Glass Castle: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Based on a memoir, four siblings must learn to take care of themselves as their responsibility-averse, free-spirit parents both inspire and inhibit them. When sober, the children's brilliant and charismatic father captured their imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Meanwhile, their mother abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want to take on the work of raising a family.

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Producer: Gil Netter, Ken Kao
Screenwriter: Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Gil Netter, Lionsgate
Rating: PG-13 (Mature Thematic Content|Family Dysfunction|Smoking|Some Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.2M
Runtime: 2h 7m

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