The Sessions

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The Sessions

R

2012

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

198 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver (Annika Marks) scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Green (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity.

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Critics Consensus

Tender, funny, and touching, The Sessions provides an acting showcase for its talented stars and proves it's possible for Hollywood to produce a grown-up movie about sex.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The story isn't as provocative as it tries to be, and the contrived romance is just as frustrating to watch unfold.

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2017

Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

The Sessions could easily have slipped into schmaltz, but it's an unexpectedly funny delight, thanks in part to sterling work from Helen Hunt and John Hawkes.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2017

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Charlotte Ross

London Evening Standard

Satisfaction guaranteed? Pretty much.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 18, 2013

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

"The Sessions" shows a heartfelt and honest portrayal what the idea of sexual satisfaction and conquest mean to a person, especially one that can't just go out and perform the way everyone else can.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Lewin examines the potentially taboo subject of disabled people having intercourse in a matter-of-fact way that breaches the topic by rendering it a non-issue.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 21, 2022

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

It is very seldom that I find virtually everything that I want within the confines of a single film.

Rated: 4.0/4.0

Sep 22, 2020

Full Review

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Gareth v

The Sessions balances sensitive subject matter with warmth and respect, avoiding cheap sentimentality. While it occasionally leans into a familiar indie drama rhythm, its honesty and emotional depth make it stand out.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Rosana B

Pensando inicialmente ser um drama ficcional retratado de maneira fofinha e engraçadinha, mas qual não foi minha surpresa ao pesquisar e descobrir que é baseado num artigo de 1990 "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate" de Mark O'Brien , um poeta paralisado do pescoço para baixo devido à poliomielite, que contratou uma substituta sexual para perder a virgindade, que relato lindo e triste… Muito emocionante, sensível, relatos necessário, não capacitista, realista e divertido... Inspirador e excitante...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/25

Full Review

Jason H

Love from a worm's-eye-view of the disabled. Very self-centered to begin with and as you walk through life through that self-centered lens you just realized you're just missing out on all the kinds of "flavors of love" life has to offer.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Anjum K

Too little was expressed in the means of emotions.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Cees T

Kinda jealous ngl. 7/10 - Good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/23

Full Review

Kyle M

An empathetically mature, light-hearted grown-up film with a fragile topic that secondarily intrigues behind the star power's praised caliber to find genuine tenderness in their sensitive approach along with comedic amusement being their smartest degree. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Ben Lewin

Director

John Hawkes

Mark O'Brien

Helen Hunt

Cheryl

William H. Macy

Father Brendan

Moon Bloodgood

Vera

Annika Marks

Amanda

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Synopsis

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver (Annika Marks) scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Green (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity.

Director: Ben Lewin
Producer: Judi Levine, Stephen Nemeth
Screenwriter: Ben Lewin
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Frank Dialogue|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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