The Skeleton Twins

R

Released Sep 19, 2014

1 hr. 31 min.

Comedy

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

86%

169 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Following many years of estrangement, twins Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig) have an unexpected reunion after a set of near-tragedies. The situation forces them to confront how their lives became so broken. For Maggie, it means examining why she's so unhappy in a marriage to a loving husband. For Milo, it means meeting with his first love to see if their romance can reignite. Eventually, they learn that living truthfully and accepting each other is the only way to move forward.

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Critics Consensus

Led by powerful performances from Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, The Skeleton Twins effectively mines laughs and tears from family drama.

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Keizi C

Laughed my ass off and cried my eyes out. Bill Hader was a powerhouse (as always) and his chemistry with Kristen Wiig was beyond charming. This movie is such a funny yet bleak representation of both sibling relationships and life itself. Loved it ❤️

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

philipus

Absolute horrible energy seems to emit from Hader in this thing. Its like there is some behind the scenes story surrounding the two. wigg may have slighted him on set or ? just feels abysmal to watch, sorry love them both but barf man just suck poop energy, yikes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/25/24

Full Review

D M

A film where humor & pain run along each other throughout. Having that one person that's rode along is crucial. The acting is what made this film special.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Jeff M

I'm crazy in love with this movie and have been since the first time I saw it. It certainly doesn't hurt that I'm pretty much obsessed with both Hader and Wiig, and I have spent many an hour watching their Saturday Night Live appearances on YouTube. Their familiarity and history of performing together is integral here, and they create the most memorable set of movie siblings since Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo in YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. I watched it again recently, and it actually has improved with age. I love a movie whose genre is debatable - one day it's a comedy in my mind and the next it's a drama with some very funny moments. Whatever you call it, it's dynamite! And the "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" scene is probably my favorite of the decade.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

Full Review

Alec B

The plot consists of about what you'd expect from an indie dramady, complete with suicide attempts, affairs, quips, pointed observations, and a really messed up family. But boy do Wiig and Hader elevate the material. Their lip sync to "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" is just wonderful.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

S R

Tragic and painful. Such hard issues are confronted head on, but not in ways that I thought were constructive. It was more like, "Let's throw as much drama and modern day problems into this and give it a comedic twist". I struggled as it went, but it was certainly impressive performances. Saw on HBO.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

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Craig Johnson

Director

Bill Hader

Milo

Kristen Wiig

Maggie

Luke Wilson

Lance

Ty Burrell

Rich

Boyd Holbrook

Billy

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David Sims

The Atlantic

Despite occasional charming moments and a generally solid ensemble, The Skeleton Twins doesn't distinguish itself in any memorable way.

Sep 22, 2016

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Suicide is no laughing matter, but there are some wry smiles in this changeably moody indie-pic about self-destructive siblings.

Nov 9, 2014

Full Review

Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

How can you not love something that gives Wiig so much scope?

Rated: 4/5

Nov 7, 2014

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

An interesting and funny character study for much of its 93 minute running time, but the ending feels almost as if the production ran out of money and shut down before they figured out a satisfactory conclusion.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 1, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

An exhausting succession of dramatic happenings that leave little room for periodic small wins.

Rated: 4/10

Dec 4, 2020

Full Review

Stephen A. Russell

The New Daily (Australia)

It will have you guffawing wildly at a perfectly judged lip synch dance off to Jefferson Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now one minute, then sobbing surreptitiously into your sleeve.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 26, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Following many years of estrangement, twins Milo (Bill Hader) and Maggie (Kristen Wiig) have an unexpected reunion after a set of near-tragedies. The situation forces them to confront how their lives became so broken. For Maggie, it means examining why she's so unhappy in a marriage to a loving husband. For Milo, it means meeting with his first love to see if their romance can reignite. Eventually, they learn that living truthfully and accepting each other is the only way to move forward.

Director: Craig Johnson
Executive Producer: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Jared Goldman
Screenwriter: Craig Johnson, Mark Heyman
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Venture Forth, Duplass Brothers
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.3M

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