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Vanity Fair

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Vanity Fair

PG-13

Released Sep 1, 2004

2h 20m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

51%

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168 Reviews

50%

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25,000+ Ratings

Born to poor parents, Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) has always aspired to be a member of England's upper classes. Leaving her boarding school and best friend, Amelia (Romola Garai), behind, Becky associates herself with the Crawleys, eventually falling in love with their son, Rawdon (James Purefoy). The marriage is happy at first, but deteriorates when Rawdon's fortune dwindles. Becky is then supported by the lecherous Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne), whose motives are less than pure.

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Critics Consensus

A more likable Becky Sharp makes for a less interesting movie.

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Anne Cohen

Refinery29

Olivia Cooke's interpretation is probably the best Becky Sharp yet: She's intensely charismatic, with a little more bite, and toes the line between being faithful to the book and teasing out more modern feminist themes a little more smoothly.

Mar 4, 2019

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

This Vanity Fair delights the eye, but Nair may be too much the humanist for her own good: she hasn't the instinct for the kill.

Mar 13, 2018

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Lovely literary adaptation with class issues, battle scenes.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

The film is one that gains from being viewed multiple times over the years and that has aged beautifully well.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 19, 2022

Full Review

B.L. Panther

The Spool

The brilliance of Nair's vision is how she takes the images, references, and suggestions of India latent in the original text and brings them to the ultimate fore.

Feb 4, 2021

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Directed by Mira Nair, although sumptuous in scope thanks to the sets and costumes, the film is convoluted and confusing.

Nov 3, 2019

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bob c

It has a great story, wonderful cast and a big enough budget - but it just don’t make it. Maybe Witherspoon lost the character Thackeray created; or the director put too little satire and too much Indian.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Quinton B

I came specifically to give this film a great review I haven't read the book so I can't compare that but I thought the film fabulous. I can't believe it's such low score. The film is packed with stars delivering excellent cameos. I loved the films settings where it seems no expense was spared. Great story well told Loved it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/23

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Audience Member

Reese Witherspoon was magnificent - terrific movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Extremely difficult to follow, couldn't keep track of the different characters. The end is less than satisfying. Overall, a boring movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

A Movie Without a Hero. The novel is deconstructionist and self aware - and the movie follows suit. I think this confuses some who watch it. The novel is literally subtitled "A Novel without a Hero". You have to enjoy the group of characters as a whole, rather than side with any individual - one chapter's protagonist is the next chapter's antagonist; one chapter's unfortunate is the next chapter's hapless stooge. When adapting a novel, especially a long novel it is necessary lose a lot of subplots whilst keeping the main plot comprehensible and such changes were in keeping. The style of the movie as a whole picked up on Thackerey's humour and cynicism pretty well. The hints of melodrama in amongst the character driven plot and the visible hand of the author are all of Thackerey's doing. The characters' baser instincts are held up for all to see. I enjoyed the movie greatly. In fact I enjoyed it so much I went and read the book. It is a shame to see critics laying into it. I enjoyed the film before reading the book and I enjoyed it afterwards, so it is by no means a travesty more of a celluloid reflection. Vanity Fair is a great book... this is perhaps not a great film, but it is a very good film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

steve d

An interesting adaptation that's performances make up for some of the tweaks to the story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Mira Nair

Director

Reese Witherspoon

Becky Sharp

Eileen Atkins

Miss Matilda Crawley

Jim Broadbent

Mr. Osborne

Gabriel Byrne

The Marquess of Steyne

Romola Garai

Amelia Sedley

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Belly-Dancing

2:19

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Becky & Rawdon

2:24

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Amelia & William

1:56

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Cheating Husband

2:31

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - I'll Never Forgive You

2:00

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Cowardly, Villainous Liar

3:16

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Preparing For War

1:59

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Becky & Jos

2:16

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal

2:56

Vanity Fair: Official Clip - A False Note

1:05

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Synopsis

Born to poor parents, Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) has always aspired to be a member of England's upper classes. Leaving her boarding school and best friend, Amelia (Romola Garai), behind, Becky associates herself with the Crawleys, eventually falling in love with their son, Rawdon (James Purefoy). The marriage is happy at first, but deteriorates when Rawdon's fortune dwindles. Becky is then supported by the lecherous Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne), whose motives are less than pure.

Director: Mira Nair
Producer: Janette Day, Donna Gigliotti, Lydia Dean Pilcher
Screenwriter: Matthew Faulk, Mark Skeet, Julian Fellowes
Distributor: Focus Features, Gramercy Pictures
Production Co: USA Films, Focus Features
Rating: PG-13 (Partial Nudity|Brief Violent Images|Some Sensuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.1M
Runtime: 2h 20m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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