You've Got Mail

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You've Got Mail

PG

Released Dec 18, 1998

1h 59m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Struggling boutique bookseller Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) hates Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a corporate Foxbooks chain store that just moved in across the street. When they meet online, however, they begin an intense and anonymous Internet romance, oblivious of each other's true identity. Eventually Joe learns that the enchanting woman he's involved with is actually his business rival. He must now struggle to reconcile his real-life dislike for her with the cyber love he's come to feel.

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Critics Consensus

Great chemistry between the leads made this a warm and charming delight.

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

The coincidences that make the destined lovers' paths cross aren't contrived with much finesse, but the characters get in some decidedly clever lines.

May 27, 2011

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Predictable-but-sweet romantic comedy.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 29, 2010

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

The clumsily loaded characterisation not only treats almost every other figure as dispensable, but doesn't even bother to make Meg and Tom properly sympathetic.

Feb 9, 2006

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…if the ending of You've Got Mail isn’t satisfactory, the build-up is, with Tom Hanks Hanks and Meg Ryan both extremely likeable in a sugar-sweet confection ideally suited to their talents…Ephron’s critique of modern living has an unexpected resonance...

Rated: 3/5

May 23, 2025

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Laura Bradley

The Daily Beast

As I’ve gotten older, my affection for the story still lingers.

Dec 5, 2022

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Hanif Abdurraqib

4Columns

The most worthwhile tension in You've Got Mail lies in the simple but pure ecstasy of receiving an email from a person you are excited about. Long live the parts of the film that refurbish the excitement of our sometimes-misguided yearnings.

Oct 2, 2020

Full Review

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Conrad C

A cute movie that overcame a little initial dislike for its main characters. The actors' chemistry is just as much fun (or more) when their characters hate each other. Part of the fun is seeing how the technology of the late 90s has aged. The writing was good, there were a surprising number of zingers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Audience Member

Highly Idealized. The poster movie for Rom-Coms. It's shot well, it's acted well, the story is easy to anticipate. Saw in the theatres and watching in 2025. Rom-Com's of this style are kinda passe. It's ok. I didn't love it even though it is what you'd expect. This is a movie for people who use to love like that but love of this kind no longer exists and it's over romanticized. I won't be keeping it and somewhat struggled to get through it. If it's your bag though= I wouldn't disparage you.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

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Wavy S

Bad. 2/10 wouldn’t tap any of the main characters🤦🏻‍♀️no good goon material. Also the girl main character looks more like a boy than the main guy.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

Full Review

Nimish H

You’ve Got Mail is the ultimate feel-good rom-com. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have such great chemistry, and their sweet, slow-burn romance is as charming today as it was when it first came out. The film perfectly captures that mix of old-school charm and modern technology, with the early internet serving as a fun backdrop to the story. It’s got heart, humor, and a timeless appeal that makes it an easy watch over and over again. Definitely one of those movies that leaves you with a smile.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

RICHARD S

Hard to believe this film is 28 years old. It has stood the test of time and continues to be a delight to watch, start to finish. Hanks, Ryan and Kinnear are all excellent in their roles in an updated version of (1) Shop Around the Corner (1939) and (2) In the Good Old Summertime (1946). Just great movie making!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

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Audience Member

One of the best of the cozy genre. Every turn around the corner is perfect.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

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Nora Ephron

Director

Tom Hanks

Joe Fox

Meg Ryan

Kathleen Kelly

Parker Posey

Patricia Eden

Greg Kinnear

Frank Navasky

Jean Stapleton

Birdie Conrad

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Synopsis

Struggling boutique bookseller Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) hates Joe Fox (Tom Hanks), the owner of a corporate Foxbooks chain store that just moved in across the street. When they meet online, however, they begin an intense and anonymous Internet romance, oblivious of each other's true identity. Eventually Joe learns that the enchanting woman he's involved with is actually his business rival. He must now struggle to reconcile his real-life dislike for her with the cyber love he's come to feel.

Director: Nora Ephron
Producer: Nora Ephron, Lauren Shuler Donner
Screenwriter: Miklós László, Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $115.7M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital

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