The Giver

Name: The Giver
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Fantasy
Released: August 15, 2014
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Brenton Thwaites, Cameron Monaghan, Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 244 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 244 Ratings

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The Giver

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: August 15, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Brenton Thwaites, Cameron Monaghan, Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Meryl Streep, Odeya Rush, Taylor Swift

Summary: Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community.

Director: Phillip Noyce

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

Aug 16, 2014

The strength of the cast speaks volumes about the "prestige" aspect of the production. In addition to Bridges, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, and Alexander Skarsgard contribute. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Aug 13, 2014

The film begins to get a bit lost as the story develops and pushes toward a wobbly climax and conclusion. And what to make of that sled, which is the first bit of knowledge Jonas receives. Rosebud, anyone? Read full review

The Guardian Jordan Hoffman

Sep 9, 2014

By the end of the movie few won’t be rolling their eyes or checking their watch, but there’s enough that’s fundamentally good in the meat of film not to wholly reject what The Giver is giving us. Read full review

Scott Foundas

Aug 12, 2014

The Giver reaches the screen in a version that captures the essence of Lowry’s affecting allegory but little of its mythic pull. Read full review

Liam Lacey

Aug 14, 2014

21 years later, in the wake of "The Hunger Games", "Divergent" and "The Lego Movie," another movie about a kid rebelling against socially imposed “sameness” is a case of the same old, same old. Read full review

Ty Burr

Aug 14, 2014

The movie runs an hour and a half. Lowry’s book can be read in less than a day. It still gives anyone — child or adult — more than enough to wrestle with. Read full review

Tasha Robinson

Aug 14, 2014

Mostly the problem is that every aspect of The Giver feels both painfully familiar and like an awkward, unsupportable stretch. For a film about the deep, hidden dangers of enforced sameness, that’s almost hilariously ironic. Read full review

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User Reviews

Dondoveeb

Aug 16, 2014

The Giver is by far one of the best films of the year. It's visually stunning and a very interesting blend of science fiction and social drama. Because it is so unique, it will not be to everyone liking, hence the less than glowing reviews. It certainly skews toward a more thinkingThe Giver is by far one of the best films of the year. It's visually stunning and a very interesting blend of science fiction and social drama. Because it is so unique, it will not be to everyone liking, hence the less than glowing reviews. It certainly skews toward a more thinking person's palate... not your typical over-the-top special effects extravaganza. In time, this film will most definitely end up being regarded as one of the best.… Expand

8 of 18 users found this helpful810

Kdog152

Feb 16, 2023

Oh what a surprise, the critics gave it a bad score. No surprise there. Don't listen to them, this film is definitely worth a watch. The story is good and the acting is great.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

royphishooh

Feb 21, 2015

An excellent movie with a lot of original ideas and some good performances, notably from Meryl Steep and Erik from True Blood! However the wholly forgettable contribution from Taylor Swift suggested she shouldn't give up the day job.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Movi3R3vi3wer

Nov 27, 2014

The film adaption (for the most part) is true to the original book. Yes you can easily point out the changes and up until the third act I was perfectly fine with it. This is a good movie but it could have been much more.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wtfskilz

Dec 5, 2014

About 5 years ago someone in a video game industry asked
" how can we make more money off of this game?" The answer was to leave the game incomplete and offer something they call DLCs to complete the game. This was a tactic designed to give the illusion that they're buying a mini expansionAbout 5 years ago someone in a video game industry asked
" how can we make more money off of this game?" The answer was to leave the game incomplete and offer something they call DLCs to complete the game. This was a tactic designed to give the illusion that they're buying a mini expansion pack. I want to be able to get the DLC Dye pack which has 4 virtual colors = USD3.99$
The movie had good quality acting, the pace was a little slow which doesn't bother me and even had an interesting storyline, but the movie was too short and ended before it was completed.
Where did the lord of rings type movies go? the makers were more interested in the art of the movie and not the "cash cow". Half of a great movie, gets half of a great score… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheQuietGamer

Jan 23, 2015

If you've seen any movie based off of a YA book you've basically seen this one. It's the same premise as Divergent, the same futuristic society where individuality is non-existant, and the same characters these types of films are known for. The only difference is that it's missing any sortIf you've seen any movie based off of a YA book you've basically seen this one. It's the same premise as Divergent, the same futuristic society where individuality is non-existant, and the same characters these types of films are known for. The only difference is that it's missing any sort of emotion and according to many a lot of what made the book special.

I can't fault it for feeling like so many other movies of a similar nature. After all the book it's based off of beat so many others like Divergent, Hunger Games, and Maze Runner to the market, so technically they are the rip-offs. However what I can and do fault the movie for is just not being all that interesting.

Outside of Bridges and Streep the characters and performances are flat. The world is uninteresting and failed to evoke any emotion from me. I have to admit watching color come to the black and white world was pretty cool, but that's the only thing I found really exciting or unique.

Unlike the book this movie came out too late and feels like another face in the crowd of YA books turned movies. Even worse is that it's a face with nothing interesting to say about themes that so many moviegoers have already experienced lately. It feels like a cheap cash in.

There is an audience out there who will eat this up. After all these young adult novels are still getting turned into movies (not a bad thing imo). However people should consider that there are better alternatives out there in this growing genre of movies. This one just doesn't have enough style, emotion, or creativity to make it worth a recommendation in my eyes.

My total score for the movie is a 4.5/10.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GavrocheMC

Aug 24, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let me start out, Yes, I have read book, and yes I Loved the book. I think it one of the best book I've ever read. I've was excited when the movie was Announced. Then the trailer... I got nervous. Very nervous. But I was still excited. So months pasted by and I forgot about the movie until July. Then the movie came out at No.5 at the Box Office. Boys, We have a Bomb at our hands. So today, My sister decided to buy my ticket for this movie for my Birthday. After the first 10 min of this movie. I knew it was bad.

The Story: If you read the book. You still don't know the story, According to the writers.

The Acting: Okay... At times. Now that I think about it, it bad. Taylor Swift has 15 seconds of screen time. Even though she has 3 billing in the cast list.

The Additional's: This category is about any of the Additions added into the movie. They forced a love triangle. The love story was so forced. It laughable how cheesy it was. I can explain it in two word: Completely Unncessary

The Ending: They change the ending a lot. Now instead of having it end on a cliffhanger. That to complicated* for us. *=Sarcasm. Now they end with Jonas passing the Barrier of Memory. Now everyone in the "Community's" have memories. Nice job Phillip Noyce. You buttered the best ending to book, ever.

Overall: I despise this movie. I hate it. 0/10… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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