What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Name: What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Genre: Drama
Released: March 4, 1994
Duration: 118 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio

1994

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 59 Ratings

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What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: March 4, 1994 | PG-13

Starring: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio

Summary: After his father's death, Gilbert (Johnny Depp) has to care for his mentally disabled brother, Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his morbidly obese mother. The arrangement is suddenly challenged when love walks into his life.

Director: Lasse Hallstrom

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 118 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Gene Siskel

One of the most original, appealing offbeat American films in recent years. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Some of the best movies are like this: They show everyday life, carefully observed, and as we grow to know the people in the film, maybe we find out something about ourselves. The fact that Hallstrom is able to combine these qualities with comedy, romance and even melodrama make the movie very rare. Read full review

David Ansen

Depp is subtly winning as a man-child oblivious to his own pent-up rage. But the performance that will take your breath away is DiCaprio's. A lot of actors have taken flashy stabs at playing retarded characters and no one, old or young, has ever done it better. He's exasperatingly, heartbreakingly real. This 19-year-old, who shone earlier this year in "This Boy's Life," seems to have a bottomless talent. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

This is one nowhere boy who commands your attention. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Once you get past its intriguing title, What's Eating Gilbert Grape turns out to be a plain if beautifully photographed slice-of-life drama decked in eccentric garb. Beneath its veneer of oddball characters, it's a rather simple, essentially bloodless tale about life in Endora, Iowa, a tiny dead-end town. [4 March 1994, p.G4]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The film is heavy on character and atmosphere and light on action, though what does happen is so bizarre as to verge on the ridiculous. Read full review

Desson Thomson

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a tad too precious. One of those movies that wants to address life's quaint wackinesses, it's full of characters who are quirky, lonely, bizarre or retarded. There's something intensely earnest about the project. But there's something equally manufactured, starting with the casting of Johnny Depp and Juliette Lewis. Read full review

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User Reviews

DogeGamer2015

Aug 25, 2020

Es sentimental, pero es maravillosa, con una linda atmósfera y una excelente historia.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LegitSalt

Apr 9, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I only recently watched this film, but I can already tell that I will be returning soon. This movie is stunning in many aspects, and it creates a world that is anything but unbelievable. I truly felt engaged and enthralled throughout the entirety of the film. All of the characters felt tangible and real and the intertwined sub-plots were handled expertly. Personally, I found an abundance of symbolism present, especially those of biblical orientation. After the film was over, I felt like I had just come out from a tunnel, only then seeing the light, and putting together what I had seen. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an especially believable performance, had I not known prior, I would have truly believed his disability's presence. Johnny Depp was a very interesting character, and the movie worked as quite the character study of Gilbert Grape. The score and cinematography of the film as a whole were thoroughly engaging, especially when it came to the penultimate scene, of the house burning, which was especially powerful. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a compelling if a sometimes slow narrative.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

gracjanski

Jan 30, 2021

There is only one reason to see this movie: Leonardo DiCaprio. His performance is out of this world. The rest of the movie is not so interesting. And Juliette Lewis is a bit annoying.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

keanex

Feb 10, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie is filled to the brim with a wide variety of scenarios that made me fearful, happy, sad, and concerned for the characters. It feels incredibly dense and I quite enjoyed the ride of emotions. Hats off to all of the actors in this movie, it was pretty well-acted throughout, especially the widow and the mom. Despite being packed with sub-plots through the movie, I did feel that it drug a bit long overall. I also felt that some of the dialogue was awkward, or perhaps awkwardly delivered. I very much loved the ending, how it left things on a hopeful note and up to the viewers interpretation of what happened next.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Jan 8, 2022

This is a surprisingly touching film about a dysfunctional rural American family, with some pretty quirky characters and a number of now big name actors, including Johnny Depp as the titular character, Gilbert, and carer for the disabled brother, Arnie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, JulietteThis is a surprisingly touching film about a dysfunctional rural American family, with some pretty quirky characters and a number of now big name actors, including Johnny Depp as the titular character, Gilbert, and carer for the disabled brother, Arnie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis who plays Becky and John C. Reilly (of Stan & Ollie fame etc.), who plays 'Tucker Van Dyke' (a local). I also recognised Mary Steenburgen, as Better Carver - she may be more well known as the mother in the short lived US show 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist'. At first this film seemed no more than ok but by the end, I thought it had become really rather poignant. Its a bit hard to review in depth, without giving away spoilers but I'd say its a good film in terms of depicting how difficult teenage carers may find things, when having to look after disabled siblings and parents. There is a sad side to it and there are some mildly amusing moments too. All in all, its a fairly thoughtful watch, one I'd recommend if your interested in the story or particularly keen on the cast then I'd say it's worth seeing, yes. I certainly can't say I've seen Leonardo DiCaprio in quite such a similar role before, certainly.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

eva3si0n

Sep 12, 2021

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a complex and realistic film. I completely did not understand how I began to watch it and why I did it. I did not understand the author's message, but I liked to look at the young Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio played so perfectly in general, soWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape is a complex and realistic film. I completely did not understand how I began to watch it and why I did it. I did not understand the author's message, but I liked to look at the young Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio played so perfectly in general, so well to play and even in such a difficult role at that age. Only for the sake of this is it worth looking at What's Eating Gilbert Grape, although in truth the film is not for everyone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Bands13

Jan 20, 2023

The movie is quite entertaining but I absolutely dislike how they portrayed the mother figure. It is very insensitive toward overweight people. They treated her like a zoo animal up for show and I feel that to be very unrealistic especially now in day’s.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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