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What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1993·Movie
1h 58min·PG-13
80
GreatGoodWatch score

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What's Eating Gilbert Grape fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace3
  • Adrenaline1

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Family Dynamics10
  • Pathos9
  • Coming of Age9

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy2
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Family, everyday modern life, and growing up

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability8
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting10
  • Character Depth10
  • Direction8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Life is a terrible thing to sleep through.

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.
Heartfelt Family DramaComing-of-Age StorySmall Town LifeExceptional PerformancesEmotional ResiliencePoignant & MelancholicCharacter-DrivenFinding HopeAuthentic Portrayals

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream What's Eating Gilbert Grape legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, and YouTube Free. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is What's Eating Gilbert Grape worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 73). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is What's Eating Gilbert Grape rated?

PG-13

It's rated PG-13 in the United States.

How long is What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

1 h 58 min

What's Eating Gilbert Grape runs 1 h 58 min.

Is What's Eating Gilbert Grape based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

Critics82
Audiences81

Yes. Critics average 82 and audiences 81 out of 100, so both groups see What's Eating Gilbert Grape much the same way.

Was What's Eating Gilbert Grape a box office hit?

Budget$11 million
Box office$10 million

No. It cost about $11 million to make and earned $10 million worldwide, 91% of its budget.

What language is What's Eating Gilbert Grape in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom, United States.

In how many countries can I watch What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

45ARATAUBEBMBRBZCACHCLCMCOCRDE+31

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for What's Eating Gilbert Grape in 45 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does What's Eating Gilbert Grape use?

I Want My Beloved to Be HappyBe Careful What You Wish ForMake It Look Like an AccidentFoolish Sibling, Responsible SiblingAdapted OutPosthumous CharacterCloudcuckoolander's MinderBookendsShown Their WorkLet the Past BurnHikkikomoriDriven to Suicideand 39 more

TV Tropes lists 51 storytelling tropes for What's Eating Gilbert Grape, including I Want My Beloved to Be Happy, Be Careful What You Wish For, Make It Look Like an Accident.