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Lorenzo's Oil

1992·Movie
2h 15min·PG-13
80
GreatGoodWatch score

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No stream option in US yet.

Lorenzo's Oil fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Fast Pace4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Cringe Humor2
  • Dark Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, a real life story, and family

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

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

About

Some people make their own miracles.

Lorenzo Odone, a Virginia 5-year-old, develops a degenerative nerve disease so rare that nobody is working on a cure, so his parents decide to immerse themselves in research and tackle the problem themselves.
Medical DramaBiopicParental LoveRare DiseaseHope and PerseveranceFamily StruggleInspirational StoryBased on True EventsOvercoming Adversity

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Lorenzo's Oil

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Lorenzo's Oil legally?

You can 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 Lorenzo's Oil worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 80). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Lorenzo's Oil rated?

PG-13

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

How long is Lorenzo's Oil?

2 h 15 min

Lorenzo's Oil runs 2 h 15 min.

Is Lorenzo's Oil based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Lorenzo's Oil?

Critics87
Audiences77

Not quite. Critics rate Lorenzo's Oil higher (87) than audiences (77). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Lorenzo's Oil a box office hit?

Budget$30 million
Box office$7 million

No. It cost about $30 million to make and earned $7 million worldwide, 24% of its budget.

What language is Lorenzo's Oil in?

EnglishItalianSwahili

It was made in English, with some Italian, Swahili. Produced in Australia.

In how many countries can I watch Lorenzo's Oil?

33ARATAUBOBRBZCACLCOCRDEDKECFR+19

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Lorenzo's Oil in 33 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Lorenzo's Oil use?

And I Must ScreamThe Big BoardTime SkipTrue CompanionsHeroic BSoDMuggles Do It BetterShown Their WorkBittersweet EndingDreaming the TruthGratuitous ItalianSurprisingly Realistic OutcomeFind the Cure!and 3 more

TV Tropes lists 15 storytelling tropes for Lorenzo's Oil, including And I Must Scream, The Big Board, Time Skip.