Pleasantville

1998·Movie
2h 4min·PG-13

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Pleasantville fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Fast Pace5
  • Tension4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Nostalgic and romantic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Nostalgia8
  • Romance7
  • Wholesome7

Humor

Some satire and situational comedy

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Satire & Parody7
  • Situational Comedy6
  • Wit & Wordplay5

World

Society, growing up, and family

Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Rewatchability8
  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Direction7
  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismThought-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

Nothing is as simple as black and white.

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.
Nostalgic SatireComing-of-AgeSmall Town AmericaSocial CommentaryVisual StylizationFish-Out-Of-WaterRomanceFamily Drama1950sTransformation

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about Pleasantville

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Pleasantville legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, YouTube Free, and Plex. 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 Pleasantville worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 71). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Pleasantville rated?

PG-13

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

How long is Pleasantville?

2 h 4 min

Pleasantville runs 2 h 4 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Pleasantville?

Critics78
Audiences76

Yes. Critics average 78 and audiences 76 out of 100, so both groups see Pleasantville much the same way.

Was Pleasantville a box office hit?

Budget$60 million
Box office$50 million

No. It cost about $60 million to make and earned $50 million worldwide, 83% of its budget.

What language is Pleasantville in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Pleasantville?

80ADALAOATAUAZBABEBGBRCACHCICM+66

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Pleasantville in 80 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Pleasantville use?

The '90sCrapsaccharine WorldMaybe Ever AfterDeliberately MonochromeAnti-Escapism AesopThe Unfair SexCat Up a TreeGenre ShiftLiteral MetaphorBook BurningHousewifeEven Evil Has Standardsand 117 more

TV Tropes lists 129 storytelling tropes for Pleasantville, including The '90s, Crapsaccharine World, Maybe Ever After.

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