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The Shipping News

2001·Movie
1h 51min·R
IMDb6.7Metacritic477.2Rotten Tomatoes53%61%

Where to watch

Hoopla

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Shipping News fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Fast Pace3
  • Spectacle3

Heart

Moving and cathartic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos8
  • Catharsis8
  • Melancholy7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Dark Humor3
  • Situational Comedy2

World

Everyday modern life and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchThought-Provoking

Find more like it

Bittersweet moviesAtmospheric movies

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

About

Dive beneath the surface.

An emotionally-beaten man with his young daughter moves to his ancestral home in Newfoundland to reclaim his life.
Small TownNewfoundlandFamily DramaRedemptionGriefIsolationPersonal GrowthSlow BurnMelancholy

Crew

Directed by:
Lasse Hallström, Stephen P. Dunn, Susanna David
Written by:
Robert Nelson Jacobs, Annie Proulx
Produced by:
Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Irwin Winkler
Composed by:
Christopher Young, Gerry Jackman

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Shipping News

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Shipping News legally?

Hoopla

You can watch it free with ads on 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 The Shipping News worth watching?

58
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 58/100 (IMDb 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes 53%, and Metacritic 47). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Shipping News rated?

RStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language.

How long is The Shipping News?

1 h 51 min

The Shipping News runs 1 h 51 min.

Is The Shipping News based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Shipping News?

Critics50
Audiences67

Not quite. Audiences rate The Shipping News higher (67) than critics (50). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Shipping News a box office hit?

Budget$38 million
Box office$25 million

No. It cost about $38 million to make and earned $25 million worldwide, 65% of its budget.

What language is The Shipping News in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Shipping News?

54ARATAUBGBRBZCACHCLCOCYCZDEDK+40

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Shipping News in 54 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Shipping News use?

Bandit ClanBlowing Smoke RingsIf It Bleeds, It LeadsDriven to SuicideHangover SensitivityI Love the DeadReally Gets AroundWaking Up at the MorgueExtreme DoormatTitle DropPronoun TroubleBrother–Sister Incestand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 storytelling tropes for The Shipping News, including Bandit Clan, Blowing Smoke Rings, If It Bleeds, It Leads.