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Short Cuts

1993·Movie
3h 8min·R
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Metacritic818.3Rotten Tomatoes95%88%
IMDb7.6Metacritic818.3Rotten Tomatoes95%88%

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Strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace4
  • Violence4

Heart

Moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics9
  • Pathos7
  • Melancholy7

Humor

Some sharp wit and situational comedy

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Situational Comedy5
  • Satire & Parody5

World

Everyday modern life, family, and class and money

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout editing

  • Editing8
  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightParty VibePartner WatchSolo WatchBackground WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-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

From two American masters comes a movie like no other

Many loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot accidentally runs into a boy with her car. Soon after walking away, the child lapses into a coma. While at the hospital, the boy's grandfather tells his son, Howard, about his past affairs. Meanwhile, a baker starts harassing the family when they fail to pick up the boy's birthday cake.
Raymond Carver AdaptationEnsemble CastInterconnected StoriesContemporary RealismFamily DramaBleak and MelancholySocial CommentaryComplex CharactersDialogue-Driven

Crew

Directed by:
Robert Altman, Allan F. Nicholls, Jeff Rafner
Written by:
Robert Altman, Frank Barhydt, Raymond Carver
Produced by:
Scott Bushnell, Mike Kaplan, Diana Pokorny
Composed by:
Mark Isham, Geeta Gandbhir, Eliza Paley

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Short Cuts

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Short Cuts legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Short Cuts in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Short Cuts worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 81). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Short Cuts rated?

RStrong languageSexual content

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

How long is Short Cuts?

3 h 8 min

Short Cuts runs 3 h 8 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Short Cuts?

Critics88
Audiences82

Yes. Critics average 88 and audiences 82 out of 100, so both groups see Short Cuts much the same way.

Was Short Cuts a box office hit?

Budget$12 million
Box office$6 million

No. It cost about $12 million to make and earned $6 million worldwide, 51% of its budget.

What language is Short Cuts in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

What tropes does Short Cuts use?

What the Hell, Hero?Dirty CopMeddlesome PatrolmanI Call Him "Mister Happy"Ironic JuxtapositionThe AlcoholicPunny NameNot Cheating Unless You Get CaughtPublic ExposureA Glass in the HandTwisted Echo CutMatch Cutand 63 more

TV Tropes lists 75 storytelling tropes for Short Cuts, including What the Hell, Hero?, Dirty Cop, Meddlesome Patrolman.