Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy

Two 1990's teenagers find themselves in a 1950's sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change that complacent world.

Flixster Users

73% liked it

134,605 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

83 critics

PG-13, 2 hrs. 4 min.

Directed by: Gary Ross

Release Date: October 23, 1998

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DVD Release Date: March 23, 1999

Stats: 7,403 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,403)


  • August 31, 2009
    This and Purple Rose of Cairo are both about disrupted routine and comparing the fictional world of 50's TV or 30's movies to real life. I like the effects and all the performances (though Don Knotts is a little hokey). But the theme more than anything is what makes this story ...( read more)so enjoyable for me. The sex, music, color, art, library books, and general spirit of change that stirs up this innocent, gray, small town (I mean small town! Where there is nothing outside of Pleasantville!), bigoted, 50's TV sitcom world of the status quo, is creatively visualized.
  • January 11, 2009
    Interesting movie about siblings being transported into a make believe time.
  • August 31, 2008
    The idea of this movie is brilliant. A couple of kids from the 90's get thrown into the world of a 50's B&W sitcom where everything is just peachy. Peachy yes, but not very real. The firemen have never rescued anything other than a cat in a tree. The basketball team has never...( read more) lost. David and Jennifer manage to introduce Pleasantville to feelings which changes everything.
  • April 28, 2008
    totally original, fantastic direction
  • March 14, 2008
    I cannot remember it well enough to evaluate it properly, but I love the idea. The story is like a 'Wizard of Oz' doppleganger, a loss of innocence and discovery of truth through color, imagination and rebellion.
  • November 12, 2009
    beautiful and thoughtful...starting out you think this is a generic comedy .. but in the end its dramatic roots shine proving to the viewer how wonderful this film is
  • November 12, 2009
    take the colors inside of you out
    amazing story,
    can go a little futher though
  • November 2, 2009
    A nice film which will keep most entertained with the simple plot. The beauty of the film is the effective use of black and white intermingling with colour.
  • November 1, 2009
    Fantastic movie, plot, acting!
  • October 31, 2009
    !Comercial or Stupid! :|

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

One of the year's best and most original films! full review

View more Pleasantville reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • baptistec4122
    July 20, 2008
    It looked very silly at first but is finally very smart !!!
  • maddyarkle
    January 4, 2007
    THIS IS UNDERRATED wat an amazing film
  • amanderrheart
    January 1, 2007
    i totally agree with that purple goth child.

    yeahh.
  • purplegothchild
    November 23, 2006
    Not normally my sort of film but watched and was really taken with it. I love the concept of black and white changing to colour to fit with the storyline,

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Pleasantville Trivia


  • In Pleasantville, what was the first object to turn into color?  Answer »
  • Which movie has the quote..."we're supposed to be at home David...were supposed to be in colour!"?  Answer »
  • In what film do Toby Macguire and Reese Witherspoon turn a town from black and white to colour?  Answer »
  • What movie has the quote "i think you're the keenest girl in school!"?  Answer »

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