Sabrina (1995)

65% of critics liked it
(46 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(50,839 ratings)

A remake of a 1954 Billy Wilder romance, this updated version of the play Sabrina Fair was directed by Sydney Pollack. Julia Ormond stars as Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of a kindly chauffeur (John Wood) at the Long Island estate of the upper-crust Larrabee family. Sabrina has grown up enchanted… More A remake of a 1954 Billy Wilder romance, this updated version of the play Sabrina Fair was directed by Sydney Pollack. Julia Ormond stars as Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of a kindly chauffeur (John Wood) at the Long Island estate of the upper-crust Larrabee family. Sabrina has grown up enchanted from afar with the Larrabees' sparkling world of privilege and wealth, but she's especially enamored of younger Larrabee brother David (Greg Kinnear), a charming womanizer. After the once-plain Sabrina returns from a sojourn in Paris transformed into a remarkably poised and attractive young woman, she at long last catches David's eye. In a calculated effort to manipulate David away from her and into a more financially advantageous marriage, older brother Linus (Harrison Ford) pretends to woo Sabrina himself, but finds himself unintentionally falling in love. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 7 min.
Directed By: Sydney Pollack
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 15, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Jan 15, 2002
Studio: Paramount

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
We remain outside the fourth wall looking in but are never drawn in; bemused perhaps, even agreeably complaisant, but never entirely amused.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
This new Sabrina is more fizzle than fizz.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Sydney Pollack directs with the sort of polish that was easy to take for granted two decades ago but almost looked like classicism in 1995.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Blossoming into radiant color, this film has picture-postcard charms that the black-and-white earlier version could only hint at.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Ford looks as stiff and old hat as his homburg.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Proves too flimsy of a reed to be successfully replanted.
Carly Kocurek, Common Sense Media
Uneven remake, still a sweet story.
Cynthia Fuchs, Philadelphia City Paper
Ormand and Ford, who are actually okay, have the impossible tasks of following Wilder's perfect players, Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.
Christine James, Boxoffice Magazine
Ugly-duckling-into-swan stories are fun, but the lead characters here lack the charisma to make this romantic comedy sufficiently believable or engaging.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Not, as some reviewers claimed, a mediocre reworking of a Hollywood classic, but a truly lousy reworking of a Billy Wilder misfire.
, Film4
A flaccid remake of the classic 1954 romantic comedy.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
It's hard to imagine any actress today reprising Audrey Hepburn's graceful charm, but British newcomer Julia Ormond is a particularly bad choice and Harrison Ford ain't Bogey, either. Add the film to long list of unnecessary remakes.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Ormond's face is certainly not hard to gaze at, but she looks so often ill at ease that her 'confident' gay smiles suggest, inappropriately, some masked pyschological distress.
Michael Dequina, Film Threat
A lovely, underrated update...
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
See the original.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Pleasing remake with a strong cast and a classy script
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
A lovely, underrated update.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Retains all the wit and charm that made the original such a winner.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
watchable but clunky
Kevin A. Ranson, MovieCrypt.com
Not quite up to the original.

Read all 21 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Sydney Pollack's homage pales in comparison to, well c'mon, Bogie and Hepburn and Wilder ... how can you beat that? But after taking that monumental fact into account, its not so bad on its own merits. Ford and Ormond have their own charm, yah, but the writing fails the… More
Sydney Pollack's homage pales in comparison to, well c'mon, Bogie and Hepburn and Wilder ... how can you beat that? But after taking that monumental fact into account, its not so bad on its own merits. Ford and Ormond have their own charm, yah, but the writing fails the scintillation somewhat. Otherwise the fantasy of the ugly duckling turned elegant swan remains intact.
Thomas B

An almost word for word remake but Harrison Ford is great. Full review later.
Conner R

While it's not a particularly amazing movie, it still has a lot of redeeming qualities. Harrison Ford actually played a highly entertaining yuppie and had a lot of great moments. While it is a little bit fluffy for my taste, it is by no means a bad romantic comedy.
Alice S

Meh. Julia Ormond is exquisite but Harrison Ford is blisteringly dull. The film hardly shows Sabrina's development from gawky nerd to Parisian sophisticate at all. A few zingers here and there, but on the whole, draggy and overwrought. The original with Audrey and Bogie… More
Meh. Julia Ormond is exquisite but Harrison Ford is blisteringly dull. The film hardly shows Sabrina's development from gawky nerd to Parisian sophisticate at all. A few zingers here and there, but on the whole, draggy and overwrought. The original with Audrey and Bogie didn't make much of an impression on me either.
Candy R

Sabrina is the chauffeur's daughter who causes a stir amongst the family.
Tom E

Not as good as the original --
Leigh R

Pretty good.
Dean M

This is nicely, warmest and romantic and I like Harrison Ford's character better than Humphrey Bogart in this comedy remake.
Christopher O

This remake shines in romance and is funny, charming and romantic and features the debut of Greg Kinnear who is great as the not so bright playboy younger brother of Harrison Ford's tough nosed industrialist whose heart is melted by the Chauffer's daughter Sabrina played… More
This remake shines in romance and is funny, charming and romantic and features the debut of Greg Kinnear who is great as the not so bright playboy younger brother of Harrison Ford's tough nosed industrialist whose heart is melted by the Chauffer's daughter Sabrina played wonderfully by Julia Ormand. Ormand makes Sabrina her own and fills very big shoes. Ford has never appeared more charming or vulnerable. A nice romantic feel good film.
Deb S

"Sabrina" stars Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear as Linus and David Larrabee and Julia Ormond as Sabrina. Sabrina has been in love with David all her life and when she hears he's going to get married she leaves behind her new life in Paris because she thinks they are… More
"Sabrina" stars Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear as Linus and David Larrabee and Julia Ormond as Sabrina. Sabrina has been in love with David all her life and when she hears he's going to get married she leaves behind her new life in Paris because she thinks they are meant to be together. However when he sees this polished and sophisticated Sabrina, David is not the one who recognizes her. Harrison Ford is great in his role as Linus, the "nose to the grind stone" scheming older brother who sets out to hustle Sabrina to undo the problems her return home has caused. This is a good romantic comedy that's sweet and heartwarming.
Sarah B

A nice enough film, but I wanted more Greg Kinnear, more grit and less implausible romance.
Leo L

Funny.
Sunil J

Not original enough to come close to beating the original.
Marion R

I liked the original better. I liked Harrison Ford, but how can you compare Ormond to Audrey Hepburn.

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Harrison Ford as Linus Larrabee

            Julia Ormond as Sabrina Fairchild

            Greg Kinnear as David Larrabee

            John Wood as Fairchild

            Nancy Marchand as Maude Larrabee

            Richard Crenna as Patrick Tyson

            Fanny Ardant as Irene

            Becky Ann Baker as Linda

            Susan Browning as Secretary

            Patrick Bruel as Louis

            Gregory Chase as Ron

            Miriam Colon as Rosa

            Angie Dickinson as Mrs. Tyson

            Elizabeth Franz as Joanna

            Paul Giamatti as Scott

            Lauren Holly as Elizabeth Tyson

            Dana Ivey as Mack

            Valérie Lemercier as Martine

            Margo Martindale as Nurse

            J. Smith-Cameron as Carol

            Ira Wheeler as Bartender

            Ronald L. Schwary as Sheik

            Inés Sastre as Model

            Randy Becker as Trainer

            Carmen Chaplin as Paris Friend
See full cast