Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeanne Tripplehorn, John Hannah

Arriving at work one morning, Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) discovers that she had been unjustifiably sacked from her PR job. She is returning home when an amazing thing happens, time reverses itself for a ...( read more  read more... )few seconds and a second version of herself is created. In one reality Helen catches the tube train, meets James (John Hannah) and arrives home to find her loathsome lothario lover Gerry (John Lynch) cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn). In the other reality, Helen misses the tube train, gets mugged, goes to hospital and eventually arrives home to find Gerry alone in the shower. The two realities move forward in tandem; in one Helen leaves Gerry and forms a happy, new, loving relationship with James; in the other Helen's live becomes more and more wretched as she takes on two jobs to support her worthless, cheating boyfriend as he supposedly writes his novel but in fact carries on a torrid affair with Lydia.

Flixster Users

75% liked it

22,740 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

48 critics

R, 99 min.

Directed by: Peter Howitt

Release Date: April 24, 1998

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DVD Release Date: December 1, 1998

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Stats: 3,082 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,082)


  • September 22, 2009
    I love it when people?s heads get hit by the tube doors. Unfortunately it didn't happen in this film! This kind of film has killed the British film industry!
  • May 22, 2009
    I liked it! It has a really interesting premise and things are not what they seem. Overall enjoyable and thoughtful.
  • April 30, 2009
    Romantic fantasy presents two alternate realities which hinge on whether or not a woman catches a London train. Unfortunately, neither storyline is particularly engaging. Very intriguing idea ultimately deteriorates into a dull melodramatic soap opera. Gwyneth Paltrow's perfor...( read more)mance as the woman who's life branches in two directions, is compelling, but Jeanne Tripplehorn as the "other woman" gives a distractingly bad performance. Bouncy pop soundtrack is a plus.
  • April 16, 2009
    I'm not sure why I liked this movie. It is hard to believe that missing the sliding subway door would have that much difference in your life.

    But it was interesting following the two realities. I'm glad she cut her hair in one of them otherwise I would never have been able t...( read more)o follow it. The ending pissed me off, but they had to combine the realities somehow I guess.
  • January 23, 2009
    Ever wondered how things could have turned out if you had / hadn't ended with someone? The movie follows Helen and two different sides of her life following a breakup. Excellent concept and story.
  • October 23, 2009
    It's far from being a good film, and random does not even cover the plot! The ending defies all logic just to be happy but meh, if you have 2 hours to waste why not waste them looking at Gwyneth Paltrow and listening to John Hannah (who is fabulous!)
  • October 22, 2009
    I love this film. It was quite confusing at times but that's what i love about it most. Everyone should see Sliding Doors at some point in their life.
  • October 18, 2009
    A gem of a film. Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah deliver career best performances in this quirky film. While under the guise of a rom-com, the plot is deeper, examining how small events can have massive effects on our futures, and will leave you seriously reconsidering the true...( read more) implications of 'what if?'
  • October 14, 2009
    Impressive narrative, in the same year off [Run Lola Run].
  • September 13, 2009
    Interesting point of view!

Critic Reviews


June 18, 2002
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

It's not so much the tale itself as the slippery interplay between characters that makes Sliding Doors enjoyable. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Gwyneth Paltrow is engaging as the two Helens, and I have no complaints about her performance. Pity about the screenplay. full review

January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Give the movie credit for being a different sort of romantic comedy, but still one has to regret the failure of imagination. full review

View more Sliding Doors reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • michellefortuin
    July 13, 2009
    Very surprising! The story is original and unpredictable. I liked it! But I don't think this was Gwyneth on her best..
  • deliku
    March 22, 2008
    a good movie!
  • cherry222
    July 12, 2006
    love love love

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Sliding Doors Trivia


  • Who has played Evie's brother Jonathan in The Mummy and Gwyneth Paltrows love interest in Sliding Doors??!  Answer »
  • in what film does Gwyneth Paltrow star in when her life takes two different paths  Answer »
  • Who played Helen in the film sliding doors??  Answer »
  • This quote was in what movie? James: Everybody's born knowing all the Beatles lyrics instinctively. They're passed into the fetus subconsciously along with all the amniotic stuff. Fact, they should be called "The Fetals".   Answer »

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