The Cider House Rules (1999)

71% of critics liked it
(110 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(50,759 ratings)

John Irving scripted this screen adaptation of his 1985 novel. Set during World War II, The Cider House Rules concerns Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), an orphan who spent most of his childhood at the St. Cloud Orphanage in rural Maine, where he grew up under the strong but affectionate care of Dr.… More John Irving scripted this screen adaptation of his 1985 novel. Set during World War II, The Cider House Rules concerns Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire), an orphan who spent most of his childhood at the St. Cloud Orphanage in rural Maine, where he grew up under the strong but affectionate care of Dr. Wilbur Larch (Michael Caine). Larch has passed along his medical education to Homer, and the young man helps the doctor care for abandoned children and the newborn babies of unwed mothers; however, Homer refuses to assist Larch with the illegal abortions that he performs on the side; Homer has moral objections to abortion, while Larch believes in the rights of the individual and sees it as his duty to keep women in need away from dangerous incompetents. Wally Worthington (Paul Rudd), an air-force pilot, brings his girlfriend Candy (Charlize Theron) to St. Cloud for an abortion, and Homer decides to go with them when they leave, hoping to see the world; however, the three end up going no further than the state line, where Wally's mother (Kate Nelligan) runs an apple orchard and cider mill, and Candy's family traps lobsters. When Wally ships off to battle, Homer grows closer to Candy, and the two fall in love. But their idyllic life at the cider mill is interrupted when Rose Rose (Erykah Badu), a field worker at the orchard, becomes pregnant and her father, cider-house foreman Mr. Rose (Delroy Lindo), turns out to be the father of her unborn child. This news coupled with the death of Dr. Larch, forces Homer to take a long look at both his moral principles and his future. Rapper Heavy D appears in the supporting cast as Peaches. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 11 min.
Directed By: Lasse Hallström
Written By: John Irving
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Dec 10, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2000
Studio: Miramax

Critic Reviews

David Rooney, Variety
Hallstrom's film could have used more dramatic muscle but is nonetheless a touching, old-fashioned charmer that ultimately satisfies.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Mr. Irving remains a disturbingly facile spinner of yarns in which the most sordid facts of life are glossed over into comfortably didactic homilies about the innate goodness of people. Yet, I was somehow moved...
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
[It] is a fable that turns into a 1940s New England variation on Charles Dickens. It is also one dickens of an American movie.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
A deliberately old-fashioned picture that succeeds in nearly everything it tries to do.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
The Cider House Rules isn't one film at all. It's two films, only one of which is successful.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Irving is lucky in his cast -- especially Caine and Lindo as the flawed father figures.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Thought-provoking movie for teens and up.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Irving's clean, economical dialogue and Hallstrom's beautifully morose direction cut the fat off of the cliches.
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
A bouillabaisse of all the best soap opera elements - orphans, abortion, debilitating injuries and, of course, death.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A softer, kinder version of John Irving's book, which was edgier and more critical, though you can't blame the filmmakers since Irving himself adapted his novel.
, Time Out
Hallström's humanism is possibly a little low key and romantic given such tough themes as abortion and incest.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
There's quality here and that's a real good thing.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Not since The World According to Garp has a movie based on a John Irving novel captured the wry realism of the author's work.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Just as tepid and surface-level as Simon Birch was.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
It blends romance with the love of children, the warmth of family with the darker side of human nature, and the all-encompassing belief that everything has a purpose.
Ron Wells, Film Threat
What the film is really about are CHOICES: the need to make them, how they affect others, and actively dealing with the repercussions of your actions.
Peter Matthews, Sight and Sound
What's bizarre about the movie is how it grafts greeting-card schmaltz on to a muckraking liberal agenda.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
It is worth mentioning that this movie looks like a million bucks; cinematographer Oliver Stapleton drenches the scenery in rich, antique tones that add luster to the story's poignant emotion.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
It doesn't break anything, but it doesn't have to. I smiled a lot, sometimes had misty eyes and never lost interest.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Presents a fresh and forceful salute to the spiritual practice of self-esteem.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Engaging story of the complicated relationshop between a father and a son and the orphanage they run. While the very word "orphanage" conjures visions of such mawkish emotionalism that one is prepared to ignor the film outright, the screenplay (an adaptation of his novel)… More
Engaging story of the complicated relationshop between a father and a son and the orphanage they run. While the very word "orphanage" conjures visions of such mawkish emotionalism that one is prepared to ignor the film outright, the screenplay (an adaptation of his novel) by Irving and a sure hand by director (Hallestrom) make this visit to Maine a very worthy expedition.
Jameson W

Great film! There's not really much to say about this movie other than the fact that it is extremely solid! Everything about it is good and it's hard to find many flaws at all in this film, which is hard. The story, cast, emotion, score, acting...it was all right on,… More
Great film! There's not really much to say about this movie other than the fact that it is extremely solid! Everything about it is good and it's hard to find many flaws at all in this film, which is hard. The story, cast, emotion, score, acting...it was all right on, especially the script and performance by Michael Caine; both of which won Oscars. Overall, this is a touching film that I recommend to everyone. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, this is one of the best films of the great film year, 1999.
Brad W

A amazing tale. Micheal Caine steals the show, as we have seen from his Oscar win. The plot was amazing, but had some slow parts. The movie itself, is not one of my favorites, but is a very great one though.
Randy T

I enjoyed this John Irving adaptation more than I expected to. It's a flawed film but one with substance and heart. Irving is famous for populating his landscapes with unusual, multi-dimensional characters and <i>The Cider House Rules</i> is no exception. An… More
I enjoyed this John Irving adaptation more than I expected to. It's a flawed film but one with substance and heart. Irving is famous for populating his landscapes with unusual, multi-dimensional characters and <i>The Cider House Rules</i> is no exception. An interesting mixture of tragedy and triumph.
♥Robyn

i loved this movie! a strong cast and a great script in my opinion
Chris W

This film features some really good acting, and it has a good story...most of the time. It's a bit flat in places, but still worth a look.
Candy R

Homer (Tobey) grows up in an orphanage and is groomed by the doctor (Michael) to be his successor. But Homer has other plans. He wants to see the world and find his own way. He meets a young couple and travels with them to their hometown where he works in an apple orchard. He quickly… More
Homer (Tobey) grows up in an orphanage and is groomed by the doctor (Michael) to be his successor. But Homer has other plans. He wants to see the world and find his own way. He meets a young couple and travels with them to their hometown where he works in an apple orchard. He quickly falls for Candy (Charilize). This is like a nice American version of a Charles Dickens' novel. The hero always finds his way. Good cast and a story that will pull your heart strings.
Jennifer X

This movie feels so much longer than it is. I think Lasse Hallstrom wanted to make a sprawling epic but it's so uneven I'm not sure what it's telling me and I don't really care, either. Something about abortion, I think. The ideas are half-baked and in the… More
This movie feels so much longer than it is. I think Lasse Hallstrom wanted to make a sprawling epic but it's so uneven I'm not sure what it's telling me and I don't really care, either. Something about abortion, I think. The ideas are half-baked and in the beginning I had a serious, serious crush on Tobey Maguire but I started to get sick of him after seeing him do the same thing for the thousandth time. The orphanage scenes were the most endearing out of all but it kind of went downhill from there. Too many issues, too much useless crap.
Cassie H

Fantastic,Exellent, Faboulous,Romantic Drama,A MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Film C

i liked thi film very much its heartwarming and interesting to see live in that way micheal caine is a doctor who does abortions for people and looks after orphans and re adopts them hoer is a boy who i also an orphane but is against abortion but he works with michael caines… More
i liked thi film very much its heartwarming and interesting to see live in that way micheal caine is a doctor who does abortions for people and looks after orphans and re adopts them hoer is a boy who i also an orphane but is against abortion but he works with michael caines character he really wants to see the world and be in the raf but he cant coz he has a heart murmor this is a film worth working!!
Daniel J D

Charlize Theron plays the confused, dirty whorish type and Tobey Maguire her nerdy fling. Michael Caine plays a dying doctor/director of an orphanage, and ironically enough, an abortion enthusiast. Tobey Maguire grows up in and helps run the orphanage until running off to do some… More
Charlize Theron plays the confused, dirty whorish type and Tobey Maguire her nerdy fling. Michael Caine plays a dying doctor/director of an orphanage, and ironically enough, an abortion enthusiast. Tobey Maguire grows up in and helps run the orphanage until running off to do some apple picking... and Charlize Theron (Who wants orphans when you can have her?). The movie seems quite sincere but ultimately over-eager and ultimately, inconclusive. The film's subjects include rape, incest, abortion, racism, love, and lust, but none are properly breached or fully developed. It's an interesting movie, no doubt, but mostly just confusing and sad.
Summer W

This film touches on very delicate subject matter in a very delicate way. In a society when people are vilified for their choices and actions, this film shows what it's really like to have do deal with such choices.
Mike S

Lasse Hallström at his best, and one of the few swedish directors I would say has true talent. Being a swede myself you can take my word for it. Besides that a very good film that deserves all its praise.
jay n

wonderful adaptation of the book, entire cast is excellent
Jason S

A good movie.
Dean M

Superb tale about family, love and the search to find a place and purpose in the world. You gotta watch this!
Michael G

Good but not great. If nothing else you get to see Charlize Theron's butt.
Byron B

nominated for best picture at the oscars
Bradley W

A amazing tale. Micheal Caine steals the show, as we have seen from his Oscar win. The plot was amazing, but had some slow parts. The movie itself, is not one of my favorites, but is a very great one though.
Joseph E

A Strory among a Million stories, of forbiiden love, irresponsibility and all between. A Beautiful Fascinating story. Yet is missing one important thing, a serious PLOT!