Ashley Judd, James Frain, Joan Cusack

Novalee Nation, 17 and pregnant, has never been part of a real home. The closest thing to family for the hard-luck teen is her selfish, would-be musician boyfriend, Willy Jack, with whom she's been tr...( read more  read more... )aveling from Tennessee to California in a rust bucket that used to be a Plymouth. A bathroom stop en route, at an Oklahoma Wal-Mart, changes Novalee's life forever. For when she leaves the store, she discovers that Willy Jack and the Plymouth are gone. Only her Polaroid camera remains in the parking space. Alone and broke, Novalee surreptitiously moves into the vast store, borrowing food and supplies from its shelves. When she gives birth on the floor-and her hideaway is revealed-Novalee and her "Wal-Mart Baby" become instant celebrities. More importantly, over the next few years, Novalee finally becomes part of an unconventional, makeshift family comprised of her wonderfully eccentric new friends. Now, with the family she always wanted, Novalee is transformed from a homeless teen to a successful and strong woman. She has finally found a home in this small town where fate has dropped her.

Flixster Users

79% liked it

23,567 ratings

Critics

35% liked it

94 critics

DVD Release Date: September 26, 2000

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Stats: 3,203 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,203)


  • June 5, 2008
    fun quirky dramedy(I think thats what they're calling them now drama/comedy). Portman is perfectly cast as Novalee nation the down on her luck girl thanks to the number 5, who gains her 15mins of fame by giving birth in a walmart. Its pretty much predictable, one of those films w...( read more)here everything works out and we all live happily ever after, its still fun though to watch their journey towards happiness. Ashley Judd just fantastic as Novalees new found confidant, broken housewife and mother of an endless amount of kids
  • May 4, 2008
    The Wal-Mart Baby Movie is what we call it lol., What a great story, as long as you have a great support system you can achieve anything, I totally loved it. This is on my Top 10 fav Chick-Flick list of all time. Man I love this movie...
  • February 19, 2008
    I named my kids after snack foods: Brownie, Praline, Cherry and Baby Ruth.
  • January 15, 2008
    I have seen this one more times that anyone should. It's not AWFUL... it's just too melodramatic for my taste. The performances are fine but the movie itself is lame and too girly. Back in the day when Natalie Portman was a bad actress trying to look like a good actress... now sh...( read more)e is WONDERFUL. But not back then.
  • December 6, 2007
    SOOO Incredible cute!! It's about rebuilding when things get bad, and searching for the good in life when there isn't any. Plus, the guy she ends up with is really hot...even if his character name is "Forney" (I kid you not).
  • October 29, 2009
    A real heartwarming movie
  • September 30, 2009
    Of course the book was better, but this movie was infinately watchable. A very well done adaptation!
    The book and the movie (VHS) are on my bookshelves!
  • September 24, 2009
    I loved this one. It was sad that the pregnant girl was left at the Walmart by her boyfriend, though. It was quite cool how she took up residence in the store.
  • September 8, 2009
    Una historia romantica con tintes de drama que pasan cada temporada en la tele local siempre entretiene verla, la historia es hacerca de una chica que es abandonada por su novio en wallmart lo curioso de ella es que tiene la idea de que todo lo malo que le sucede esta relacionado...( read more) con el numero 5, una historia bonita para verse sin problemas un dia cualquiera.

    Por cierto mi madre la esta viendo mientras escribo esta reseņa.
  • August 28, 2009
    Simple, beautiful and very touching. The first reason why I watched this movie was Natalie Portman. She looks amazing there and not only her but everyone. It has a very beautiful story and very realistic too. Much more than you can hope for the plot of the movie, this was definit...( read more)ely a good discover. A movie I wanna watch it again and again & in fact it touches your heart.

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Where the Heart Is has a screenplay like that, zigging and zagging and wildly careening from one melodramatic development to the next. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, At the Movies

Where the Heart Is has a screenplay like that, zigging and zagging and wildly careening from one melodramatic development to the next. full review

View more Where the Heart Is reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Where the Heart Is Trivia


  • In what movie does Natalie Portman hate the number five?  Answer »
  • Which movie was based on the book by Billie Letts in 1996 and has a character named 'Forney' ?  Answer »
  • In 2000, James Frain played the loveable hero Forney Hull to Natalie Portman's Novalee Nation in "Where the Heart Is". Two years later he played the crooked prosecuter Villefort to Jim Caviezel's Edmund in what movie?  Answer »
  • In Which Movie Was The Number 5 Bad Luck For Actress Natalie Portman??  Answer »

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