You've Got Mail (1998)

68% of critics liked it
(82 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(435,395 ratings)

Sleepless in Seattle director Nora Ephron originally made a name for herself as the writer of romantic comedies such as Heartburn and When Harry Met Sally. She continues the genre with You've Got Mail, marking her second collaboration with actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The story brings romance and… More Sleepless in Seattle director Nora Ephron originally made a name for herself as the writer of romantic comedies such as Heartburn and When Harry Met Sally. She continues the genre with You've Got Mail, marking her second collaboration with actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. The story brings romance and courtship into the electronic age of the World Wide Web via e-mail and chat rooms. Joe Fox (Hanks) and Kathleen Kelly (Ryan) live and work blocks from each other on New York City's Upper West Side. Their lives are practically intertwined. They both shop at the same place, frequent the same coffee shop, and even own competing bookstores on the same street. They also both have significant others of their own. Joe has the overly hyper book editor Patricia Eden (Parker Posey), while Kathleen lives with the scholarly newspaper columnist Frank Navasky (Greg Kinnear). Then they meet in a chat room. Though they keep their identities secret (they're known only by screen names "NY152" and "Shopgirl"), they tell each other everything about their lives, including their private feelings, which slowly turn into affection for each other. When Joe decides to open a new branch of his "Foxbooks" chain that risks putting Kathleen's "Shop Around the Corner" out of business, the tension between them escalates. Surely her boutique business will be lost to the conglomerate with a built-in newsstand and coffee bar. When Joe sees Kathleen waiting for him in the restaurant where they agreed to meet up, he puts two and two together, but cannot face her, given their agreement not to reveal each others' names and professions. How can he reveal himself to her now, knowing that he is the cause of her misery? Hopefully, love will conquer all. ~ Chris Gore, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Nora Ephron
Written By: Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 18, 1998 Wide
On DVD: May 4, 1999
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
The coincidences that make the destined lovers' paths cross aren't contrived with much finesse, but the characters get in some decidedly clever lines.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
Mail may not be as romantic as Sleepless, but it's wittier.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
A love story destined to be remembered as one of the best of the decade.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Fully-stocked, well-oiled and soulless, You've Got Mail sure feels like a franchise operation -- all that's missing is a greeter and a discount card.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Every time You've Got Mail is about to choke on its own cleverness, it's resuscitated by its extremely likable -- oh heck, let's just call them lovable -- stars.
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times
There's no denying the chemistry between Hanks, whose comparisons to Jimmy Stewart are becoming annoyingly accurate, and Ryan, whose schoolgirl cuteness is finally taking on a layer of matured confidence.
, Film4
Drenched in schmaltz and oozing with saccharine sweetness, Hanks and Ryan squeeze every last drop of cornball sentimentality out of the script, but -- despite all the puff about their on-screen chemistry -- fail to ignite many sparks.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
The well-honed dramedic performances by endearingly mock-cranky Hanks and quirky, cryin' Ryan add just enough weight to what might otherwise float away...[Blu-ray]
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Predictable-but-sweet romantic comedy.
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs
Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and America Online. Could you be anymore 1990s?
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...easy to enjoy unless you're dead set against romances in the first place. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...you've got a lot of saccharine sweetness in the film, but it's a good kind of sweetness, a gentle, loveable, delightful sweetness.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The clumsily loaded characterisation not only treats almost every other figure as dispensable, but doesn't even bother to make Meg and Tom properly sympathetic.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
You've Got Mail is not as saccharine as I expected, but the sugar-coated love story offers us nothing new or original.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
There's no denying the on-screen chemistry between Hanks and Ryan, but still it never really seems to spark as much as it did in Sleepless in Seattle.
Jim Shelby, Palo Alto Weekly
There is something marvelously contrived about this classic situation: two attractive and incongruous characters who don't know what we know:They belong with each, and when the heck will they get together?
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
You've Got Mail is probably not as engaging as Sleepless, with which it will inevitably be compared, but it has its moments.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's a good date movie, and I recommend it. But don't forget to rent The Shop Around the Corner.
James Rocchi, Netflix
This film enchanted me, and even if it did work for me slightly better as a comedy than as a romance, it's still a great comedy -- and Ryan and Hanks are teriffic.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Yes, You've Got Mail isn't strikingly profound or groundbreaking, but it's one of these movies that just make you feel real good.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Candy R

Very predictable storyline, similar to Sleepless in Seattle - the characters don't know each other but are destined to meet. They chat via email, but don't realise they loathe each other in real life. Good cast. Modern adaptation of shop around the corner.
Lady D

I am tackling my demons and attempting a few Rom Coms, this would usually be the type of film I would side step, but I will admit to liking this a little and finding the two sides of the relationship interesting.
Lucas M

Dispite, Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail, looks like a weak and odd version of Sleepless in Seattle and that don't present some finals elements of the plot, this movie show a good chemistry between Ms. Ryan and Mr. Hanks characters and in a skilful way, Ms. Ephron make… More
Dispite, Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail, looks like a weak and odd version of Sleepless in Seattle and that don't present some finals elements of the plot, this movie show a good chemistry between Ms. Ryan and Mr. Hanks characters and in a skilful way, Ms. Ephron make the audience be delighted with the strange and sweet couple formed by Joe (Hanks) and Kathleen (Ryan). Fresh.
Alexander D

Parts of this were funny, but it wasn't some hysterical romcom.
AJ V

At the time I saw this I couldn't stand Meg Ryan anymore, and I just hated romantic comedies as well. But then I saw the movie that this was a sort of remake of, The Shop Around the Corner, and I loved that movie. Anyway, only watch this if you like Meg Ryan.
Jeff "

You've Got Mail is an awful romantic comedy that is quite simply boring, dull and considering the cast, is a wasted opportunity. I hated this film when it came out, and was forced to watch it. I hated this film because I felt it was too cheesy, don't get me wrong, when… More
You've Got Mail is an awful romantic comedy that is quite simply boring, dull and considering the cast, is a wasted opportunity. I hated this film when it came out, and was forced to watch it. I hated this film because I felt it was too cheesy, don't get me wrong, when theres a romantic background used as a plot backdrop for a film, and if it's interesting, I'll like it. But if it overly cheesy, then I'll hate it. You've Got mail is a terrible film that doesn't have anything good going for it. The talent is wasted, and the story simply is bad. Of all the romance films, You've got Mail is probably the worst. This is a film that isn't worth the celluloid its filmed on. You've got Mail is garbage, pure and simple. The film is a dud, and one that simply doesn't do anything great with it's plot. A very bad and irritating film, You've Got Mail just bores you to sleep. Of all the Tom Hanks films that I've seen, this is his worst yet, and since. A total waste of time. If you consider watching this, expect something totally bad, or better yet, keep expectations low, so you don't get disappointed.
Cassie H

I loved Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in Sleepless In Seattle and this movie was another great performance by the duo. The story was a great cyberspace love story. I love this movie! :) Such a great movie to watch anytime :) :)
Bethany M

A feel good romantic film! A must see!
Wildaly M

Interesting take on The Shop Around the Corner. Of course Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are likable leads with chemistry. Romantic and funny.
erika b

one of the best rom com films ever mad.
Richard C

D
Dean !

A very good Rom-com re-uniting Tom & Meg again. They have done a few films together now including the similar Sleepless in Seattle. They have a great chemistry together on screen. This is well written and directed and quite funny to, without being too mushy. A kind of will they… More
A very good Rom-com re-uniting Tom & Meg again. They have done a few films together now including the similar Sleepless in Seattle. They have a great chemistry together on screen. This is well written and directed and quite funny to, without being too mushy. A kind of will they won't feel to it, funny to see this was made when online chatrooms were just becoming quite popular. Worth seeing even if you avoid Rom-coms like your in-laws!
Film C

i love this movie! the chemistry between the two are great and makes viewing this movie that bit more better!! its funny, sweet and an original idea for a movie which i thoroughly enjoyed!! a really good movie especially for romcom fans that shouldnt be missed!!
Lenny M

Hahah so dated now with the AOL template for the movie. Tom Hanks never really does a bad job and this movie is enjoyable, predictable yet enjoyable. Dave Chappelle plays Hanks' buddy/wingman. Hmm??
Conner R

While it is far less effective than, say Sleepless in Seattle, it is still a great team up of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. The two have an extremely great amount of chemistry and have no problem entertaining the viewer. This story isn't all that interesting, but it's definitely… More
While it is far less effective than, say Sleepless in Seattle, it is still a great team up of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. The two have an extremely great amount of chemistry and have no problem entertaining the viewer. This story isn't all that interesting, but it's definitely worth a watch.
Anthony L

Ctrl Alt Delete!
Jason O

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks do a great job together in You've Got Mail like they do in all their movies. There's not many duos that could do better and You've Got Mail is certainly no exception. You've Got Mail takes you where many of us are experienced, the internet.… More
Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks do a great job together in You've Got Mail like they do in all their movies. There's not many duos that could do better and You've Got Mail is certainly no exception. You've Got Mail takes you where many of us are experienced, the internet. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks fall in love while talking to each other over instant messages and e-mails every day. All the while, they're bigtime business rivals and they don't even know it. Tom Hanks opens a new and real successful bookstore right across from Meg Ryan's. Meg's bookstore has been there for many many years and since Tom's bookstore moved across the street, Meg's bookstore has been suffering more and more each day and is so bad it might have to go out of business. The whole time throughout the rival between the two with the successful bookstores, they exchange on the internet and don't find out until the end who they've been talking to. If you're a fan of the other Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movies or if you like getting on the internet and know what it's like to get to know or meet people over the computer, then you will probably like this movie a lot. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I did love the movie a lot when I first saw it at theaters, but I've since seen the duo's other movies and it's not their best, or a favorite of mine, but still very nice. I saw this when I hadn't long had Internet, which gave it brownie points at the time.
Thomas B

a very memorable rom-com
Jennifer X

Contrary to majority opinion, I do NOT find this an inferior movie to The Shop Around the Corner. I like Meg Ryan a good deal more than Margaret Sullavan, and Tom Hanks a good deal less than Jimmy Stewart. (No offense to Tom's acting abilities or anything, but...it's Jimmy… More
Contrary to majority opinion, I do NOT find this an inferior movie to The Shop Around the Corner. I like Meg Ryan a good deal more than Margaret Sullavan, and Tom Hanks a good deal less than Jimmy Stewart. (No offense to Tom's acting abilities or anything, but...it's Jimmy Stewart!) To be honest I think the enmity between these two is much more believable and the sharing of the emails is quite clever, brings it to the twenty first century. I don't know, they actually have reason to "hate" each other as opposed to Margaret Sullavan's completely random, bitchy taunting of Stewart. And when they finally do get together it's all cute and sweet and sugary and everything it's meant to be. It's a saccharine movie! It's forgettable, but enjoyable!! I mean, I do get the feeling it's trying too hard when Tom Hanks is being all cynical, especially in his Starbucks homogenization "rant" that I still do not exactly understand, but, what do you expect? It's a Hollywood romcom. And Nora Ephorn is probably very limited with what she can do in the midest of these difficult restrictions. I am very fond of Nora Ephron; don't mess. But When Harry Met Sally trumps both movies by miles. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan make a cute pair to be sure, but Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan make maaagic. They've got the EDGE.
Keysha H

I know I'm not supposed to like this..but there is something enduring about this internet love story.