MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Up 3,485 this week

Citizen Ruth (1996)

 -  Comedy | Drama  -  13 December 1996 (USA)
6.8
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 6.8/10 from 4,178 users   Metascore: 64/100
Reviews: 44 user | 42 critic | 18 from Metacritic.com

An irresponsible, drug-addicted, recently impregnated woman finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate when both parties attempt to sway her to their respective sides.

Director:

Watch Trailer
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 10000 titles created 2 months ago
 
a list of 3627 titles created 1 month ago
 
a list of 150 titles created 12 Feb 2012
 
a list of 311 titles created 16 Apr 2011
 
a list of 178 titles created 2 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: Citizen Ruth (1996)

Citizen Ruth (1996) on IMDb 6.8/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Citizen Ruth.
3 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

Photos

Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Election (1999)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

A high school teacher's personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections.

Director: Alexander Payne
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
About Schmidt (2002)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

A man upon retirement embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected.

Director: Alexander Payne
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

Insightful look at an unattractive 7th grader as she struggles to cope with un-attentive parents, snobbish classmates, a smart older brother, an attractive younger sister, and her own insecurities.

Director: Todd Solondz
Stars: Heather Matarazzo, Victoria Davis, Christina Brucato
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X  

Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents' divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s.

Director: Noah Baumbach
Stars: Owen Kline, Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney
Storytelling (2001)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.7/10 X  

College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.

Director: Todd Solondz
Stars: Selma Blair, Leo Fitzpatrick, Robert Wisdom
Short Cuts (1993)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

The day-to-day lives of a number of suburban Los Angeles residents.

Director: Robert Altman
Stars: Andie MacDowell, Bruce Davison, Julianne Moore
Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

In Mexico, two teenage boys and an attractive older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life, friendship, sex, and each other.

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Stars: Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna
Happiness (1998)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

The lives of many individuals connected by the desire for happiness, often from sources usually considered dark or evil.

Director: Todd Solondz
Stars: Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Wag the Dog (1997)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

Before elections, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to "fabricate" a war in order to cover-up a presidential sex scandal.

Director: Barry Levinson
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche
Rushmore (1998)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

The king of Rushmore prep school is put on academic probation.

Director: Wes Anderson
Stars: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

When his only friend dies, a man born with dwarfism moves to rural New Jersey to live a life of solitude, only to meet a chatty hot dog vendor and a woman dealing with her own personal loss.

Director: Thomas McCarthy
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Paul Benjamin, Bobby Cannavale
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite of what the principal thinks of that.

Director: John Hughes
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
Diane Siegler
...
Norm Stoney
...
...
Rachel
...
Harlan
...
Dr. Charlie Rollins
...
Judge Richter
...
Nurse Pat
...
Jessica Weiss
...
Lance Rome ...
Ricky, Ruth's Lover
Jim Kalal ...
Tony Stoops
Shea Degan ...
Arresting Officer
Vince Morelli ...
Dr. George
Edit

Storyline

Ruth Stoops is a poor indigent drug-user (a huffer - inhaling glue and paint for a high) whose down and out existence is complicated once more by becoming pregnant (she has had and lost four children already). When a judge orders that she gets an abortion or face a felony charge, she is befriended by Gail Stoney, a pro-lifer whose husband is president of the local "Babysavers" group. Suddenly Ruth is thrust into the middle of the pro-choice/pro-life struggle, with each side wanting her to take their side as a "message" to others - and the situation escalates... Written by Gary Dickerson <slug@mail.utexas.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

A Pro-Laugh comedy. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for substance abuse, strong language and a sex scene | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

|

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

13 December 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Meet Ruth Stoops  »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$26,709 (USA) (13 December 1996)

Gross:

$153,155 (USA) (10 January 1997)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final theatrical film of Kenneth Mars. See more »

Goofs

When Norm is lying next to Ruth on her bed, there is a change of camera. He moves his hand to the center of his chest in each camera shot. See more »

Quotes

Ruth: I don't wanna go back to jail again. Least not for more than a week or two.
See more »

Crazy Credits

About halfway through the credits, we hear the beginning of Tape 2, Side 1. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Bravo!
22 January 2006 | by (Vancouver, Canada.) – See all my reviews

An outstanding work – the consummate Indie.

A great, little satire that manages to make you identify with a homeless, hopeless druggie.

Laura Dern is perfect as the indigent & insatiable "Ruth". She brings an engaging hidden-beauty to the part, and with the help of Alexander Payne's brilliant direction, she nimbly walks the wire between comical hero and tragic pariah.

This gem clearly demonstrates that, even though the production budget may be lower than a republican's principles - when great talent and artistic enthusiasm couple, a work of genius is likely to be born.

Cheers, AB – a staff member of Prospect Point Productions, Inc.


40 of 45 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Did anyone else think Laura Dern was stellar? moonstarsrevvvv
Good movie? brian20nj
I loved this movie but.. yowigginz
Ruth Stoops or Terry Schiavo bryanstampy
Professor Wheeler - Citizen Ruth Review kimvu_916
DVD commentary powbiffbang
Discuss Citizen Ruth (1996) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?