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Being John Malkovich (1999)

7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 178,508 users   Metascore: 90/100
Reviews: 802 user | 233 critic | 36 from Metacritic.com

A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of the movie star, John Malkovich.

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Title: Being John Malkovich (1999)

Being John Malkovich (1999) on IMDb 7.8/10

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Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 50 wins & 48 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Derek Mantini
...
Father at Puppet Show
Madison Lanc ...
Daughter at Puppet Show
...
Woman in Elevator (as Octavia L. Spencer)
...
...
...
K.K. Dodds ...
Wendy
...
Don (as Reggie Hayes)
Byrne Piven ...
Captain Mertin
Judith Wetzell ...
Tiny Woman
...
...
Cab Driver
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Storyline

Puppeteer Craig Schwartz and animal lover and pet store clerk Lotte Schwartz are just going through the motions of their marriage. Despite not being able to earn a living solely through puppeteering, Craig loves his profession as it allows him to inhabit the skin of others. He begins to take the ability to inhabit the skin of others to the next level when he is forced to take a job as a file clerk for the off-kilter LesterCorp, located on the five-foot tall 7½ floor of a Manhattan office building. Behind one of the filing cabinets in his work area, Craig finds a hidden door which he learns is a portal into the mind of John Malkovich, the visit through the portal which lasts fifteen minutes after which the person is spit into a ditch next to the New Jersey Turnpike. Craig is fascinated by the meaning of life associated with this finding. Lotte's trips through the portal make her evaluate her own self. And the confident Maxine Lund, one of Craig's co-workers who he tells about the ... Written by Huggo

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

portal | puppeteer | office | actor | pet | See more »

Taglines:

Be All That Someone Else Can Be See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

19 November 1999 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Dans la peau de John Malkovich  »

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£296,282 (UK) (17 March 2000)

Gross:

£1,882,462 (UK) (5 May 2000)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first draft of the script, Lester and his friends weren't using Malkovich's portal as a means for extending their lives, but in a plot to take over the world in the name of Satan. Satan was the mysterious 'Flemmer' that the Merton-Flemmer building was half named after. See more »

Goofs

The same cars are driving past on the New Jersey Turnpike the both first and second times someone is seen appearing from the portal. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Lotte Schwartz: Craig, honey, it's time for bed.
[fade out and in]
Orrin Hatch the bird: Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up,
Craig Schwartz: Lotte...
Lotte Schwartz: I'm sorry. I didn't know Orrin Hatch was out of his cage.
See more »

Crazy Credits

at the end of the cast listing is noted ...and John Malkovich See more »

Connections

Referenced in Adaptation. (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"Malkovich Malkovich Lounge Music"
Written by Nick Peck
Performed by Nick Peck
Courtesy of Perceptive Productions
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
I want to be John Malkovich.
23 November 1999 | by See all my reviews

This film was absolutely incredible. Attempting to explain the plot in any way that would do it justice would be an excercise in futility, but let it be said that I see many, many movies, and in my lifetime, I have never seen a movie such as Being John Malkovitch.

The acting is completely brilliant .. Cameron Diaz is nearly unrecognizable, both in behavior and appearance, as is John Cusack. John Malkovich was presented with an interesting opportunity in playing himself, and he seems to have seized the opportunity with relish. He is most definitely not being himself in front of the camera, but instead creates this wonderful character of John Malkovich the vessel.

I've admired Spike Jonez's work for a good long time, and I'm pleased to say that in his first full length feature as a director, he succeeds with flying colors in creating an original, beautiful, humorous, and good natured picture.

See Being John Malkovich, because come Oscar time, you're going to want to know why its winning!


95 of 130 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Why John Malkovich? miles_fierce_larson
I completely do NOT get this movie, care to explain? yuan-van
Highly Overrated chironaphelion
Catherine Keener as Maxine? metanthrax
what happens to the physical bodies? aussiemiguel
This is a f~ckinG horror movie! stunnersmp
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