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IMDbPro

Terms of Endearment

  • 19831983
  • PGPG
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
62K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,261
363
Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment (1983)
ComedyDrama
Follows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter's family problems.Follows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter's family problems.Follows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter's family problems.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
62K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,261
363
    • James L. Brooks
    • Larry McMurtry(based on the novel by)
    • James L. Brooks(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Debra Winger
    • Jack Nicholson
    • James L. Brooks
    • Larry McMurtry(based on the novel by)
    • James L. Brooks(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Debra Winger
    • Jack Nicholson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 230User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Oscars

    Photos58

    Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Jack Nicholson and Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Jack Nicholson, Shirley MacLaine, and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Jack Nicholson and Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Debra Winger and Jeff Daniels in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Debra Winger and John Lithgow in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment (1983)
    Danny DeVito and Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Aurora Greenway
    Debra Winger
    Debra Winger
    • Emma Horton
    Jack Nicholson
    Jack Nicholson
    • Garrett Breedlove
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Vernon Dahlart
    Jeff Daniels
    Jeff Daniels
    • Flap Horton
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Sam Burns
    Lisa Hart Carroll
    • Patsy Clark
    Betty King
    • Rosie Dunlop
    • (as Betty R. King)
    Huckleberry Fox
    Huckleberry Fox
    • Teddy Horton
    Troy Bishop
    Troy Bishop
    • Tommy Horton
    Shane Serwin
    • Younger Tommy Horton
    Megan Morris
    • Melanie Horton
    Tara Yeakey
    • Baby Melanie
    Norman Bennett
    Norman Bennett
    • Edward Johnson
    Jennifer Josey
    • Young Emma
    Kate Charleson
    • Janice
    Tom Wees
    • Dr. Budge
    Paul Menzel
    • Dr. Maise
      • James L. Brooks
      • Larry McMurtry(based on the novel by)
      • James L. Brooks(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the end of production, to congratulate him for completing his first movie, James L. Brooks received a book of "Life in Hell" cartoons, drawn by Matt Groening. Brooks was so impressed that he asked Groening to create cartoon shorts for The Tracey Ullman Show (1987), which led to The Simpsons (1989).
    • Goofs
      During the opening credits, set in the 1950s, a 1980s station wagon is parked in a driveway in the background.
    • Quotes

      Aurora Greenway: Excuse me. It is after ten. Give my daughter the pain shot, please.

      Nurse: Mrs. Greenway, I was going to.

      Aurora Greenway: Oh, good, go ahead.

      Nurse: In just a few minutes.

      Aurora Greenway: Well, please - it's, it's after ten. It's after ten. I don't see why she has to have this pain.

      Nurse: Ma'am, it's not my patient.

      Aurora Greenway: [increasingly hysterically] It's time for her shot! Do you understand? Do something! All she had to do is hold out until ten! And it's past ten! She's - in pain, my daughter's in pain! Give her the shot, do you understand me?

      Nurse: You're going to behave...

      Aurora Greenway: [at the top of her lungs] Give my daughter the shot!

      Nurse: [walks away to give Emma the shot]

      Aurora Greenway: Thank you very much. Thank you.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Nate and Hayes/A Night in Heaven/The Big Score/Terms of Endearment/Danton (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Anything Goes
      By Cole Porter

      Performed by Ethel Merman

      Produced by Jule Styne (uncredited)

      Orchestrated by Buddy Bregman (uncredited) and Nelson Riddle (uncredited)

      Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

    User reviews230

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Another near perfect blending of the smile and the tear...
    TERMS OF ENDEARMENT is an undeniably gripping and emotional film experience that will have you rolling on the floor during one scene and weeping uncontrollably during the next. This film follows the complicated relationship between an icy, Texan widow named Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine)and her slightly-off-the-wall daughter, Emma (Debra Winger), who at the beginning of the film is marrying a man named Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels), whom her mother clearly hates, seemingly just to get away from her. The film follows Emma's marriage through three children, infidelity, and unexpected tragedy but it never lets go of the unspoken bond between Aurora and Emma...a bond so strong that it transcends telephone lines, geography, and even dialogue at times...there are moments in the story where you see Aurora and Emma communicate without saying a word to each other. Writer-director James L. Brooks won a pair of Oscars for writing and directing this funny and heartbreaking story that stretches over a long period of time but never fails to hold interest and trust me, the last 20-30 minutes of this film will have you weeping. Shirley MacLaine finally won her long-overdue Best Actress Oscar for her controlled performance as Aurora and Jack Nicholson won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as a retired astronaut who moves in next door to Aurora after Emma moves out and begins a hilarious and touching relationship with Aurora. Debra Winger is explosive and unpredictable as Emma and Jeff Daniels is fully invested in the unsympathetic role of Flap. A truly unique motion picture experience that will leave you limp.
    helpful•32
    9
    • Isaac5855
    • Jul 24, 2006

    FAQ1

    • Is the movie loyal to the book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 9, 1983 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • 3060 Locke Lane, Houston, Texas, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 12 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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