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IMDbPro

Being John Malkovich

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
333K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,419
61
John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich (1999)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaFantasy
A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
333K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,419
61
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Spike Jonze
    • Writer
      • Charlie Kaufman
    • Stars
      • John Cusack
      • Cameron Diaz
      • Catherine Keener
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Spike Jonze
    • Writer
      • Charlie Kaufman
    • Stars
      • John Cusack
      • Cameron Diaz
      • Catherine Keener
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 926User reviews
    • 255Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 48 wins & 79 nominations total

    Videos2

    Being John Malkovich
    Trailer 0:32
    Being John Malkovich
    'Being John Malkovich' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:35
    'Being John Malkovich' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos160

    Cameron Diaz and Orson Bean in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Malkovich and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Cusack and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Cusack in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    Cameron Diaz and Orson Bean in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Cusack and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Cusack in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    John Malkovich and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Craig Schwartz
    Cameron Diaz
    Cameron Diaz
    • Lotte Schwartz
    Catherine Keener
    Catherine Keener
    • Maxine Lund
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • John Horatio Malkovich
    Ned Bellamy
    Ned Bellamy
    • Derek Mantini
    Eric Weinstein
    Eric Weinstein
    • Father at Puppet Show
    Madison Lanc
    • Daughter at Puppet Show
    Octavia Spencer
    Octavia Spencer
    • Woman in Elevator
    • (as Octavia L. Spencer)
    Mary Kay Place
    Mary Kay Place
    • Floris
    Orson Bean
    Orson Bean
    • Dr. Lester
    K.K. Dodds
    K.K. Dodds
    • Wendy
    Reginald C. Hayes
    Reginald C. Hayes
    • Don
    • (as Reggie Hayes)
    Byrne Piven
    Byrne Piven
    • Captain Mertin
    Judith Wetzell
    • Tiny Woman
    Kevin Carroll
    Kevin Carroll
    • Cab Driver
    Willie Garson
    Willie Garson
    • Guy in Restaurant
    W. Earl Brown
    W. Earl Brown
    • First J.M. Inc. Customer
    Charlie Sheen
    Charlie Sheen
    • Charlie
    • Director
      • Spike Jonze
    • Writer
      • Charlie Kaufman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Malkovich was approached about this film several times and loved the script, but he and his production crew felt that another actor would fit the role better. Malkovich offered to help produce the film, and aid Spike Jonze in any way, but refused to star in it. Eventually after a couple of years Malkovich's will was worn down and he agreed to star in the film.
    • Goofs
      When Craig and Dr. Lester are in the restaurant, two orange Los Angeles MTA buses pass by.
    • Quotes

      Craig Schwartz: You don't know how lucky you are being a monkey. Because consciousness is a terrible curse. I think. I feel. I suffer. And all I ask in return is the opportunity to do my work. And they won't allow it... because I raise issues.

    • Crazy credits
      at the end of the cast listing is noted ...and John Malkovich
    • Connections
      Edited from 1998 MTV Video Music Awards (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Allegro, from Music for Strings
      Written by Béla Bartók

      Performed by The Cleveland Orchestra

      Conducted by Christoph von Dohnányi

      Courtesy of The Decca Record Company Ltd.

      Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

    User reviews926

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Being John Malkovich is a Wild Ride
    This has been a great year for alternate realities at the movies. Films like The Matrix, Sixth Sense, Blair Witch Project, Thirteenth Floor, and Run, Lola, Run have all, in different ways, played with the line that separates past from present, reality from simulation, and truth from fiction. Being John Malkovich can be added to this list of innovative films that a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly described as the first films of the 21st century.

    There is little in this film that is formula. John Cusack plays a gifted puppeteer who aspires to be one of the world's great puppeteers. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of job openings for puppeteers so he is reduced to street theater where he is clearly underappreciated. An almost unrecognizable Cameron Diaz plays Cusack's wife, a pet lover who is just a little quirky. When Cusack decides to take a job as a file clerk on floor 7.5 of an office building, life becomes even weirder. Cusack discovers an opening behind a file cabinet, a little door that leads into a tunnel. Like the characters in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, (or Alice Through the Looking Glass), Cusack jumps in and finds himself in an alternative universe. Instead of Narnia or Wonderland, Cusack finds himself on a 15-minute ride inside actor John Malkovich (played quite capably by . . . John Malkovich).

    Cusack joins forces with a co-worker to create a business. For $200 people can spend 15 minutes inside of John Malkovich's head, seeing the world through his eyes. Since this is even better than Real World or a WebCam show, people come in droves. Eventually, Malkovich himself discovers what's going on and jumps the line to go inside of his own mind. This leads to what has to be one of the more unique scenes in the history of film. The story takes on an even more interesting twist when Cusack finds a unique way to fulfill his lifelong dream of being the world's greatest puppeteer.

    This is one weird film--and I've left out some of the weird. This is also one of the most creative films I have seen, and the film raises interesting questions about consciousness, identity, love and meaning. There are great performances here by Cusack, Diaz, Malkovich, and Catherine Keener (Cusack's co-worker and eventual love interest). The real star of the show, however, is the story itself. First-time screenwriter Charlie Kaufman has crafted an interesting and innovative story. First-time director Spike Jonze handles the material extremely well. This is clearly not a film for all tastes, and the language and sexual scenes may well offend. This is, however, something that is very rare, in Hollywood--innovative, creative, and thought provoking. Watch for this film during the Oscar nominations. If this doesn't get nominated for screenplay--at least--I will hang up my trophy.
    helpful•13
    3
    • paul-nemecek
    • Jul 3, 2018

    FAQ3

    • Why John Malkovich?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 3, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thử Làm John Malkovich
    • Filming locations
      • RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Astralwerks
      • Gramercy Pictures (I)
      • Propaganda Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $13,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $22,863,596
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $637,721
      • Oct 31, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,106,667
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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