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IMDbPro

Return to Paradise

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Anne Heche, Vince Vaughn, and Joaquin Phoenix in Return to Paradise (1998)
Home Video Trailer from PolyGram Video
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaRomanceThriller

Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.Two friends must choose whether to help a third friend who was arrested in Malaysia for drug possession.

  • Director
    • Joseph Ruben
  • Writers
    • Pierre Jolivet
    • Olivier Schatzky
    • Wesley Strick
  • Stars
    • Vince Vaughn
    • Anne Heche
    • Joaquin Phoenix
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Joseph Ruben
    • Writers
      • Pierre Jolivet
      • Olivier Schatzky
      • Wesley Strick
    • Stars
      • Vince Vaughn
      • Anne Heche
      • Joaquin Phoenix
    • 141User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
    • 54Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Return To Paradise
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch Return To Paradise

    Photos134

    Kristin Davis at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Jada Pinkett Smith at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Jada Pinkett Smith at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Gus Van Sant at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Anne Heche at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)
    Joey Lawrence and Matthew Lawrence at an event for Return to Paradise (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vince Vaughn
    Vince Vaughn
    • Sheriff
    Anne Heche
    Anne Heche
    • Beth
    Joaquin Phoenix
    Joaquin Phoenix
    • Lewis
    David Conrad
    David Conrad
    • Tony
    Vera Farmiga
    Vera Farmiga
    • Kerrie
    Nick Sandow
    Nick Sandow
    • Ravitch
    Jada Pinkett Smith
    Jada Pinkett Smith
    • M.J.
    Ming Lee
    • Mr. Chandran
    Joel de la Fuente
    Joel de la Fuente
    • Mr. Doramin
    Richard Chang
    Richard Chang
    • Prosecutor
    James McCauley
    James McCauley
    • Famous Divorce Lawyer
    • (as James Michael McCauley)
    Brette Taylor
    Brette Taylor
    • Young Woman in Limo
    • (as a different name)
    Deanna Yusoff
    • Woman in Bar
    David Zayas
    David Zayas
    • Construction Foreman
    Amy Wong
    • Ticket Agent
    • (as Amy Wong)
    Is Issariya
    • Malaysian Woman in Hammock
    Ed Hodson
    • Features Editor
    Kevin Scullin
    Kevin Scullin
    • Doorman #1
    • Director
      • Joseph Ruben
    • Writers
      • Pierre Jolivet
      • Olivier Schatzky
      • Wesley Strick
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first of two back to back films that Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche starred in together. After this, they recreated iconic roles in the remake of Psycho. Coincidentally, Vera Farmiga who made her film debut in this, also appeared in a retelling of Psycho with the TV series Bates Motel as Norman Bates' mother.
    • Goofs
      Long opening series of street scenes, local "color", was obviously filmed in Buddhist Thailand, complete with saffron-robed monks and red-green-gold Thai temples - Malaysia (population has 30 % non-Muslim minorities) doesn't have go-go bars or obvious brothels unlike Thailand).
    • Quotes

      Sheriff: I'm here, Lewis, I'm right here. You're not alone, Lewis. Look at me, Lewis. You're not alone, Lewis. Look at me. You're not alone. I'm here. Look at me. See me, Lewis. You're not alone. I'm right here. I'm right here, Lewis, I'm right here. I see you, Lewis. I'm right here. Lewis, you are not alone right now. I'm right here. You are not alone, Lewis. I see you. I see you, Lewis. I'm right here. You're not alone. You are not alone, Lewis!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: How Stella Got Her Groove Back/Return to Paradise/Snake Eyes/The Rat Pack/Full Tilt Boogie (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Jing Jing (Firefly)

    User reviews141

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Very Underrated Movie
    I am not a Fan of Drama/romantic Movies, but This Movie should have been overloaded with awards! smartly written, strong editing and great acting.

    Vince Vaughn and Anne Heche are brilliant in their roles especially Anne Heche. I was never a fan of Vince Vaughn, but this was a great performance from Him.

    Anne Heche took her character to another level. Joaquin Phoenix performance is very realistic.

    One of the strengths of this film are the things in between. Afterwards, you can ask yourself if Beth is an actual Lawyer. Whether the proposal of three years actually has been and not concocted by Beth. And what were the motives of Sheriff. Yet the morally or in love with Beth. The two story lines are beautifully interwoven in each other with surprising twists here and there.

    The only down point from this movie is that the director misused Heche by not giving her good camera angles and coverage of her expressive face.

    'Return to Paradise' is one of the most underrated films ever. It deserved at least two Oscar nominations. Best actress: Anne Heche, Best supporting actor: Joaquin Phoenix

    Even if you do not like this kind of movie, the movie is worth seeing for the performances which unfortunately have pretty much gone unrecognized. Check it out. Score: 9 out of 10
    helpful•15
    3
    • roth81
    • Sep 20, 2013

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 14, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Long Way to Paradise
    • Filming locations
      • Eastern State Penitentiary - 2124 Fairmont Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Propaganda Films
      • Tetragram
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,341,087
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,465,129
      • Aug 16, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,341,087
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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    Anne Heche, Vince Vaughn, and Joaquin Phoenix in Return to Paradise (1998)
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    By what name was Return to Paradise (1998) officially released in India in English?
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