Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Wit

  • TV Movie
  • 20012001
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Emma Thompson in Wit (2001)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
7 Photos
  • Drama
A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.A renowned professor is forced to reassess her life when she is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writers
    • Margaret Edson(play)
    • Emma Thompson(teleplay)
    • Mike Nichols(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Emma Thompson
    • Christopher Lloyd
    • Eileen Atkins
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writers
    • Margaret Edson(play)
    • Emma Thompson(teleplay)
    • Mike Nichols(teleplay)
  • Stars
    • Emma Thompson
    • Christopher Lloyd
    • Eileen Atkins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 124User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 13 wins & 21 nominations total

    Videos1

    Wit
    Trailer 0:31
    Wit

    Photos7

    Emma Thompson in Wit (2001)
    Emma Thompson in Wit (2001)
    Emma Thompson in Wit (2001)
    Emma Thompson in Wit (2001)
    Jonathan M. Woodward in Wit (2001)
    Christopher Lloyd in Wit (2001)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Emma Thompson
    Emma Thompson
    • Vivian Bearing
    Christopher Lloyd
    Christopher Lloyd
    • Dr. Harvey Kelekian
    Eileen Atkins
    Eileen Atkins
    • Evelyn 'E.M.' Ashford
    Audra McDonald
    Audra McDonald
    • Susie Monahan
    Jonathan M. Woodward
    Jonathan M. Woodward
    • Dr. Jason Posner
    Harold Pinter
    Harold Pinter
    • Mr. Bearing (Vivian's Father)
    Rebecca Laurie
    • Vivian aged 5
    Su Lin Looi
    • Nurse
    • (as Su-Lin Looi)
    Raffaello Degruttola
    Raffaello Degruttola
    • Technician 1
    Miquel Brown
    • Technician 2
    Hari Dhillon
    Hari Dhillon
    • Fellow 1
    • (as Harry Dillon)
    Benedict Wong
    Benedict Wong
    • Fellow 2
    Alex Gregor
    • Fellow 3
    Lachele Carl
    Lachele Carl
    • Fellow 4
    David Menkin
    David Menkin
    • Student 1
    Rachel Siegel
    • Student 2
    Shauna Shim
    • Student 3
    Matt Blair
    • Student 4
    • Director
      • Mike Nichols
    • Writers
      • Margaret Edson(play)
      • Emma Thompson(teleplay)
      • Mike Nichols(teleplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Primary Colors
    6.7
    Primary Colors
    Georgia
    6.5
    Georgia
    Temple Grandin
    8.2
    Temple Grandin
    Carnal Knowledge
    7.0
    Carnal Knowledge
    Warm Springs
    7.4
    Warm Springs
    Lorenzo's Oil
    7.3
    Lorenzo's Oil
    Gilda Live
    6.9
    Gilda Live
    The Winter Guest
    6.9
    The Winter Guest
    What Planet Are You From?
    5.6
    What Planet Are You From?
    Conspiracy
    7.6
    Conspiracy
    Les Misérables
    7.4
    Les Misérables
    6.1
    Teach Me!

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie is often shown at medical colleges as an example of how doctors and researchers should not behave.
    • Goofs
      During her exam with the young internist, her arms alternate repeatedly from being completely under the sheet, to being folded together on top of the sheet.
    • Quotes

      E.M. Ashford: Do you think that the punctuation of the last line of this sonnet is merely an insignificant detail? The sonnet begins with a valiant struggle with Death calling on all the forces of intellect and drama to vanquish the enemy. But it is ultimately about overcoming the seemingly insuperable barriers separating life death and eternal life. In the edition you choose, this profoundly simple meaning is sacrificed to hysterical punctuation.

      E.M. Ashford: And Death, Capital D, shall be no more, semi-colon. Death, Capital D comma, thou shalt die, exclamation mark!

      E.M. Ashford: If you go in for this sort of thing I suggest you take up Shakespeare.

      E.M. Ashford: Gardner's edition of the Holy Sonnets returns to the Westmoreland manuscript of 1610, not for sentimental reasons I assure you, but because Helen Gardner is a scholar.

      E.M. Ashford: It reads, "And death shall be no more" comma "death, thou shalt die." Nothing but a breath, a comma separates life from life everlasting.

      E.M. Ashford: Very simple, really. With the original punctuation restored Death is no longer something to act out on a stage with exclamation marks. It is a comma. A pause.

      E.M. Ashford: In this way, the uncompromising way one learns something from the poem, wouldn't you say? Life, death, soul, God, past present. Not insuperable barriers. Not semi-colons. Just a comma.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Say It Isn't So/Wit/The Brothers/The Tailor of Panama/The Gleaners and I (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Serenade Adagio
      String Quartet #15 (2nd Movement)

      Written by Dmitri Shostakovich (as Dimitri Shostakovitch)

      Performed by The Manhattan String Quartet

      Courtesy of Ess.a.y Recordings

    User reviews124

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Breathtaking
    This film was breathtaking, subtle, intelligent and nearly perfect. Emma Thompson was excruciatingly spectacular in her performance, absolutely sublime. I sought-out "Wit" because she was in it, but was not eager to see such a heavy film, as I usually choose lighter entertainment (I loved her in "Junior"). I feel absolutely blessed to have been seduced into seeing it by Thompson's reputation and talent. "Wit" is a masterpiece of theater and film-making. I do not cry easily and I sobbed, I don't know how anyone could not, so be prepared. But the performances were all so perfect that I felt honored to be touched by them. Every medical student, nursing student, pastoral care professional or counselor of any sort should see this film. It is a touching view into the reality of mortality.
    helpful•34
    3
    • sarahelize
    • Aug 16, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • e-Pipoca - synopsis, gallery, trailer (Brazil)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • W;t
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • HBO Films
      • Avenue Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Emma Thompson in Wit (2001)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Wit (2001) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.