Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
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)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Being John Malkovich

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
362K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,197
594
John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)
A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.
Play trailer1:47
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Body Swap ComedyHigh-Concept ComedyPsychological DramaSatireShowbiz DramaSupernatural FantasyComedyDramaFantasy

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.

  • Director
    • Spike Jonze
  • Writer
    • Charlie Kaufman
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Cameron Diaz
    • Catherine Keener
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    362K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,197
    594
    • Director
      • Spike Jonze
    • Writer
      • Charlie Kaufman
    • Stars
      • John Cusack
      • Cameron Diaz
      • Catherine Keener
    • 948User reviews
    • 217Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 49 wins & 79 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:47
    Official Trailer
    Being John Malkovich
    Trailer 0:32
    Being John Malkovich
    Being John Malkovich
    Trailer 0:32
    Being John Malkovich
    'Being John Malkovich' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:35
    'Being John Malkovich' | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos164

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 158
    View Poster

    Top cast79

    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
    • 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

    More like this

    Adaptation.
    7.7
    Adaptation.
    Synecdoche, New York
    7.5
    Synecdoche, New York
    Magnolia
    8.0
    Magnolia
    Burn After Reading
    7.0
    Burn After Reading
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
    7.5
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
    12 Monkeys
    8.0
    12 Monkeys
    Big Fish
    8.0
    Big Fish
    Brazil
    7.8
    Brazil
    O Brother, Where Art Thou?
    7.7
    O Brother, Where Art Thou?
    Boogie Nights
    7.9
    Boogie Nights
    Sin City
    8.0
    Sin City
    Barton Fink
    7.6
    Barton Fink

    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
      Just after the first time Lotte falls out of the portal onto the side of the New Jersey Turnpike, a palm tree is visible in the distance over Craig's shoulder.
    • 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 reviews948

    Featured review
    9/10

    Wildly Imaginative Surreal Masterwork That Pushes The Limits Of Storytelling

    Charlie Kaufman (script) and Spike Jonze (director) burst on the scene together with their collaboration on this crazy masterpiece. 'Being John Malkovich' pushes the limits of storytelling; this wildly imaginative film shows that even the most surreal storyline can still be made entertaining if a filmmaker doesn't care about conventions and knows just what the medium is capable of. Perhaps the most original release in a year that had several very original releases ('Fight Club' and 'The Matrix' were both also released in '99), the film's playful creative energy had an effect on screenwriters, directors, actors and producers that can hardly be overstated. There had simply never been anything like it - and one only has to look at a contemporary TV show like 'Legion' to see what a mark this film left. Groundbreaking and simply inspired. 9 stars out of 10.

    Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/

    Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
    • gogoschka-1
    • Feb 10, 2018
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ21

    • How long is Being John Malkovich?Powered by Alexa
    • Why John Malkovich?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 3, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • ¿Quieres ser 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
      • $23,106,795
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 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
    John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, and Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich (1999)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for Being John Malkovich (1999)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.