The Cider House Rules
An orphanage-trained young physician leaves rural Maine seeking independence, only to confront love, moral responsibility, and the vocation his mentor has chosen for him.
Overview
An orphan's journey to self-discovery unfolds amidst the complexities of love and choice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- wistful
- warm
- melancholic
- quiet evening
- literary film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's affecting drama, strong performances, lovely visuals, and old-fashioned period atmosphere, while finding its many themes unevenly developed.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Homer must choose between Dr. Larch's planned vocation and a self-determined life beyond the orphanage.
Dr. Larch performs medically safe but illegal abortions, shaping Homer's education and choices.
Homer leaves the orphanage to work among seasonal laborers at Wally's family apple farm.
The Maine orphanage and apple orchard are presented with lovely, nostalgic period-piece imagery despite abortion, incest, and addiction themes.
Films like The Cider House Rules, and why
A River Runs Through It
shared period drama, moral conflict, intimate humanism, and emotionally warm visual style
The Spitfire Grill
shared coming-of-age drama, rural American setting, family longing, and wistful tone
The Painted Veil
shared literary period drama, forbidden romance, social constraints, and bittersweet emotional register
Movie Details
- Director
- Lasse Hallström
- Release Date
- 1999-12-17
- Runtime
- 126 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1334)
Cast
- Tobey Maguire
- Charlize Theron
- Michael Caine
- Delroy Lindo
- Paul Rudd
- Jane Alexander
- Kathy Baker
- Erykah Badu
- Kieran Culkin
- Kate Nelligan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MGM Plus
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Cider House Rules about?
- An orphanage-trained young physician leaves rural Maine seeking independence, only to confront love, moral responsibility, and the vocation his mentor has chosen for him.
- What is The Cider House Rules like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Cider House Rules as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Cider House Rules violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Cider House Rules as mild.
- What did critics think of The Cider House Rules?
- Critics broadly praised the film's affecting drama, strong performances, lovely visuals, and old-fashioned period atmosphere, while finding its many themes unevenly developed.
- Which films are like The Cider House Rules?
- Films with a similar feel include A River Runs Through It, The Spitfire Grill, and The Painted Veil.
- How long is The Cider House Rules?
- The Cider House Rules runs 126 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Cider House Rules?
- In United States, The Cider House Rules streams on MGM Plus.
