Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- sincere
- wistful
- melancholic
- quiet evening
- music movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the Nashville music-world setting and some performances emotionally genuine, but judged the drama uneven and the film unable to fully realize its promising premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Miranda, James, and Kyle are drawn into an emotionally complicated love triangle as they pursue music careers in Nashville.
Miranda and the other young performers face unsuccessful auditions, professional disappointment, and the demands of songwriting.
The plot is rooted in aspiring country musicians, auditions, songwriting, and the professional culture of Nashville.
The characters experience sudden infatuation and creative hope alongside regret, fractured relationships, and an increasingly sorrowful aftertaste.
Films like The Thing Called Love, and why
Nashville
music-centered romantic drama about aspiring singer-songwriters pursuing creative careers and complicated relationships
Crazy Heart
bittersweet country-music romance built around performers, ambition, and emotional entanglements
Once
romantic musical drama where artistic ambition and unstable love collide in a performance-driven setting
A Star Is Born
ensemble drama about young artists, romance, and the pressures of building a life around music
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Bogdanovich
- Release Date
- 1993-08-27
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (152)
Cast
- River Phoenix
- Samantha Mathis
- Dermot Mulroney
- Sandra Bullock
- Anthony Clark
- Deborah Allen
- K.T. Oslin
- Webb Wilder
- Earl Poole Ball
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Thing Called Love about?
- Young songwriters chase country-music dreams in Nashville while impulsive romance turns ambition into emotional turbulence.
- What is The Thing Called Love like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Thing Called Love as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Thing Called Love violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Thing Called Love.
- What did critics think of The Thing Called Love?
- Critics broadly found the Nashville music-world setting and some performances emotionally genuine, but judged the drama uneven and the film unable to fully realize its promising premise.
- Which films are like The Thing Called Love?
- Films with a similar feel include Nashville, Crazy Heart, Once, and A Star Is Born.
- How long is The Thing Called Love?
- The Thing Called Love runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Thing Called Love?
- In United States, The Thing Called Love is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
