Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- warm
- date night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics generally found Mel Gibson engaging and the premise intermittently funny, but considered the film a conventional, uneven comedy-romance that underuses its high-concept idea.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nick Marshall's telepathy turns his habitual male confidence and workplace advantage into an uncomfortable lesson in women's perspectives.
Nick uses mind-reading to compete for advancement and gain leverage over Darcy and other colleagues at the advertising agency.
The story markets a fantasy of understanding women while repeatedly confronting Nick's womanizing and misogynistic behavior.
Telepathy, advertising pitches, romance, and Nick's relationship with his teenage daughter are presented through accessible studio-comedy conventions.
Films like What Women Want, and why
Tootsie
shares a screwball romantic comedy structure, gender role reversal, and workplace rivalry
Liar Liar
combines romantic comedy with a fantastical premise that transforms a self-centered protagonist
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
features a high-concept romantic comedy built around unusual access to another person's inner life
The Devil Wears Prada
shares workplace ambition, mistaken assumptions, and a polished mainstream romantic comedy tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Nancy Meyers
- Release Date
- 2000-12-15
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (4553)
Cast
- Mel Gibson
- Helen Hunt
- Marisa Tomei
- Alan Alda
- Ashley Johnson
- Mark Feuerstein
- Lauren Holly
- Delta Burke
- Valerie Perrine
- Judy Greer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is What Women Want about?
- A swaggering advertising executive gains the power to hear women's thoughts and must decide whether to exploit that gift or become a better man.
- What is What Women Want like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of What Women Want as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is What Women Want violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in What Women Want.
- What did critics think of What Women Want?
- Critics generally found Mel Gibson engaging and the premise intermittently funny, but considered the film a conventional, uneven comedy-romance that underuses its high-concept idea.
- Which films are like What Women Want?
- Films with a similar feel include Tootsie, Liar Liar, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, and The Devil Wears Prada.
- How long is What Women Want?
- What Women Want runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch What Women Want?
- In United States, What Women Want streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel.
