Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- caustic
- melancholic
- adult movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Joan Allen and Kevin Costner's performances, the sharp adult humor, and the film's emotionally abrasive ensemble, while many objected to the ending's disruptive twist and strained storytelling logic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Terry's anger, self-destructive behavior, and clashes with her daughters generate humor with a deliberately abrasive edge.
The husband's disappearance and the family's understanding of it are shaped by Terry's account, flashbacks, and the film's final revelation.
Terry's anger over her husband's disappearance affects her romance with Denny and her relationships with all four daughters.
Andy, Emily, Hadley, and Popeye must manage their mother's anger, dating life, and unstable household after their father's disappearance.
Films like The Upside of Anger, and why
American Beauty
shared dark suburban comedy, emotionally abrasive adults, and sharp family dysfunction
The Royal Tenenbaums
shared caustic domestic humor, complicated grief, and strong ensemble performances
Something's Gotta Give
shared grown-up romantic comedy, wounded protagonists, and bittersweet emotional realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Binder
- Release Date
- 2005-03-11
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (301)
Cast
- Joan Allen
- Kevin Costner
- Erika Christensen
- Keri Russell
- Alicia Witt
- Evan Rachel Wood
- Mike Binder
- Tom Harper
- Dane Christensen
- Danny Webb
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 Upside of Anger about?
- A fiercely funny suburban family drama follows an embittered mother and her daughters as grief, romance, and buried truths unsettle their household.
- What is The Upside of Anger like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Upside of Anger as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Upside of Anger violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Upside of Anger.
- What did critics think of The Upside of Anger?
- Critics broadly praised Joan Allen and Kevin Costner's performances, the sharp adult humor, and the film's emotionally abrasive ensemble, while many objected to the ending's disruptive twist and strained storytelling logic.
- Which films are like The Upside of Anger?
- Films with a similar feel include American Beauty, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Something's Gotta Give.
- How long is The Upside of Anger?
- The Upside of Anger runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Upside of Anger?
- In United States, The Upside of Anger is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
