Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- sardonic
- provocative
- political movie night
- dark comedy viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film smart, sharply funny, and courageous in satirizing both sides of the abortion debate, while noting that its full-scale farce can become thin and overly self-conscious.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ruth is recruited and manipulated by both pro-life and pro-choice activists, while the film ridicules the extremism of each camp.
Ruth remains a poor, addicted woman motivated largely by immediate survival and money rather than ideological conviction.
Both activist factions compete to control Ruth and use her pregnancy as a public message.
The activists, judge, family members, and organizers are presented as heightened satirical figures surrounding Ruth's crisis.
Films like Citizen Ruth, and why
Election
shared sharp social satire, morally abrasive comedy, and outsider protagonist
Wag the Dog
shared irreverent political comedy, ensemble caricature, and provocative subject matter
The Great White Hype
shared darkly comic examination of American extremism and dysfunctional institutions
Happiness
shared caustic comedy-drama, abrasive characters, and critique of ideological certainty
Movie Details
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Release Date
- 1996-11-21
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (155)
Cast
- Laura Dern
- Swoosie Kurtz
- Kurtwood Smith
- Mary Kay Place
- Kelly Preston
- M.C. Gainey
- Kenneth Mars
- David Graf
- Kathleen Noone
- Tippi Hedren
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, 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 Citizen Ruth about?
- A chaotic, glue-sniffing drifter becomes the unwilling prize in an escalating battle between rival abortion activists.
- What is Citizen Ruth like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Citizen Ruth as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Citizen Ruth violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Citizen Ruth as mild.
- What did critics think of Citizen Ruth?
- Critics broadly found the film smart, sharply funny, and courageous in satirizing both sides of the abortion debate, while noting that its full-scale farce can become thin and overly self-conscious.
- Which films are like Citizen Ruth?
- Films with a similar feel include Election, Wag the Dog, The Great White Hype, and Happiness.
- How long is Citizen Ruth?
- Citizen Ruth runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Citizen Ruth?
- In United States, Citizen Ruth is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
