Adaptation

Play trailer

2:23

Adaptation

R

2002

1h 54m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

209 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage). While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), Kaufman's life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman, Orlean, and her book, become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the others'.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Dizzyingly original, the loopy, multi-layered Adaptation is both funny and thought-provoking.

Read Critics Reviews

Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

03/16/2020

There's no good reason why this should work-the picture is a schizzy, self-indulgent mess-but magically, it does.

Go to Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

09/02/2010

5/5

Adult stuff only but hilarious and fresh.

Go to Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

07/06/2010

In the wrong hands, the lunacy could have gotten out of control, but Jonze has near-perfect pitch. He never forces the farce, rooting even Kaufman's wildest digressions in real emotions.

Go to Full Review

Charlotte Simmons

The Treatment (Substack)

Jan 31

Kaufman’s experience is not for me, just as my experience is not for anybody else, just as the experience that Charlie commits to at the outset of Adaptation is not for him.

Go to Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

12/13/2022

4/5

While not quite as absurd as Being John Malkovich had been, Adaptation was indeed plenty weird. (20th anniversary)

Go to Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

11/29/2022

This is, essentially, a long demonstration of why not to give people more money for them to prove a point about how bigger-budget filmmaking is inherently an artistically self-defeating proposition.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Vixo S

@vixo_six Jun 9

Adaptation is much more than a film about writing a screenplay. Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze turn creative paralysis into a reflection on fear, desire, identity and the difficulty of controlling life. The film works because each character becomes a mirror of the same human struggle. Charlie represents insecurity and avoidance, Donald offers freedom and confidence, Susan reflects emptiness behind success, and Laroche embodies the need to love something fully. Nicolas Cage gives one of his strongest performances, making both brothers feel distinct and emotionally precise. Kaufman's screenplay is layered without losing its humanity, while Jonze keeps the film intimate and accessible despite its complexity. Its ending feels honest because growth does not arrive as a total transformation, but as a small act of courage. Adaptation finds beauty in failure, in uncertainty and in the effort to keep moving forward.

See more

Keith C.

@presto1989 May 4

One of the worst movies I have ever seen. I almost had to take my wifes movie renting privileges.

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1

Funny in 1 hour and 54 minutes.

See more

Shawan L

@ShawanLLibang Feb 9

Adaptation. is a bold, emotionally sincere triumph funny, odd, and surprisingly touching. Nicolas Cage gives a standout dual performance, and Charlie Kaufman’s script turns creative turmoil into something meaningful. It’s smart, heartfelt, and endlessly rewatchable

See more

bao s

@RT77741678 Dec 23

Genius. One of my all time favorites of my generation.

See more

Kim P

@RT98672688 Sep 15

Such an interesting and unique movie! With the exception of Cooper's fate and Streep's sudden change in nature (think Danarys Targaryan), this fantastical story was somehow believable!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Spike Jonze

Director

Nicolas Cage

Charlie Kaufman

Meryl Streep

Susan Orlean

Chris Cooper

John Laroche

Tilda Swinton

Valerie

Cara Seymour

Amelia Kavan

Adaptation: Official Clip - You Are What You Love

2:08

Adaptation: Official Clip - Charlie Can't Adapt

1:51

Adaptation: Official Clip - Technology vs. Horse

2:03

Adaptation: Official Clip - Wasting McKee's Time

1:45

Adaptation: Official Clip - Sweating at the Meeting

2:03

Adaptation: Official Clip - The Deconstructionist

2:09

Adaptation: Official Clip - Donald's Script Pitch

2:04

Adaptation: Official Clip - Done with Fish

1:47

View more videos

Human Nature

48%

61%

Human Nature

Watchlist

Rachel Getting Married

85%

62%

Rachel Getting Married

Watchlist

The Rules of Attraction

45%

71%

The Rules of Attraction

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Rules of Attraction

About Schmidt

86%

74%

About Schmidt

Watchlist

My First Mister

53%

76%

My First Mister

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Adaptation: Trailer 1

2:23

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Nicolas Cage is Charlie Kaufman, a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald (Nicolas Cage). While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep), Kaufman's life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman, Orlean, and her book, become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the others'.

Director: Spike Jonze
Producer: Edward Saxon, Vincent Landay, Jonathan Demme
Screenwriter: Charlie Kaufman, Susan Orlean
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Clinica Estetico, InterMedia Film Equities Ltd.
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Some Drug Use|Violent Images)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.2M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)