Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘40 Days and 40 Nights’?

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

tomatometer

38

Average Rating: 4.8/10
Reviews Counted: 134
Fresh: 51 | Rotten: 83

As romantic comedies go, 40 Days and 40 Nights is smutty, sexist, and puerile.

26

Average Rating: 4.5/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 25

As romantic comedies go, 40 Days and 40 Nights is smutty, sexist, and puerile.

audience

53

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 439,457

My Rating

Movie Info

Following memorable roles in the military action-adventures Pearl Harbor (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001), young actor Josh Hartnett is propelled to romantic leading man status with this semi-autobiographical comedy from screenwriter Rob Perez. Hartnett stars as Matt Sullivan, a young man smarting over the bitter breakup of his most recent relationship. With Lent approaching, Matt decides to observe the 40-day tradition by abstaining from all sexual contact, including self-gratification. Once

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Comedy, Romance

Robert Perez

Sep 17, 2002

$37.9M

Miramax Films

Cast

All Critics (149) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (85) | DVD (17)

Given its drastically contrived nature, the script gets further than I expected.

August 9, 2002 Comment
Denver Rocky Mountain News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You may feel like taking a vow of abstinence yourself -- at least from Hollywood youth-sex comedies.

July 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Nothing more than a lame vehicle for teen heartthrob Josh Hartnett.

March 13, 2002 Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It has a way of wearing out what's supposed to be knockabout farce.

March 5, 2002 Full Review Source: USA Today | Comment
USA Today
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Squeamishly risqué teen sexcom.

March 5, 2002 Full Review Source: Village Voice | Comment
Village Voice
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Josh Hartnett is good and I love Shannyn Sossamon I think she could become a big star, but this comedy is so wrong on so many levels.

March 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment (1)
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Mildly amusing Josh Hartnett sex comedy.

August 26, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Testosterone laced and overwhelmingly male in its point of view, the film is high on locker room lewd 'n crude, and excruciatingly, well, pre-climactic for those in the demographic most likely to identify with abstention as a masochistic deed.

October 5, 2007 Full Review | Comment
WBAI Web Radio

Lehmann and screenwriter Rob Perez milk this idea for everything it's worth.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

This tedious romantic romp is based on a single idea--a hunk (Josh Hartnet) abstaining from sex for the duration of Lent--extended to the limits of a feature-length picture.

February 3, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Even by the relatively relaxed standards of teen sex, or no sex, farces, 40 Days and 40 Nights is painful to watch.

January 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | Comment
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

They could have easily made yet another gross-out comedy, but instead the laughs are born of clever writing and likable characters.

January 7, 2004 Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) | Comment
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Finds a way to present a light-hearted sexual comic fairy tale, then derails itself with bad romantic comedy fallbacks.

June 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | Comment
Window to the Movies

This movie was about the most excruciating hour and a half I've endured recently.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | Comment
Film Quips Online

This film would've been a lot funnier if the filmmaker's had shown the slightest bit of imagination in terms of the plot's comic possibilities.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for 40 Days and 40 Nights

Romantic comedy with really dry humor.

August 1, 2011
Eric Alvarez

Super Reviewer

Michael Lehman's "40 Days and 40 Nights" is a surprisingly funny, smart, edgy romantic comedy with an amazing sweetness to it. This is a feat given some of the graphic dialog, and outrageous sight gags. Credit the star power of Josh Hartnett, the skillful direction of Michael Lehman, and a brisk and "in your face"

March 28, 2007
MizturY0da
MisterYoda ?

Super Reviewer

40 Days and 40 Nights Quotes

No quotes approved yet for 40 Days and 40 Nights. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Latest News for 40 Days and 40 Nights

February 1, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: Keaton and Kids Hope to Score Touchdown
As the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts get ready to rumble at the Super Bowl on Sunday,...

April 6, 2006:
Critical Consensus: Take Or Leave This "Lead,: An Odd "Number," "Benchwarmers"
This week at the movies, we explore the joys of dance ("Take the Lead"), mistaken identity...

What's Hot On RT

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Total Recall
Total Recall

Unconventional Superheroes

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,515 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,313 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,077 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,589 taken
created 15 months ago
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile