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Finding Neverland (2004)

tomatometer

83

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 201
Fresh: 166 | Rotten: 35

It won't pass muster for those looking for historical accuracy, but Finding Neverland is a warm, heartfelt drama with a charm all its own -- and Johnny Depp gives a graceful performance as Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie.

79

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 39
Fresh: 31 | Rotten: 8

It won't pass muster for those looking for historical accuracy, but Finding Neverland is a warm, heartfelt drama with a charm all its own -- and Johnny Depp gives a graceful performance as Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie.

audience

84

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 435,422

My Rating

Movie Info

Following up his critically acclaimed Monster's Ball, director Marc Forster took on this biography of playwright James Matthew Barrie, the scribe who penned the children's classic Peter Pan. Johnny Depp stars as the turn-of-the-century writer as the film follows Barrie as he struggles to write and have his play produced while he cares for his down-on-their-luck neighbors who inspired the story in the first place. J.M. Barrie's Neverland also stars Dustin Hoffman, Kate Winslet, and Julie

PG, 1 hr. 46 min.

Drama

David Magee

Mar 22, 2005

$51.6M

Miramax Films

Cast

All Critics (203) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (176) | Rotten (35) | DVD (39)

If it didn't have Johnny Depp as its star, Finding Neverland would barely pass muster as an average PBS Masterpiece Theatre entry.

February 13, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment (1)
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's harmless cotton candy with pleasant turn-of-the-century décor, but I admit the Disney ambiance eventually wore me out and I spent a lot of time looking at my watch.

November 29, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Finding Neverland is not exactly the way it happened, but this is a movie with a higher truth, one we need to believe in. And you will believe. You will.

November 24, 2004 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Depp is a charm. He becomes his own, subtly compelling Barrie.

November 19, 2004 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You're expected to weep, and perhaps you will weep. But if you do, it's not likely that you'll respect yourself in the morning.

November 19, 2004 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There isn't much that's less interesting to watch Johnny Depp do than bring a quiet and steady decency to anything.

November 19, 2004 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Not about Peter Pan, and not a kids' movie.

December 24, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

A heartfelt, beautiful film, and one of the best dramas I've seen in years.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | Comment
Cinema Crazed

Like Big Fish and The Neverending Story, this is a film that reminds us that life, coloured by our perceptions, is what we make it; all we have to do is believe.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

Johnny Depp makes another run at the Oscar in the shoes of author-playwright J.M. Barrie.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | Comment
Sacramento News & Review

Finding Neverland is about hanging on to that belief in something that transcends the empirical world. It's a small, gentle, graceful motion picture.

September 19, 2007 Comment
Looking Closer

I don't know how penetrating a look it gives into the author's life, but as a film that celebrates the imagination and the power of creativity, it positively soars.

July 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

full review in Greek

October 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | Comment
Movies for the Masses

A charming and dramatic tearjerker that's sweet without resorting to syrup.

September 28, 2006 Comment

Infused by an awkward decorum; the kind that descends on a gathering dominated by an unmentioned death or transgression.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Plenty of narrative liberties have been taken. It doesn't matter a jot. At heart, this isn't a biography anyway, it's an ode to the power of the imagination.

January 17, 2006 Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | Comment
Sydney Morning Herald

A nicely played family entertainment with perhaps more mystery than it knows what to do with.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Independent | Comment
Independent

Clap your hands for a better script.

November 18, 2005 Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | Comment
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

The only spark of genuine humanity appears at the very end, but by that time most great opportunities of FINDING NEVERLAND are already lost.

June 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Draxblog Movie Reviews | Comment

The film's about knowing where your inner child is and letting it out to explore great worlds of adventure.

April 17, 2005 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | Comment
Oscar Guy
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland is a terrific film about author J.M Barrie's journey in creating the legendary work, Peter Pan. Starring Johnny Depp as J.M Barrie, Finding Neverland is a wonderful, well acted film with an engaging story. Kate Winslet and Johnny Depp have terrific chemistry on screen. The performances of the cast

September 12, 2011
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

It was okay.

June 8, 2010
3niR
Dead Angel

Super Reviewer

    1. James Barrie: You find a glimmer of happiness in this world, there's always someone who wants to destroy it.
    – Submitted by Chad E (6 months ago)
    1. James Barrie: Young boys should never be sent to bed... they always wake up a day older.
    – Submitted by Chad E (6 months ago)

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