The Notebook

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The Notebook

PG-13

2004

2h 3m

Romance

Drama

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Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

182 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

In the 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. When Noah goes off to serve in World War II, it seems to mark the end of their love affair. In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden). But when Noah returns to their small town years later, on the cusp of Allie's marriage, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over.

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Critics Consensus

It's hard not to admire its unabashed sentimentality, but The Notebook is too clumsily manipulative to rise above its melodramatic clichés.

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Scott Tobias

AV Club

02/02/2019

In a romance where paradise is a duck-filled pond, it helps to be mild-mannered.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

02/02/2019

1/5

Dentistry in the Renaissance could not have been more painful than watching this.

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Leslie Felperin

The Times (UK)

02/02/2019

A honey-dipped love story with a surprisingly tart aftertaste, The Notebook is a better-than-you'd-expect adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's bestselling novel of the same name.

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Mary Kassel

Screen Rant

04/09/2025

7/10

Romance might not be for everyone, but after more than 20 years, The Notebook holds an undeniable appeal that will convert every cynic.

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Patricia Karounos

Refinery29

10/23/2023

The Notebook is one of those movies that is so sad, you could break out into tears just thinking about it.

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

04/21/2023

4/5

A tearjerker? It'll make you cry but it's not manipulative. A chick flick? It's just an inspiring love story that will touch your heart and make you believe true love can last a lifetime and conquer all. Isn't that what we all want?

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Pablo F

Feb 21

An incredible classic for the ones that enjoys witnessing true love

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YM

Feb 16

Cheaters getting away with cheating under the guise of “first loves always triumph”.

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Shayla

02/20/2021

Your review will help others decide whether to watch.

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Eric C. W

@RT83008905 1d

Screw the critics. I have been married 57 years. We have 7 children, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. My wife is now in a nursing home with dementia and this movie really brought out the tissue boxes.

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secret U.

@secretunicorn23 2d

Honestly not saying it’s a bad movie but it just promotes toxic relationships so I don’t really understand the whole hype.

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Garrett J.

@Garjen 5d

I’m more of an action movie guy - but I really liked this movie (film critics suck!)

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Nick Cassavetes

Director

Ryan Gosling

Noah Calhoun

Rachel McAdams

Allie Hamilton

James Garner

Duke

Gena Rowlands

Allie Calhoun

James Marsden

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Synopsis

In the 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) and rich girl Allie (Rachel McAdams) are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. When Noah goes off to serve in World War II, it seems to mark the end of their love affair. In the interim, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden). But when Noah returns to their small town years later, on the cusp of Allie's marriage, it soon becomes clear that their romance is anything but over.

Director: Nick Cassavetes
Producer: Mark Johnson, Lynn Harris
Screenwriter: Nick Cassavetes, Jeremy Leven, Nicholas Sparks, Jan Sardi
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Avery Pix
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexuality)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 25, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $81.0M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)