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Mother

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Mother PG-13 1996 1h 44m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A writer believes the key to solving his many troubles with the opposite sex can be found by retracing the steps of his youth. Science-fiction scribe John Henderson (Albert Brooks) can't find a solid relationship, so he moves back in with his mother, Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds). John means well, and he seems to genuinely believe that a better understanding of his mom will lead to dating success. But when they begin to bicker, both start rethinking the arrangement.
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Mother

Mother

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Critics Consensus

Albert Brooks' pugnacious insight is in fine form throughout Mother, a gentle showcase for the comedic curmudgeon and a sweetly acidic Debbie Reynolds.

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Critics Reviews

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Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine 08/27/2024
The film is a loving yet obsessive parody of the generational stereotypes that stand between the Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. Go to Full Review Richard Brody The New Yorker 09/14/2020
Reynolds's exquisitely calibrated, mercurially comedic performance reveals the stifled passions that inform a lifetime of rigidly refined habits. Go to Full Review David Edelstein Slate 06/05/2020
Brooks' minimalism can be amazingly jampacked, but Mother is perilously slack. Go to Full Review Joshua Ryan FandomWire 10/01/2024
7/10
There’s nothing groundbreaking about the structure or ideas presented here; however, the film succeeds on the shoulders of Brooks’ charm and charisma. Go to Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine 03/25/2024
8.5/10
Like Brooks’ best work, there’s an aura of comfort and familiarity, of warmth amidst the neuroses, with a self-effacing acidity underneath. Go to Full Review Farah Cheded A Good Movie To Watch 11/18/2023
Cleverly turning the self-obsessions of its lead character on its head, Mother is a wry comedy full of insight and unexpected sweetness. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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M F @RT86557815 Nov 11 Calm, feel good movie. Decent storyline and nice scenery. See more Leanne M @Diaminds Aug 22 One of my favourite movies although he can appear a bit mean to “mother” at times. Some hilarious moments and parts of it are very relatable. See more randumb2020 T @RT60863052 08/12/2025 I love this movie I never saw it when it first came out back in the day but just happened upon it and it is a sweet funny gem of a movie Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds have wonderful mother-son chemistry. See more Mason M @RT73597940 09/07/2024 Definitely not Brooks's best, but still a fun watch and again proving his talent at writing endings See more 12/18/2020 Funny and poignant. Recommended for anyone who has or has had a mother. The negative reviewers obviously have mommy issues. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/07/2020 I thought it was far nastier than funny. See more Read all reviews
Mother

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Cast & Crew

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Albert Brooks

Director

Albert Brooks

John Henderson

Debbie Reynolds

Beatrice Henderson

Rob Morrow

Jeff Henderson

Lisa Kudrow

Linda

John C. McGinley

Carl

Movie Clips

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Mother

Mother: Official Clip - Sweet Tooth Mother: Official Clip - Sweet Tooth 1:37 Mother: Official Clip - Oedipus Complex Mother: Official Clip - Oedipus Complex 2:00 Mother: Official Clip - Does That Look a Little Green to You? Mother: Official Clip - Does That Look a Little Green to You? 2:03 Mother: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Move Back in With Mother Mother: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Move Back in With Mother 1:45 Mother: Official Clip - We Know Why She Hates Me Mother: Official Clip - We Know Why She Hates Me 1:54 Mother: Official Clip - A Trip to the Mall Mother: Official Clip - A Trip to the Mall 1:59 Mother: Official Clip - Follow Me Mother: Official Clip - Follow Me 1:45 Mother: Official Clip - Shopping Mother: Official Clip - Shopping 1:40 Mother: Official Clip - That's a Lot of Cheese Mother: Official Clip - That's a Lot of Cheese 1:43 Mother: Official Clip - Mrs. Henderson Mother: Official Clip - Mrs. Henderson 1:59 View more videos

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Mother

Mother: Trailer 1 Mother: Trailer 1 2:22 View more videos
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Mother

Mother (1996) Mother (1996) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A writer believes the key to solving his many troubles with the opposite sex can be found by retracing the steps of his youth. Science-fiction scribe John Henderson (Albert Brooks) can't find a solid relationship, so he moves back in with his mother, Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds). John means well, and he seems to genuinely believe that a better understanding of his mom will lead to dating success. But when they begin to bicker, both start rethinking the arrangement.
Director
Albert Brooks
Producer
Herb Nanas, Scott Rudin
Screenwriter
Albert Brooks
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround
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