Adaptation

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Adaptation

R

2002

1h 54m

Comedy

Drama

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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'.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

Mar 16, 2020

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

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Sep 2, 2010

5/5

Adult stuff only but hilarious and fresh.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Jul 6, 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.

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Charlotte Simmons

The Treatment (Substack)

Jan 31, 2026

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.

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Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

Dec 13, 2022

4/5

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

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Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

Nov 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.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 11, 2026

Adaptation = a 4.5 str Movie!

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Aug 26, 2026

It was a little hard to understand but I enjoyed it for the most part.

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ALAN B

@AlanOneness Aug 23, 2026

A flawless ten-star masterpiece, with an well-deserved four extra. This film is a recurring sanctuary for me; each viewing offers new lessons in directorial precision, script mechanics, and creative storytelling boundaries. It represents the absolute pinnacle of cinematic craftsmanship, and it is a sobering reflection on Hollywood that works of this caliber are so rarely produced today.

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Jonathan H

@jonmpls Jul 2, 2026

Fantastic movie! Watch the also-brilliant movie 'Being John Malkovich' first.

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Vixo S

@vixo_six Jun 9, 2026

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.

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Keith C.

@presto1989 May 4, 2026

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

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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

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Charlie Can't Adapt

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Technology vs. Horse

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Wasting McKee's Time

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Sweating at the Meeting

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Adaptation: Official Clip - The Deconstructionist

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Donald's Script Pitch

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Adaptation: Official Clip - Done with Fish

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Adaptation: Trailer 1

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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)

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