55 Steps

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2:12

55 Steps

PG-13

2017

1h 55m

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A workaholic lawyer helps a psychiatric patient sue a hospital for mistreating its patients.

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Nov 28, 2018

2.5/4

Somehow, these two difficult people are easy to watch, at least on the screen. They are honest to a fault, which is, in the end, their charm.

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Nov 13, 2018

The wild-haired Carter has the flashier role and, although she digs into it with gusto, she's all over the emotional map.

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Dennis Harvey

Variety

Sep 9, 2017

Fails to elicit memorable work from any of its principal collaborators.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

Nov 17, 2018

Considering the ramifications of its true-life story, this earnest legal melodrama about fighting the system never achieves the necessary urgency or poignancy.

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Prairie Miller

WBAI Radio

Nov 8, 2018

Though 55 Steps, well, side-steps the alarming political issues, with the doctors in question as cover for the true medical/pharmaceutical industrial complex villains, at its core this film transcends class as a remarkable female bonding story.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Oct 7, 2017

2.5/4

It's a relatively interesting story that's given the movie-of-the-week treatment by director Bille August...

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Julie F.

@feathers4pickles Dec 28, 2025

We really loved this. Swank and HBC do a great job - so tender and hopeful, really.

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Mar 8, 2022

Helena Bonham Carter is brilliant as Eleanor, a psychiatric patient that is being over-drugged against her will. Swank plays the lawyer that won't back down and tries the famous Riese case that changes medical practices for the mentally ill.

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Nov 28, 2021

Hilary Swank proves again that she is great at her job. Same with Helena B Carter. The movie moved along and kept the focus on the theme and they did so with heart.

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Jul 18, 2021

Moves right along. Actors seem in toch with material. Bonham-Carter a standout.

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Jul 23, 2019

Helena Bonham Carter's greatest performance, underrated film and story, though not oscar heights except for HBC

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Apr 6, 2019

An important film that chronicles the establishment of the right to informed consent for psychiatric patients. It is funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring.

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Bille August

Director

Helena Bonham Carter

Eleanor Riese

Hilary Swank

Colette Hughes

Jeffrey Tambor

Mort Cohen

Richard Riddell

Arno

Johan Heldenbergh

Robert

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55 Steps: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A workaholic lawyer helps a psychiatric patient sue a hospital for mistreating its patients.

Director: Bille August
Producer: Lesley Bruce-Neary, Anita Elsani, Sara Risher, Laurie Shearing
Screenwriter: Mark Bruce Rosin
Production Co: Elsani Film
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Elements|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 16, 2018
Runtime: 1h 55m

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