August Rush

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August Rush

PG

2007

1h 53m

Kids & Family

Drama

Adventure

Musical

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

36%

Tomatometer

121 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A musically gifted orphan, Evan (Freddie Highmore), runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard (Robin Williams), a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater. After discovering his talent, the Wizard gives Evan the name "August Rush" and devises a plan to profit from his talent. Little does Evan know that his parents, Lyla (Keri Russell) and Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), are searching for him too.

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Critics Consensus

Though featuring a talented cast, August Rush cannot overcome the flimsy direction and schmaltzy plot.

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Amy Nicholson

Boxoffice Magazine

May 5, 2010

A music box trying to pass itself off as an orchestra.

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

May 1, 2008

1/5

While many films require a suspension of disbelief, August Rush asks viewers to terminate their disbelief without severance and have security escort it from the building.

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Jennifer Preyss

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dec 1, 2007

A-

However predictable, a good ol' fashioned happy ending is always welcome. But bring a box of tissues: A good cry is to be expected as well.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 2, 2020

3.5/4.0

August Rush benefits greatly from a delightful cast and John Mathieson's transcendent, fantasy-like camera work.

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Ellie Lucas

From the Front Row

Jul 6, 2019

1.5/4

Lay(s) on the saccharine schmaltz in broad, simplistic layers.

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Laura Hiros

Rincón de cine

Mar 15, 2018

1/5

A story that could steal the hearts of millions but fails in the attempt... [Full review in Spanish]

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Jordan M

@noonanlaughs Jun 29, 2026

This 2007 romance drama is absolute peak cinema. This film has become one of my few comfort movies for the past 20 years, especially as a musician. The acting is bold and effective & the story of this movie genuinely changes lives to this day. This is truly a must watch for anyone a fan of music/romance genres. It does everything right in my humble opinion.

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Anthony C.

@charteronebuf May 17, 2026

Awful music, amateurish, predictable and poorly directed

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Ian C

@RT20907837 Apr 18, 2026

It’s not a perfect movie, but it is an absolutely beautiful one with a giant heart and a great soundtrack as well. The critical score here is proof that critics are absolute nonsense…

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Paul B

@Bostonpaul Feb 8, 2026

While parts of the story seem hokey, the musical direction and depiction of a gifted child prodigy and how he experiences the world and interprets it through music is simply incredible

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Schuyler R

@Skyrolf06 Jan 22, 2026

This is my all-time favorite movie. I have been obsessed with it since I can remember, and regardless of all of the critic snobs, it's such a nice, and heartfelt movie. Yeah, it has a predictable script, but whatever! It's a good plot, and the atmosphere is always so nice. And the soundtrack is so lovely!! "This Time" (sung by Johnathan Rhys Meyers) is legitimately one of the best songs I've ever seen in a movie. 10/10. Definitely watch!

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Maps G.

@mapsgill Dec 18, 2025

Yet again, review pros are rating a feel good fantasy story vs classic 5 star dramas. This is the issue with reviews crossing genres. You don't rate a comedy vs a drama and fantasy vs drama and horror vs drama, and so on. Dramas are not the bar of excellence. A 5 star feel-good fantasy story is not comparable to a 5 star drama or 5 star horror or 5 star comedy. Critic snobs are setting their own bar at Good Will Hunting drama, and comparing everything in every genre to that bar, which is nonsense.

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Kirsten Sheridan

Director

Freddie Highmore

August Rush

Keri Russell

Lyla Novacek

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers

Louis Rush

Terrence Howard

Richard Jeffries

Robin Williams

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Synopsis

A musically gifted orphan, Evan (Freddie Highmore), runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard (Robin Williams), a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater. After discovering his talent, the Wizard gives Evan the name "August Rush" and devises a plan to profit from his talent. Little does Evan know that his parents, Lyla (Keri Russell) and Louis (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), are searching for him too.

Director: Kirsten Sheridan
Producer: Richard B. Lewis
Screenwriter: Nick Castle, James V. Hart
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Southpaw Entertainment
Rating: PG (Mild Violence|Language|Some Thematic Elements)
Genre: Kids & Family, Drama, Adventure, Musical, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.7M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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