Steel Magnolias

1989, Comedy/Drama, 1h 58m

34 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Steel Magnolias has jokes and characters to spare, which makes it more dangerous (and effective) when it goes for the full melodrama by the end. Read critic reviews

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Steel Magnolias Videos

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Steel Magnolias Photos

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Movie Info

M'Lynn (Sally Field) is the mother of bride-to-be Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts), and as friend Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton) fixes the women's hair for the ceremony, they welcome a helping hand from aspiring beautician Annelle Dupuy Desoto (Daryl Hannah). Diabetic Shelby has a health scare, which is averted but doesn't bode well for her hopes of having children. Time passes, and the women and their friends encounter tragedy and good fortune, growing stronger and closer in the process.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Herbert Ross
  • Producer:
    Ray Stark
  • Writer:
    Robert Harling, Robert Harling
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $79.4M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    TriStar Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround, Stereo, Dolby
  • Aspect Ratio:
    35mm

Cast & Crew

Sally Field
M'Lynn Eatenton
Dolly Parton
Truvy Jones
Shirley MacLaine
Ouiser Boudreaux
Daryl Hannah
Annelle Dupuy Desoto
Olympia Dukakis
Clairee Belcher
Julia Roberts
Shelby Eatenton Latcherie
Tom Skerritt
Drum Eatenton
Sam Shepard
Spud Jones
Dylan McDermott
Jackson Latcherie
Kevin J. O'Connor
Sammy Desoto
Bill McCutcheon
Owen Jenkins
Herbert Ross
Director
Robert Harling
Writer
Robert Harling
Screenwriter
Ray Stark
Producer
Andrew Stone
Associate Producer
Victoria White
Executive Producer
Georges Delerue
Original Music
John A. Alonzo
Cinematographer
Paul Hirsch
Film Editing
Hank McCann
Casting
Gene Callahan
Production Design
Edward Pisoni
Production Design
Hub Braden
Art Director
Okowita
Art Director
Garrett Lewis
Set Decoration
Lee Poll
Set Decoration
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Critic Reviews for Steel Magnolias

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (11)
Full Review… Angie Errigo Empire Magazine Full Review… Variety Staff Variety Full Review… Suzi Feay Time Out Full Review… Vincent Canby New York Times Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Full Review… Hal Hinson Washington Post Full Review… Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Full Review… Avaryl Halley Movie Bitches Full Review… Andrew Galdi Movie Bitches Full Review… Bruce C. Steele OutWeek Full Review… Hilary Mantel The Spectator Full Review… David Parkinson Radio Times
View All Critic Reviews (34)

Audience Reviews for Steel Magnolias

  • Sep 05, 2014
    This bittersweet drama has a very nice cast and deserves credit for making us laugh and cry at the same time even in its most melodramatic scenes, but the film's last seven minutes are simply awful and should have been excised from it without any mercy.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • May 14, 2013
    Moving film. This is Olympia Dukakis' best role. I love it more than my luggage!
    Christian C Super Reviewer
  • Jun 23, 2011
    Heartwarming! A must see!
    Bethany M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 17, 2010
    As delightful as the female ensemble is, this movie uses a dramatic trick that cheapens it somewhat at the end. However, there are enough comic one-liners to make up for this. Olympia Dukakis and Shirley MacLaine are superb, and Dolly Parton is a natural. This is definitely a chick flick. It will make you cry, but it's not Terms of Endearment.
    Juli R Super Reviewer
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