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What's Eating Gilbert Grape

  • 1993
  • PG-13
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
262K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,844
42
Johnny Depp in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:11
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Coming-of-AgeTeen DramaTragedyDrama

A young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally-disabled younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness.A young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally-disabled younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness.A young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally-disabled younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness.

  • Director
    • Lasse Hallström
  • Writer
    • Peter Hedges
  • Stars
    • Johnny Depp
    • Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Juliette Lewis
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    262K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,844
    42
    • Director
      • Lasse Hallström
    • Writer
      • Peter Hedges
    • Stars
      • Johnny Depp
      • Leonardo DiCaprio
      • Juliette Lewis
    • 439User reviews
    • 93Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 8 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:11
    Official Trailer
    The Rise of Leonardo DiCaprio
    Clip 4:29
    The Rise of Leonardo DiCaprio
    The Rise of Leonardo DiCaprio
    Clip 4:29
    The Rise of Leonardo DiCaprio
    What Roles Did Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Play?
    Video 4:07
    What Roles Did Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Play?

    Photos103

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    + 97
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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Gilbert Grape
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Arnie Grape
    Juliette Lewis
    Juliette Lewis
    • Becky
    Mary Steenburgen
    Mary Steenburgen
    • Betty Carver
    Darlene Cates
    Darlene Cates
    • Momma
    Laura Harrington
    Laura Harrington
    • Amy Grape
    Mary Kate Schellhardt
    Mary Kate Schellhardt
    • Ellen Grape
    Kevin Tighe
    Kevin Tighe
    • Mr. Carver
    John C. Reilly
    John C. Reilly
    • Tucker Van Dyke
    Crispin Glover
    Crispin Glover
    • Bobby McBurney
    Penelope Branning
    • Becky's Grandma
    Tim Green
    • Mr. Lamson
    Susan Loughran
    • Mrs. Lamson
    Robert B. Hedges
    • Minister
    • (as Rev. Robert B. Hedges)
    Mark Jordan
    • Todd Carver
    Cameron Finley
    Cameron Finley
    • Doug Carver
    Brady Coleman
    • Sheriff Farrel
    Tim Simek
    Tim Simek
    • Deputy
    • Director
      • Lasse Hallström
    • Writer
      • Peter Hedges
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews439

    7.7262.2K
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    Featured reviews

    8Idolprincess

    Very well-done

    I thought I wouldn't like this. I decided to see it because I'm a fan of Johnny Depp who appeared in some of my favorite movies [ Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon, etc. ] I knew what the plot was: a guy who lives with his 15 year old sister, his 18 year old mentally disabled brother who could die at any time and his morbidly obese mother always has to do everything for his family and something happens that changes his life. It sounded like it was a typical sappy drama. I usually hate dramas like that. Movies in which the only point is to feel bad for the characters. But this one was quite different.

    The plot in this movie is unclear, which makes it appealing in my opinion. There isn't a lot of events in the movie, really. It all revolves around Arnie's birthday and Gilbert's meeting with the new girl. The movie is very slow paced and doesn't rely on action and shock to catch his viewer's attentions. It's moving, but the dialogues are also very simple. You might expect this movie to be over-dramatic but it's everything but that. The situation and story are extremely sad, but I never felt overwhelmed by this. Keep in mind that I can't usually handle dramas very well.

    The movie is about partly about Gilbert, but it also describes life in this town very well. Gilbert's family often has a big impact on the other people in this town, so it's natural that they would be the family that the movie is about. What's also really nice is that Gilbert isn't portrayed as a hero in this movie. He has flaws, and he can make mistakes even if he's taking care of everyone. He is not the typical good-hearted young adult or teenager who's taking care of everyone and wants to give everything for his family. He actually has feelings of his own and he is trying to find himself. The whole movie is about his quest to find who he really is, if he isn't Gilbert Grape, the guy who's always running after his brother Arnie.

    Another good point about this movie is the way it was filmed. The visuals are great and the way the movie was made makes us feel like we're seeing life in a different way than usual.
    10Penwah

    Knocked me over!

    One of the delights of having raised a family and having more time to yourself s that you get to go back and watch all the movies you missed. I am just now getting to explore the actors whose careers have been postponed, in our lives, by Ninja Turtles and Disney. I fell in lust with Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean and he made me a real fan in Finding Neverland. But in Gilbert Grape, he won my heart completely. This man can act with his eyes. The biggest surprise was Leo DiCaprio as Arnie. Amazing, and he was only 19 when the film was released. He gave an amazing portrayal of a boy who goes in and out of his own world. Juliette Lewis was a quiet storm in this film; she gave Gilbert an anchor of solid acceptance when the pain of his life almost got the best of him.

    The casting worked perfectly to create family dynamics that were so very real that they did not even seem brandable as dysfunctional. I appreciated that the mother was never portrayed as less intelligent simply because she was overweight. I loved that the kids did everything they could to protect their mother and their disturbed brother from outside influences and hurt feelings. They stuck together until the end which actually became the beginning. A hopeful and joyous film.
    8bkoganbing

    Grape Family Values

    Johnny Depp whose penchant for quirky and unusual characters is a hallmark of his career plays a fairly normal kid in the title role of What's Eating Gilbert Grape. What's eating him is that he's stuck in the role of family breadwinner, guardian to his younger siblings, and in a most nowhere job. The future isn't looking up.

    It all kind of devolved on him naturally when years ago his father just up and left the family one day without warning, or at least without warning to a child. His mother Darlene Cates grew morbidly obese, ballooning up to 500 pounds, his sisters are having the usual adolescent problems. But his mentally retarded brother Leonardo DiCaprio who is the real problem. He needs constant watching every minute, something Cates just can't do, she can't even get up to the second story of the Grape family home. It all falls on Depp.

    Not that there aren't certain compensations for him, Mary Steenburgen asks for him to make special deliveries to her house when husband Kevin Tighe is at the office. But life is generally drab in Iowa for him until Juliette Lewis's trailer breaks down in the Grape neighborhood. When Depp gets involved with her she points him in the direction of a much wider world, something we all need to realize at some point in our lives.

    What's Eating Gilbert Grape is distinguished mostly for the Academy Award nomination it received for Leonardo DiCaprio for playing the mentally retarded Arnie Grape. DiCaprio is unbelievably convincing as a retarded kid, to think almost a decade later he'd be playing Howard Hughes on the big screen. But part of his performance is no doubt due to Johnny Depp as well. Most of DiCaprio's scenes are with Depp and they bring the best out in each other. Very much like Rain Man with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.

    Both DiCaprio and Depp have gone on to give the movie-going public a wide variety of roles to see them in. But they are something special in What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
    9Lechuguilla

    Trapped

    Small American towns nurture kindness and big hearts, as personified by Gilbert Grape (Johnny Depp), a twenty year old guy who heads a loving but difficult family of two younger sisters, a mentally retarded younger brother named Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio), and their obese momma (Darlene Cates). These are humble, unpretentious common folks who do the best they can. But life in a small town in Iowa is hard, and it can be frustrating and confining. At times, you can feel ... trapped.

    The film's theme is explicit. Gilbert is trapped in a vexing family. Arnie is trapped in a body with a flawed brain. Momma is trapped in an obese body. A local woman named Betty (Mary Steenburgen) is trapped in an unsatisfying marriage. A young woman named Becky (Juliette Lewis) is trapped with her grandmother in the town by an RV that has broken down while passing through. Even a grasshopper gets trapped in Arnie's mischievous hands.

    Seeing good people trapped in difficult situations is poignant. The film really tugs at your heartstrings. In one sequence, momma must face gawkers as she leaves the courthouse. Her response is inspiring and majestic. Darlene Cates does a wonderful job in this role.

    Gilbert and his family live in a modest house. Its interior reminds me of the grim, depressing house in the movie "Silkwood" (1983). The dinner table must be moved each meal to wherever momma is sitting. And typical family conversation centers on preparation for Arnie's birthday party, and debate over ways to cook bacon.

    A friend helps Gilbert reinforce the wood floor under Gilbert's house, so that the floor won't collapse under the weight of momma. Gilbert is kind, and has a big heart. And he is very protective of Arnie who has a habit of climbing up the town's water tower.

    The townsfolk are satisfied with fulfilling small dreams, like getting a job at the new burger barn, or getting an ice cream snack at the local "Dairy Dreme". Small American towns ... life is familial and loving, but it can also be confining. And this film reminds me a lot of "The Last Picture Show" (1971).

    The acting in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is very good, as is the color cinematography, and production design. I did find the Arnie character to be a bit grating at times. The film's plot is slightly repetitive. And I don't care for the film's title. But these are minor issues.

    "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" is a heartfelt story about life in a small American town, with all its kindness, big hearts, and familial love, despite the hardships. The film is worth a serious look, for its thematic depth, for its acting, and for its attention to detail in sets and production design.
    9Memegan2005

    A Truly Remarkable Film

    This film is marvelous.

    Focusing on the angst of an unwanted small-town life, the film follows the daily life of Johnny Depp's Gilbert Grape. He is sarcastic yet introverted, protective yet shy.

    His mentally-challenged brother, Leonardo Dicaprio's Arnie, steals the heart and full attention of the audience. His depiction of a teenager trapped in the inescapable bind of mental retardation is moving and real, deserving of the 1993 Oscar Award Nomination.

    Darlene Cates, who plays Momma, delivers a truly remarkable performance. Her display of motherly devotion, emotional turmoil and daily physical struggle are deserving of grand recognition.

    Gilbert's life is turned around by the unexpected introduction of Juliette Lewis's Becky. Becky's free-spirited and optimistic take on life greatly influence's Gilbert's own life.

    WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE is deeply tragic yet deeply real tale of a complicated family stuck in a simple town. The performances of Johnny Depp, Leonardo Dicaprio, Darlene Cates and Juliette Lewis are unmatched and truly wonderful. It is a film woven together with comedy, drama, love and everyday emotion, perfected with beautiful cinematography and superb directing.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Johnny Depp felt bad about having to ridicule Darlene Cates' character, "Momma," and would often apologize to her after shooting. Depp once said to Cates, "Man, I want you to know how much I hated having to say those things about you, or about your character."
    • Goofs
      Gilbert never says that his father died 17 years ago. He said that his father was "hung out to dry 17 years ago", meaning he probably lost a business or a lot of money, and a few years later committed suicide, so he really is Ellen's father. Arnie is also pretty aware of his father's method of dying. If he had died 17 years before, Arnie would just have been a baby, therefore not knowing exactly what happened.
    • Quotes

      Becky: Tell me what you want, as fast as it comes to you.

      Gilbert: Uhh...

      Becky: Okay?

      Gilbert: 'Kay.

      Becky: Okay. What do you want?

      [He's thinking about it]

      Becky: Faster!

      Gilbert: Okay. I want a new thing. House. I want a new house. And a family.

      [He sighs heavily]

      Gilbert: I want Momma to take aerobics classes. I want Ellen to grow up. I want a new brain for Arnie. I want...

      Becky: What do you want for you? Just for you?

      Gilbert: I want to be a good person.

    • Crazy credits
      The cast is listed with all capital letters in the ending credits. Leonardo DiCaprio's name is listed in capital letters with smaller font size for character "I" in "Di".
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Pelican Brief/Beethoven's 2nd/Philadelphia/What's Eating Gilbert Grape/Wrestling Ernest Hemmingway (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      This Magic Moment
      by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman

      Performed by The Manor High School Marching Band

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    FAQ22

    • How long is What's Eating Gilbert Grape?Powered by Alexa
    • Why did Gilbert abuse Arnie?
    • When and where does it take place?
    • Is this movie based on a novel?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 4, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • ¿A quién ama Gilbert Grape?
    • Filming locations
      • Denton, Texas, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,032,765
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $74,421
      • Dec 19, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,032,765
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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