The Glass House

"The glass is about to be shattered..."

2001 1h 47m EN

😐

6.0

MID

🥫

21%

ROTTEN

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

5.8

IMDB

★6.0TMDB · 1,145🥫21%Rotten Tomatoes●34Metacritic★5.8IMDB · 41,531

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When Ruby and Rhett's parents are killed in a car accident, their carefree teenage lives are suddenly shattered. Moving to an incredible house in Malibu with the Glasses', old friends of the family, seems to be the beginning of a new life for them.

“The glass is about to be shattered...”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Leelee Sobieski
Ruby Baker
Diane Lane
Erin Glass
Stellan Skarsgård
Terence Glass
Trevor Morgan
Rhett Baker
Chris Noth
Uncle Jack
Bruce Dern
Alvin Begleiter
Kathy Baker
Nancy Ryan
Michael O'Keefe
Dave Baker

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Daniel Sackheim
Writers: Gabriel Hardman, Gabriel Hardman, Wesley Strick
Languages: Spanish, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 79% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Glass House Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

226+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Daniel Sackheim, shot by Alar Kivilo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Christopher Young. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Howard E. Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Daniel Sackheim directs. Alar Kivilo behind the camera. Christopher Young scores. Howard E. Smith cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Spanish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 79% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
225 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Spanish, English.
4Part of the "The Glass House Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5226+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by Daniel Sackheim, shot by Alar Kivilo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Christopher Young. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Howard E. Smith shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Leelee Sobieski and Diane Lane and Stellan Skarsgård carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "The glass is about to be shattered...".
11IMDB entry: tt0221218 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Alar Kivilo
Original score: Christopher Young
Editing: Howard E. Smith
Production design: Jon Gary Steele
Costume design: Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko
Makeup / hair: Nina Kraft
VFX supervisor: Mat Beck
Sound: Gary C. Bourgeois
Stunt coordinator: Bob Brown
Runtime: 107 min · 1h 47m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $30,000,000
Box office: $23,619,609
Return: 79% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: The Glass House (2001)
Rotten Tomatoes: 21% 🥫 Rotten
Metacritic: 34/100
IMDB rating: 5.8/10 · 41,531 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

3 nominations total

Part of

The Glass House Collection

The Glass House from 2001 were followed by the direct to dvd movie Glass House: The Good Mother in 2006. Are you're adoptive parents really who they say they are?

Also by

Daniel Sackheim

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Gimly2019-01-22
★ 3/10
There was really no intrigue in The Glass House which is missing a pretty fundamental step when you're making a mystery/thriller. Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible.
Wuchak2019-08-07
★ 6/10
Sad drama with Leelee Sobieski and Stellan Skarsgård switches to thriller A suddenly orphaned teen girl (Leelee Sobieski) & her little brother start a new life in Malibu with their guardians (Stellan Skarsgård & Diane Lane), who might not be the caring friends of their parents they seem to be. Bruce Dern is on hand as a lawyer. “The Glass House” (2001) starts as a melancholic drama with the general plot, setting and tone of “Poison Ivy” (1992), but without the lethal Lolita angle. It eventually morphs into a suspense/thriller à la “Enough” (2002), just don’t expect Leelee to change into Rambo, like J-Lo. Sobieski as protagonist Ruby is one-dimensionally sullen, which fits the situation, but it gives a lifeless vibe to the proceedings. Some critics claim the last act is predictable, but it's really not, excepting the fact that two people ultimately square off (which is obvious from the beginning). I'd cite examples but don't want to give away spoilers. The film runs 1 hour, 46 minutes, and was shot in Malibu & that general area of Los Angeles. GRADE: B-
RalphRahal2025-01-11
★ 6/10
The Glass House is one of those movies that might not blow you away but keeps you intrigued with its unsettling vibe. The cold, modern house perfectly mirrors the eerie atmosphere, creating an unsettling backdrop for the story. The cinematography uses this to its advantage, making the environment feel as much a part of the tension as the characters themselves. Leelee Sobieski delivers a standout performance, convincingly portraying her character’s growth and determination amidst the unfolding mystery. Stellan Skarsgård adds another layer with his chilling yet restrained presence, keeping you on edge even when the story feels familiar. Sure, the plot leans toward predictable territory, which seems to be a sticking point for critics, but the film’s strength lies in how it teases the possibility of different outcomes. Even if the ending plays it safe, the journey there has enough intrigue to hold your attention. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a solid thriller with good acting, a cold and unsettling tone, and just enough tension to make it worth a watch. If you’re in the mood for something straightforward yet atmospheric, it’s a decent pick.