Falling in Love

"Sometimes magic is the only thing that's real."

1984 1h 46m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

🥫

50%

ROTTEN

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.5

IMDB

★6.6TMDB · 415🥫50%Rotten Tomatoes●55Metacritic★6.5IMDB · 17,012

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

During shopping for Christmas, Frank and Molly run into each other. This fleeting short moment will start to change their lives, when they recognize each other months later in the train home and have a good time together. Although both are married and Frank has two little kids, they meet more and more often, their friendship becoming the most precious thing in their lives.

“Sometimes magic is the only thing that's real.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Robert De Niro
Frank Raftis
Meryl Streep
Molly Gilmore
Harvey Keitel
Ed Lasky
Jane Kaczmarek
Ann Raftis
George Martin
John Trainer
David Clennon
Brian Gilmore
Dianne Wiest
Isabelle
Victor Argo
Victor Rawlins

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ulu Grosbard
Writers: Michael Cristofer
Languages: 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 93% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ulu Grosbard, shot by Peter Suschitzky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep and Harvey Keitel carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Sometimes magic is the only thing that's real.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0087233 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ulu Grosbard directs. Peter Suschitzky behind the camera. Dave Grusin scores. Michael Kahn cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 93% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
242 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Ulu Grosbard, shot by Peter Suschitzky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Michael Kahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep and Harvey Keitel carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Sometimes magic is the only thing that's real.".
8IMDB entry: tt0087233 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky
Original score: Dave Grusin
Editing: Michael Kahn
Production design: Santo Loquasto
Costume design: Richard Bruno
Makeup / hair: J. Roy Helland
Sound: Gary Alexander
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $12,000,000
Box office: $11,129,057
Return: 93% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Falling in Love (1984)
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% 🥫 Rotten
Metacritic: 55/100
IMDB rating: 6.5/10 · 17,012 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

2 wins & 3 nominations total

David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Ulu Grosbard

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Peter McGinn2020-12-15
★ 7/10
Considering the star power of this movie, I think the story could have been a bit stronger. I don’t mind a juicy coincidence to get a movie ignited, but this story depended upon them so much, perhaps it should have been called It Must be Fate. Netflix categorized this as a Christmas movie, because it begins and ends a year apart during the holiday season. But in between it is a romance. Nothing against Meryl Streep’s character, but Frank (De Niro’s character) lost interest in his attractive, supportive, and funny wife and good mom to their kids in favor of an attractive, funny woman who could lead to his losing his kids. That’s true love, I guess. As for Streep’s Molly, her husband didn’t seem like a prize. But I think the story should have shown those spouses a bit more. More depth. Still, it was fine. Okay, move along, nothing more to see here.

Production companies