The Glass Castle

PG-13

Released Aug 11, 2017

2h 7m

Biography

Drama

TRAILER

for The Glass Castle: 'Dream' Trailer

List

52%

Tomatometer

165 Reviews

70%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Based on a memoir, four siblings must learn to take care of themselves as their responsibility-averse, free-spirit parents both inspire and inhibit them. When sober, the children's brilliant and charismatic father captured their imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Meanwhile, their mother abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want to take on the work of raising a family.

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Critics Consensus

The Glass Castle has an affecting real-life story and a hard-working cast in its corner, but they aren't enough to outweigh a fundamentally misguided approach to the material.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

It's misery porn at its most prettily dishonest, but against all odds, Harrelson, Brie Larson and a gaggle of talented child stars render it soapishly watchable.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 13, 2017

Full Review

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Larson is the weak link here as the adult Jeannette, a born-again neoliberal in an 80s power suit, failing to integrate her rich, boring boyfriend into her unconventional family.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 8, 2017

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Woody Harrelson gives a performance of borderline unwatchable hamminess in this really tiresome film, which sentimentally neutralises parental abuse into a supposedly fascinating angel/devil split.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 6, 2017

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s depiction of the dark side of Janet Walls’ painful childhood is clear-eyed, visceral, and hard to watch. But it badly undersells a significant part of this profoundly penetrating true story.

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 21, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Neither a faithful adaptation nor a film that leaves you feeling good about its manipulations.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 22, 2022

Full Review

Anni Glissman

Mediaversity Reviews

Despite addiction being one of the main themes of the film, The Glass Castle fails to adequately address the issue.

Rated: C-

Sep 10, 2021

Full Review

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donnie m

i don't like woody in this WAY tooooo dramatic in everything he does and why is he wearing some kind of pants that you can see his 'junk' ? and...he treats oldest daughter like she's his wife and i almost changed the channel but it was worth it, just to see oldest daughter, finally tell him off!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/20/24

Full Review

Quinn W

Idk why this didn’t get way better reviews honestly, seems like the book worms aren’t too happy about this one but coming from someone who didn’t read the book I thought it was a great movie, although I’m not sure how accurately it represented the tree story. I’m definitely interested in reading the book now but I’m scared, sometimes it ruins the movie lol. Highly suggest watching this on some edibles if you’re into that kind of ride.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

Full Review

Tim H

Having not read the book, it would be a decent movie thanks to good acting and okay directing and filmmaking. But having read the book this story doesn't come close to well representing the book. Various plot lines are completely different or just missing entirely and the cuts to present day are confusing and not even present in the book at all. The movie is so bad it makes the events seem untrue.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/07/24

Full Review

Rosana B

Tudo lindo e colorido entretanto revoltante e irresponsável… Alguém comentou que não havia motivo suficiente para Jean odiar o pai, mas deixar quatro crianças passar fome, viver em lugar insalubre e precário por opção (ela descobre que os pais tinham uma terra avaliada em U$ 1 milhão), com mãe esquizofrênica e pai alcoólatra, ambos irresponsáveis e que deixaram marcas irreparáveis nas crianças… Até que elas cresceram bem demais, uma linda e triste biografia, pais tóxicos existem e muito...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Vitoria F

The facts in this film are so extreme that it even scares us when we remember that they are real. Still, the story is beautiful, especially the redemptive ending. The entire cast was magnificent, I just thought the makeup failed a little when it came to making the parents older. Without wrinkles, they looked as old as their adult children.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

Jamie M

Very painful to watch and yet a testament to the power of some people to persevere despite awful circumstances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

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Destin Daniel Cretton

Director

Brie Larson

Jeannette

Woody Harrelson

Rex

Max Greenfield

David

Sarah Snook

Lori

Naomi Watts

Rose Mary

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The Glass Castle: Official Clip - Sink or Swim