man in the moon movie reviews

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The man in the moon, common sense media reviewers.

Reese Witherspoon shines in coming-of-age tale.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Adolescent behavior portrayed realistically and se

Horrific accident on farm involving a thresher is

Teen girl in bra and panties in several scenes. Yo

Mild swearing on a very few occasions: "you a

Parents need to know that while this movie will appeal to teens, particularly because of the popularity of its star Reese Witherspoon, it deals realistically and seriously with issues such as: trust, family bonds, adolescent sexuality, and loyalty, as well as the fragility and unpredictability of life. References and…

Positive Messages

Adolescent behavior portrayed realistically and sensitively. Consequences of misbehavior are clear and consistent. 1950s parenting is shown to be strict, loving, and, in one instance, bordering on extreme, but true to the time and place. Human struggle between heart and mind, at any age, is examined truthfully. Role models exhibiting good values and admirable behavior are subtly drawn, but their impact is clear and heartfelt.

Violence & Scariness

Horrific accident on farm involving a thresher is seen from various angles, none overly close-up, graphic, or exploitative. Teen girl is hit with belt by father.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Teen girl in bra and panties in several scenes. Young female teen shown jumping into a pond naked; it's a rear view, from a discreet distance. Naked boy swimming in pond. Older teens shown in gentle embrace, then necking passionately. Same couple is seen in soft-hued distance naked after sex.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Mild swearing on a very few occasions: "you ass," "goddamn," "get your cherry," "boobs."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

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Parents need to know.

Parents need to know that while this movie will appeal to teens, particularly because of the popularity of its star Reese Witherspoon, it deals realistically and seriously with issues such as: trust, family bonds, adolescent sexuality, and loyalty, as well as the fragility and unpredictability of life. References and scenes that depict kissing, lovemaking, and partial nudity are designed to treat the characters, as well as the audience, with respect and dignity; nothing feels gratuitous for teens and up. There is a particularly shocking farm accident that has dire results. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (3)
• Kids say (8)

Based on 3 parent reviews

good but sad.

Was a fav of mine at 13, what's the story.

Dani Trant, at 14, is midway between being a child and being a grownup. Her family is close, loving, expanding (a fourth baby is due to arrive soon), and just making ends meet in the 1950s on a farm in rural Louisiana. When Court Foster ( Jason London ) returns with his recently widowed mom to the place next door, Dani falls head-over-heels in love for the first time. But after Court meets her older sister, Maureen (Emily Warfield), Dani's feelings about her sister, Court, and about herself, are painfully threatened. Succeeding events and one tragedy, profoundly test both Dani and her family.

Is It Any Good?

Reese Witherspoon's debut performance in THE MAN IN THE MOON is an astonishing example of the right role in the right movie for the right young actress. This coming-of-age story, told with simplicity, gentleness, and a very basic faith in the power of human goodness and truth, succeeds on every level. Set in 1950, released in 1991, its message is timeless, its characters rich and nuanced. It's a familiar story made fresh and original by talented, dedicated filmmakers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how times have changed since the 1950s when this movie is set. What was important to teens then that is still important today? How does each main character show both positive and negative behavior, and how do these characters struggle between having what they want and doing the right thing? Did your feelings about Maureen change during this movie?

Movie Details

• In theaters : October 4, 1991
• On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2000
• Cast : Reese Witherspoon , Sam Waterston , Tess Harper
• Director : Robert Mulligan
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : MGM/UA
• Genre : Drama
• Run time : 99 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• Last updated : November 21, 2022

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The Man in the Moon

Where to Watch

Sam Waterston (Matthew Trant) Tess Harper (Abigail Trant) Gail Strickland (Marie Foster) Reese Witherspoon (Dani Trant) Jason London (Cort Foster) Emily Warfield (Maureen Trant) Bentley Mitchum (Billy Sanders) Ernie Lively (Will Sanders) Dennis Letts (Doc White) Earleen Bergeron (Mrs. Sanders)

Robert Mulligan

A coming of age story set in the south of the U.S. when Elvis was King.

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Review/Film; A New Boy In Town Captures Her Heart

By Janet Maslin

• Oct. 4, 1991

Everything about "The Man in the Moon," Robert Mulligan's effortlessly old-fashioned family drama set in a small Southern town, has a rosy glow. It's a reminder that Mr. Mulligan, a seasoned film maker whose credits include "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Summer of '42" and "The Other," can direct with real tenderness and without fake emotion. His latest film unfolds gently and gracefully, in a climate where the warmth isn't merely a matter of weather. Until its final reel, when it strains badly to accommodate an almost biblical stroke of retribution, "The Man in the Moon" is a small, fond film that achieves a kind of quiet perfection.

The story concerns two sisters, and Mr. Mulligan can find something evocative even in the way the elder braids the younger one's hair. The latter, 14-year-old Dani (Reese Witherspoon), is just on the verge of real beauty, while the slightly older Maureen (Emily Warfield) has already gotten there. The girls' family, which is beautifully evoked, exists at all different stages of development, from their toddler sister to their pregnant mother (Tess Harper) and the father (Sam Waterston) who is wary of his daughters' prospective suitors. In his or her own way, each member of this family longs for a boy.

When one arrives, in the form of a handsome teen-age neighbor named Court (Jason London), he affects the girls' family in powerful ways. The coltish Dani becomes smitten with Court, even though he thinks himself too grown up for her. Their meetings at a rustic swimming hole have the makings of adolescent girls' fiction at its most saccharine, but in fact these scenes have an authentic wholesomeness that's very sweet. Also remarkable is what's missing here: the sexual precocity that is the sine qua non of most current films about teen-agers. There's something refreshing and realistic in Court's anxious thought that he ought to remember how young Dani really is.

Once Court pays a visit to the girls' house and meets Maureen, the balance between the sisters shifts dramatically. The camera watches as Dani registers utter disbelief, never having thought twice about what might happen if her would-be beau met her pretty sister. In fact, the film closely observes such very small changes in its characters, and it lets them express their feelings in a decidedly down-to-earth way. "Maureen," asks Dani, "have you ever liked somebody so much that it almost made you sick?"

As written by Jenny Wingfield, "The Man in the Moon" -- which opens today at the Loews Fine Arts -- is simple, colorful and neatly constructed, with the occasional line of dialogue that sounds credible but still stands out. "I always knew the damn pipeline would kill him, only I thought it would be a little bit at a time," Court's mother (Gail Strickland) says of his absent father, and after that no further explanation is needed. Only when a plot impasse forces Ms. Wingfield into an event too wrenching for this film's fairly narrow emotional range does her screenplay falter. "The Man in the Moon" is much better equipped to deal with first love and family quarrels than with matters of life and death.

Especially good here, in a role that wouldn't seem to suit him, is Mr. Waterston, who makes a stern but touching figure. (When one of Maureen's dates assures her father, "Yes sir, you don't have a thing to worry about," Mr. Waterston's patriarch replies solemnly, "Then neither will you.") The film also finds the real fondness that keeps the girls' parents together no matter how harried they are.

And it has some cozy moments between Ms. Harper and Ms. Strickland, playing neighbors and girlhood friends. Mr. Mulligan also gets an outstandingly natural performance out of Miss Witherspoon, who has no trouble carrying a lot of the film single-handedly. It falls to her to remind the audience that this story is at heart about a family, and she does.

"The Man in the Moon" is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It includes some sexual references. The Man in the Moon Directed by Robert Mulligan; written by Jenny Wingfield; director of photography, Freddie Francis; edited by Trudy Ship; music by James Newton Howard; production designer, Gene Callahan; produced by Mark Rydell; released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. At the Loews Fine Arts, 58th Street west of Fifth Avenue, Manhattan. Running time: 99 minutes. This film is rated PG-13. Matthew Trant . . . Sam Waterston Abigail Trant . . . Tess Harper Marie Foster . . . Gail Strickland Dani Trant . . . Reese Witherspoon Court Foster . . . Jason London Maureen Trant . . . Emily Warfield Billy Sanders . . . Bentley Mitchum

The Man in the Moon

A bucolic coming-of-age story set in 1957 Louisiana, The Man in the Moon follows Reese Witherspoon, the 14-year-old daughter of Sam Waterston and Tess Harper. She's envious of her college-bound sister (Emily Warfield) and moons over pictures of Elvis Presley. All that changes with the arrival of Jason London.

By Variety Staff

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A bucolic coming-of-age story set in 1957 Louisiana, The Man in the Moon follows Reese Witherspoon, the 14-year-old daughter of Sam Waterston and Tess Harper. She’s envious of her college-bound sister (Emily Warfield) and moons over pictures of Elvis Presley. All that changes with the arrival of Jason London.

London, the man of the house since his father’s death, becomes friendly with Witherspoon against his better judgment. Inevitable conflict arises when London meets the older sister, and he quickly relegates Witherspoon to the status of kid sister.

Unfortunately, vet director Robert Mulligan and tyro screenwriter Jenny Wingfield could not come up with a dramatic resolution to this triangle, and resort to a melodramatic device that at once brings the conflict between the two sisters to a head while removing the source of it.

Popular on Variety

The performances are all on the money, but two are outstanding. Newcomer Witherspoon manages to strike exactly the right note as the tomboy on the verge of womanhood while Waterston works on several levels at once.

Shot on location in Natchitoches, La, film is aided by cinematography of Freddie Francis, who catches the summer light and warmth important to the story.

• Production: M-G-M. Director Robert Mulligan; Producer Mark Rydell; Screenplay Jenny Wingfield; Camera Freddie Francis; Editor Trudy Ship; Music James Newton Howard; Art Director Gene Callahan
• Crew: (Color) Widescreen. Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1991. Running time: 99 MIN.
• With: Sam Waterston Tess Harper Gail Strickland Reese Witherspoon Jason London Emily Warfield

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The Man in the Moon

Time out says, release details.

• Duration: 99 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: Robert Mulligan
• Screenwriter: Jenny Wingfield
• Sam Waterston
• Tess Harper
• Gail Strickland
• Reese Witherspoon
• Jason London
• Emily Warfield
• Bentley Mitchum

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The man in the moon.

Directed by Robert Mulligan

Remember when you couldn't wait for your life to begin... and then, one day, it did?

Maureen Trant and her younger sibling Dani share a strong connection, but local boy Court Foster threatens to throw their bond off balance. Dani and Court meet first and have a flirtatious rapport -- but when he meets Maureen, he falls hard and they begin a passionate affair. The new couple try to keep their love hidden from Dani, but she soon learns the truth, disavowing her sister. But a heartbreaking accident later reunites the girls.

Reese Witherspoon Sam Waterston Tess Harper Gail Strickland Jason London Emily Warfield Bentley Mitchum Ernie Lively Dennis Letts Earleen Bergeron Anna Chappell Brandi Smith Sandi Smith Derek Ball Spencer Ball

Director Director

Robert Mulligan

Producer Producer

Mark Rydell

Writer Writer

Jenny Wingfield

Cinematography Cinematography

Freddie Francis

Stunts Stunts

Corey Michael Eubanks Paula Moody

Composer Composer

James Newton Howard

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Releases by Date

30 sep 1991, 12 jun 1992, 16 may 1996, 02 apr 2008, releases by country.

• Theatrical 6

Netherlands

• Theatrical 12
• Physical 12 DVD
• Theatrical PG-13

99 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Meredith 🌼 ★★½

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Moral of the story: Don't ride around on a tractor after having great sex in a field. Just don't.

Review by Matt Singer ★★★★ 2

You want to see a natural actor? Reese Witherspoon made this when she was 14 and had never been in anything before — and she still blew away every other person in the cast, including veterans like Sam Waterston. It’s not at all shocking that this woman went on to a huge career; this is one of the most impressive acting debuts I’ve ever seen.

Review by saturnino ★★★★ 7

One of those films that makes small-town Americana seem both the only way worth living and the quintessential backdrop for tragedy.

Review by emma ★★½

mans arrives creates drama and just fucking dies lol

Review by violet ★★★★½

reese did so good 😭 her sister stole her man

Review by Sara Freeman ★★★★★ 2

"Before you came into my life I missed you so bad. I missed you so, so bad."

"My lonely days are over and life is like a song."

"Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true. Baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do."

"Mama said there'd be days like this."

"I found the love that I knew I had missed... I lost my love, my life that night."

"I will spend my whole life through, loving you, loving you."

The best and most painful movie about growing up.

Review by harraa ★★★½

SORRY BUT IF I WAS DANI I WOULDN’T FORGIVE HER

Review by beenus macgregor ★★★½ 6

literally every male in this movie is a grade-a dickhead except elvis

Review by ayana ★★½

court was a bitch that's why he died. he deserved it.

Review by Shelby ★★★

county boi i looooovvvvveeeddd you until you ran yourself over with a tractor. you tore yourself and my heart into pieces.

Review by Guilherme Semionato ★★★★

Atmosphere, nature, lyricism. Pastoral wonderland: the older sisters sleep in the porch--it's summer. And you could almost go from their house to the lake with your eyes closed. Such an intuitive film. I love how Reese's parents let her hang out in the cemetery, or how the mother can sense a sibling rivalry with just a glance, and even how the father is so attuned to their daughter's sensibilities. While it ventures into town, church, a dance, hospital, plans for college, it just never stopped flowing between the two houses, the two families, the two sisters. Very delicate, a small wonder.

Review by Chris Upson ★★★★½

HORNY WOMEN ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE -- WILL CAUSE UNTOLD HAVOC WHEN THEIR PASSIONS RULE -- PROTECT YOUR FAMILIES FROM FEMININE LUST. YOU ARE NOT SAFE WHEN THE SUN BURNS HOT -- WHEN YOUR DAUGHTERS FEEL LOVE -- STAY AWAY FROM FARMHAND HUNKS -- STAY AWAY

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The Man in the Moon

• A coming of age story set in the south of the U.S. when Elvis was King.
• Rural Louisiana, summer of 1957, Elvis is King. At 14, Dani is coming of age. Her older sister is beautiful, smart, and off to Duke in the fall; her mom's pregnant with number four (Dad wants a son), and Dad's pretty strict. Life gets sweeter when 17-year-old Court Foster, his widowed mom, and two little brothers move into the vacant farm next door. Court likes Dani's high spirits and direct way, and though he has a man's responsibilities on the farm, they go off swimming sometimes. The waters of adolescence are deeper than Dani realizes as hers and Court's feelings get jumbled. Then Mother Nature throws wrenching surprises at Dani, and she must come to terms with new emotions. — <[email protected]>
• It's 1957 in rural Louisiana. The Trants are a loving family. Fourteen year old tomboy Dani Trant is the middle of three siblings. She is at the age where she has few responsibilities - although her father, Matthew Trant, believes it's time she did more around the house, especially as Dani's mother, Abby Trant, is pregnant again - and loves more than anything to go swimming in the pond in the empty neighboring Foster property, the Fosters who moved away fifteen years ago. She looks up to her sister, Maureen Trant, who she sees as the perfect, beautiful sibling, although Maureen, who will soon be heading off to college, readily admits that she has her doubts in life. As an example, she tells Dani that she may be dating Billy Sanders, but she is not going with him. When the now fatherless Fosters move back, Dani's life changes. Although their first few encounters are antagonistic, Dani eventually falls in love with the oldest Foster son, seventeen year old Court Foster, who now acts as the male head of the household following his father's death. Although there is some sexual tension between himself and Dani, he sees her more as a special friend. Regardless, Dani, who wants more than anything for Court to be the person who provides her with her first kiss, may get her wish. Their relationship may forever change when Court and Maureen eventually meet, they who are immediately attracted to each other. Both Court and Maureen are aware of Dani's feelings for him, so they have to decide what to do about their own romantic wants for each other. — Huggo
• In its elegiac nostalgia for the days of childhood innocence, Robert Mulligan's The Man in the Moon recalls another of Mulligan's earlier films, To Kill A Mockingbird. Set in a Louisiana backwater town in the 1950s, the film chronicles the coming-of-age of a young teenage girl. Dani (Reese Witherspoon) is a fourteen-year-old girl who shares a room with her seventeen-year-old sister Maureen (Emily Warfield). During hot summer nights, they sleep on the screened-in back porch of their home, talking about romance, the future, and the meaning of life. Moving into the house next door is a handsome seventeen-year-old boy, Court Foster (Jason London). Court meets Dani at the local swimming hole and they are immediately attracted to each other; through Court, Dani experiences her first true and perfect love. But when Court meets Maureen, the sparks really fly and Maureen falls in love with him too. Now Maureen is torn between holding back her love for Court or accepting his love and betraying her sister. A tragic event makes Maureen's mind up for her.
• In the Louisiana countryside Danielle 'Dani' Trant grows up the spoiled second child of three, at 14 still practically free of chores, leaving her lazy time to go skinny-dipping in the waterhole. There, swimming in the buff, she meets her neighbor, boy Court Foster, diving in his boxers, at 17 already the fatherless head of a taxing farm household with two kid brothers, mature beyond his years, who wisely resists her shameless attempts to kiss and probably more. Yet she imagines their innocent friendship to herald much more, until Ma's late-term hospitalization brings older sister Maureen, a Duke student, back home. Maureen naturally appeals more to Court's courting instincts. Dani will sadly have to deal with her jealousy after fate strikes a cruel blow at the boy both sisters desire. — KGF Vissers

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‘unfrosted’ review: melissa mccarthy in jerry seinfeld’s lightweight but satisfying pop-tarts origin story.

Directing a feature for the first time, the sitcom legend also stars in the Netflix movie as a cereal company executive involved in the race to create a toaster pastry.

By Sheri Linden

Sheri Linden

Senior Copy Editor/Film Critic

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