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Nell

  • 1994
  • PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
32K
YOUR RATING
Jodie Foster and Liam Neeson in Nell (1994)
Coming-of-AgePsychological DramaDrama

In a remote woodland cabin, a small-town doctor discovers Nell - a beautiful young hermit-woman with many secrets.In a remote woodland cabin, a small-town doctor discovers Nell - a beautiful young hermit-woman with many secrets.In a remote woodland cabin, a small-town doctor discovers Nell - a beautiful young hermit-woman with many secrets.

  • Director
    • Michael Apted
  • Writers
    • Mark Handley
    • William Nicholson
  • Stars
    • Jodie Foster
    • Liam Neeson
    • Natasha Richardson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Apted
    • Writers
      • Mark Handley
      • William Nicholson
    • Stars
      • Jodie Foster
      • Liam Neeson
      • Natasha Richardson
    • 105User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 5 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Nell
    Trailer 2:16
    Nell

    Photos65

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    Top cast27

    Edit
    Jodie Foster
    Jodie Foster
    • Nell
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Jerome Lovell
    Natasha Richardson
    Natasha Richardson
    • Paula Olsen
    Richard Libertini
    Richard Libertini
    • Alexander Paley
    Nick Searcy
    Nick Searcy
    • Todd Peterson
    Robin Mullins
    Robin Mullins
    • Mary Peterson
    Jeremy Davies
    Jeremy Davies
    • Billy Fisher
    O'Neal Compton
    O'Neal Compton
    • Don Fontana
    Heather M. Bomba
    • Twin #1
    Marianne E. Bomba
    • Twin #2
    Sean Bridgers
    Sean Bridgers
    • Mike Ibarra
    Joe Inscoe
    Joe Inscoe
    • Judge
    Stephanie Dawn Wood
    • Ruthie Lovell
    Mary Lynn Riner
    • Janet Baring
    Lucile McIntyre
    • Sally
    Al Wiggins
    • Harry Goppel
    Beth Bostic
    • Jean Malinowski
    Rob Buren III
    • Stevie
    • Director
      • Michael Apted
    • Writers
      • Mark Handley
      • William Nicholson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews105

    6.532K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    6goya-4

    A woman is discovered in the Carolina woods..having lived in a world of her own

    Jodie Foster stars in this popular film about a woman discovered in the woods of Carolina having not know civilization as commonly known.

    Of course, the ones who found her, Neeson and Richardson, want to take care of her and show her the new world, while their colleagues and other government people as exposed as "bad guys" and want to exlpoit her. A good film but way too predictable and too "hollywood-ized". There are no suprises at all.. Jodie Foster does a great job in the title role. 6 of 10
    Bon_Jovi_chick

    A beautiful film

    It was a great and simple story. Simply about a woman raised in the wild, unable to speak proper english due to her mothers stroke and she is trying to be brought into "civilisation".

    Neeson and Foster are the stars of this film!! Not just because of their star status but they really showed talent in this film. Foster is brilliant as the vulnerable but independent Nell and Neeson is great as her "guardian angel".

    This film has its funny bits but the ending... well if youre dead sensitive, get the tissues out. When Nell speaks in the courts, I was causing a flood!!!!

    I give it a 10/10. Definetly one to keep forever.

    Helen xxxxx
    7paulr03

    Excellent but many things that bothered me.

    The story has been presented by other reviewers but I have a little different take. The acting and story were great and Foster gives an outstanding performer. What bothers me is, as a resident the area I have many complaints. Before getting into the factual problems let's cut to the main problem which is government intervention. I know several 'mountain folk' who live in the mountains just outside Robbinsville who live 100% off the land. No electric, water in house, food, etc. They are perfectly happy and Nell was more that capable to take care of herself. The government destroyed her life! Second, the City of Robbinsville is horribly represented with the pool hall scene! There is no way she would have treated like that from anyone in that lovely town! The people of the town and the surrounding counties were horrified!
    10bsmith-28

    Brilliant!

    I just watched this movie for the second time. One word: wow!

    This is one of the rare gems that you can tell when actors and actresses put everything into their performances, and actually go beyond the role. How can I tell? At the very end of the movie, the emotion of the moment that Jodie's character feels towards the scene with the little girl reminding her of her lost sister is enough to make Jodie herself cry and wipe away a tear. Incredible. It's very rare to see that level of immersion into a role where the actors involved feel real emotion about a scene. I'm willing to bet that moment of grace at the very end of the movie wasn't scripted nor acted on Jodie's part. You simply cannot get more heartfelt emotion into a scene than what was shown at the end of Nell. Brilliant and well-acted movie by all. A definite 10.
    7Skaibl

    A movie from a time when empathy for the less fortunate was a focus of Hollywood

    I've watched this last time when I was a teenager. It left a mark like many similar movies that came out around that time. Philadelphia, Gilbert Grape, Rain Man. Movies that shed a spotlight on the less fortunate of society, of scientific curiosities. And it was a time when actors were trying to win an Oscar by portraying difficult characters. It was a time shortly after the cold War ended and the outlook on the future was bright. When we shot the Hubble space telescope into space, and watched jurassic dinosaurs come to life in cinema. It was a great time to grow up in.

    Movies had the freedom to focus on greatness, empathy for the less fortunate, improving the world. Characters in this movie are smart and empathetic. Science is being portrayed as a tool to improve life.

    While the portrait of Nell is a bit over the top, watching it again today, it's still impactful and delivers the message. Someone who has been completely disconnected from society is being rediscovered, and people try to understand and help. The main characters are all over the top great character models as well, but I enjoyed watching them nontheless. Everyone is trying their best, trying to help, trying to improve. Watching this today, it seems exaggerated. But it brings back fond memories of a time where we believed that everything is going to turn out well.

    Overall can recommend, this kind of movies and characters kind of have been lost in time.

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    Related interests

    Elsie Fisher in Eighth Grade (2018)
    Coming-of-Age
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jodie Foster has declared that this role is her personal favorite.
    • Goofs
      (at around 12 mins) Nell swims in the nude, but when on the shore and dancing, she has on underwear.
    • Quotes

      Nell: Chicka, chicka, chickabee. / T'ee an me an t'ee an me. / Ressa, ressa, ressa me, / Chicka, chicka, chickabee.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Disclosure/Drop Zone/Nell/The Last Buffalo/Into the Deep/Immortal Beloved (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Crazy
      Written by Willie Nelson

      Performed by Patsy Cline

      Courtesy of MCA Records

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    FAQ34

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    • Is "Nell" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una mujer llamada Nell
    • Filming locations
      • Fontana Lake, North Carolina, USA(cabin, surrounding woods and adjacent lake)
    • Production companies
      • Egg Pictures
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $24,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $33,683,817
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $62,663
      • Dec 18, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $106,683,817
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 52m(112 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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