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Georgia Rule

Georgia Rule

Mother. Daughter. Grandmother. In this family, attitude doesn't skip a generation.

2007113 minRMidcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Director
Garry Marshall
Starring
Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney

Rebellious, uncontrollable teenager, Rachel is hauled off by her dysfunctional mother to spend the summer with her estranged grandmother, Georgia. Her journey will lead all three women to revelations of buried family secrets and an understanding that - regardless what happens - the ties that bind can never be broken.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Georgia Rule?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Georgia Rule streaming on Pluto TV (free), Prime Video, Shout! TV via Prime Video, The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Georgia Rule?

Georgia Rule earns 5 badges, led by Award Winner and Before they were famous.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Georgia Rule worth watching?

Georgia Rule's Midcredits score is the 38th percentile of all films, from 61K ratings across 6 sources. 44% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

38th percentile

Better received than 38% of films

42nd percentile among Comedy37th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)32nd
Approval (how many liked it)44th

56 /100

32nd percentile of all films

35th percentile among Comedy32nd percentile among 2000s

Critics 25 · Audience 59

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.2 — solid but not unanimous.

44% liked it

44th percentile of all films

48th percentile among Comedy41st percentile among 2000s
44% rated it 7–1056% rated it 1–6

Critics 19% · Audience 52%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 5 noms overall

93rd percentile

61K ratings across platforms

93rd percentile among Comedy88th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 43% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$20M
Opening weekend$6.8M
Domestic gross$19M
Worldwide gross$25M

Returned 1.3× its budget — 84th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film is a heavy, serious-minded family drama centering on three generations of women, anchored by strong performances from Lohan, Fonda, and Huffman.

Fans praised

  • Lindsay Lohan's raw, believable performance as a troubled teen
  • Jane Fonda, Felicity Huffman, and Lohan's strong ensemble chemistry
  • Surprisingly deep and emotionally turbulent family drama under the marketing

Detractors panned

  • Poorly written story with weak, dynamic characters
  • Tone deaf blend of comedy and serious issues (child abuse)
  • Ungrounded, inappropriate handling of dark subject matter

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

Lohan, Fonda, Huffman praised as strong; some critics call Fonda miscast or Lohan flat

Emotional impactDivisive60

Fans moved by Lohan's portrayal of abuse fallout; detractors find it manipulative

DialogueDivisive50

Occasional witty lines (Fonda's bar of soap antics), but often preachy or talk-down

CharactersDivisive45

Cardboard male cliches, underdeveloped supporting roles; Lohan's Rachel seen as realistic

PacingDivisive45

Rushed cutting room feel, scenes unresolved like Fonda's liquor purchase

OriginalityDivisive40

Three-generation bonding premise; critics call it derivative Bergman-Lewis hybrid

Ending40

No happy ending; fans say unsatisfying, critics call it flat

Plot and storyDivisive35

Hollow story that struggles with serious abuse themes; uneven and melodramatic

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 10 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 3 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Georgia Rule like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense, takes its time and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseBittersweetMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Warm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its heavy subject matter with sincerity, though the director's attempt to blend comedy with drama creates an uneven emotional register that undermines the gravity of the abuse storyline.
The rideThe middle section carries the emotional peak when the abuse accusation and its fallout dominate, while the ending shifts toward reconciliation.
StructureThe film unfolds chronologically, following Rachel's arrival in Idaho, her conflicts with Georgia, the revelation of her secret, and the family's reckoning.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

The answer rests on this: UnsettlingHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's serious look at child abuse leaves a lingering unease, yet the final reconciliation between mother and daughter offers a glimmer of hope for healing.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).RebirthHealing
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% (this title) · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Healing: Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).

13% of films fit this archetype

with Overcoming the monster underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe story follows a troubled teenager whose summer with her strict grandmother leads her to confront a traumatic past and begin healing. The central monster is the hidden abuse and its effects on the family.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% (this title) · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsTrauma · 7% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how a family's hidden damage—abuse, alcoholism, and emotional distance—strains the ties between three generations of women, and whether those ties can be repaired through truth and understanding.
StanceThe film presents the dysfunction and secrets without overt judgment, letting the characters' actions and consequences speak for themselves.

The world

ContemporaryRuralDomesticRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · John Debney
SettingA small Idaho town with a strict grandmother's household and a local veterinary practice.
MusicDebney's score underscores the dramatic swings without overwhelming the dialogue-heavy scenes.

Content guide

Is Georgia Rule okay for kids?

R

Georgia Rule is rated R: “Rated R for sexual content and some language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (19/100), sexual content at moderate (50/100), language at intense (71/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (50/100) and frightening material at moderate (50/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 9 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • South Korea19
  • Czechia18+
  • Denmark15
  • Hungary16
  • Poland16
  • RO18
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 53%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (6 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (70 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Georgia Rule have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Georgia Rule?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Jane Fonda
as Georgia
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Lindsay Lohan
as Rachel
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Felicity Huffman
as Lilly
Dermot Mulroney
as Simon
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Cary Elwes
as Arnold
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Garrett Hedlund
as Harlan
newcomer then · star now
Hector Elizondo
as Izzy
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Dylan McLaughlin
as Sam
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Zachary Gordon
as Ethan
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Laurie Metcalf
as Paula
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Georgia Rule?

Movies like Georgia Rule include On Golden Pond (1981), Our Souls at Night (2017) and This Is Where I Leave You (2014). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films written by Mark Andrus, and most are films set in a small town.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its subject: family bonds. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Georgia Rule?

1.7K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: parent and child estranged. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.