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Being John Malkovich
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Spike Jonze. With John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, John Malkovich.
7.4/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.
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7.4/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTOne day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad an…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Being John Malkovich.
MoviHero lists October 29, 1999 as the release date for Being John Malkovich. Spike Jonze is the listed director. The listed cast includes John Cusack as Craig Schwartz, Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz, John Malkovich as John Horatio Malkovich, Catherine Keener as Maxine Lund. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateOctober 29, 1999
GenresDrama · Comedy · Fantasy
Runtime1h 53m
DirectorSpike Jonze
CastJohn Cusack as Craig Schwartz, Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz, John Malkovich as John Horatio Malkovich, Catherine Keener as Maxine Lund
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Being John Malkovich right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Being John Malkovich runs 1h 53m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 5/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Being John Malkovich. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.4/10 from 5,033 votes. Updated Nov 8, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending3/10
Scary1/10
Violence3/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required5/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Being John Malkovich
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“'Being John Malkovich' sure is quite something! Despite not knowing the type of movie that it is, I'm always wanted to get this one watched…”
Viewer reaction
““Craig” (John Cusack) is married to “Lotte” (Cameron Diaz) but it’s more of a convenient arrangement as they both struggle to make ends meet.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherCraig SchwartzCraig Schwartz in Being John Malkovich (1999), played by John Cusack.Open character guide otherLotte SchwartzLotte Schwartz in Being John Malkovich (1999), played by Cameron Diaz.Open character guide otherJohn Horatio MalkovichJohn Horatio Malkovich in Being John Malkovich (1999), played by John Malkovich.Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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2026·Drama · Fantasy · Romance