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Beautiful

Play trailer Poster for Beautiful PG-13 2000 1h 52m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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17% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Mona Hibbard steadily advances as an American beauty queen in spite of her less than congenial temperament. Her best friend from childhood, Ruby, has the patience of a saint, which is why she's the one person who is willing to help Mona pursue her ambition. Ruby even helps her to hide the secret that would completely derail Mona's plan to capture the "Miss American Miss" title: an illegitimate daughter, Vanessa. Her biggest obstacle is losing her killer instinct for her maternal instinct.
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Beautiful

Beautiful

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Critics Consensus

Sally Field's directing debut suffers from an inconsistent tone, implausible script, and a protagonist that critics say is one of the most loathsome to come around in a long time.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Sep 30, 2010
2/5
Beautiful is just bad, sadly. Where's the plot? Go to Full Review Ted Shen Chicago Reader Apr 12, 2010
ally Field's direction is pedestrian, though she does manage to get shamelessly winning performances out of Driver and Eisenberg. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety Sep 12, 2006
D-
Flat, witless, and sappy (a very bad combo), Sally Field's embarrassing feature directorial debut aims to say something "relevant" about American society's obsession with physical looks at the expense of "inner beauty" and moral integrity. Go to Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) Feb 13, 2024
At its heart it’s a film that is trying to critique the stigma of single motherhood and understand exactly what draws women to pageant life. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Jan 14, 2010
0.5/4
An uneasy mix of broad satire, soap opera outlandishness, and movie-of-the-week sappiness. Go to Full Review David Noh Film Journal International Dec 11, 2006
It's treacly, plastic and shamelessly obvious, and yet, on a low-rent level, it somehow works. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Cassie B @RT42470374 Sep 26, 2025 An underrated film about life in poverty for women and young girls, how they survive, and how they're pitted against each other in our patriarchal society. See more Ashley O @RT10690223 Apr 17, 2023 This movie struggles to figure out what it is….it had an alright/somewhat interesting and original premise but with an unlikeable protagonist. And an ending that left much to be desired. This film couldn't decide if it was a comedy or a drama and didn't really nail either genre. Minnie Driver is a great actress and this film did not showcase near what she can do. Sally Field is brilliant in front of the camera but apparently not so much behind it…this was cringeworthy. The more serious and thematic moments of the film where it could have gone deeper it stays surface level and doesn't unpack all that it could. While I don't think this film was ever meant to strive for an Oscar, it could've done a lot better as they did have a decent cast to work with. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Feb 6, 2023 The script is a complete mess. See more Apr 4, 2021 I absolutely love this move! Just wish it showed more of the real places they are not pretend. See more Feb 23, 2016 I wasnt' sure what to expect from the movie when I read the description on TV, but Minnie Driver is a good actress, and I'm very glad I gave it a try. Minnie Driver did an excellent job in the main role. It has offbeat, interesting, extreme characters and I also enjoyed the story, the friendship between Mona and Ruby, and that loyal Ruby was able to see through Mona's unlikeable self. See more Nov 4, 2015 best movie ,but it's hard to find in stores See more Read all reviews
Beautiful

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Cast & Crew

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Sally Field

Director

Minnie Driver

Mona

Joey Lauren Adams

Ruby

Hallie Kate Eisenberg

Vanessa

Kathleen Turner

Verna Chickle

Leslie Stefanson

Joyce Parkins

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Beautiful

Beautiful (2000) Beautiful (2000) Director Sally Field on the set. Director Sally Field with Hallie Kate Eisenberg on the set. Joey Lauren Adams stars as Ruby. Joey Lauren Adams stars as Ruby and Hallie Kate Eisenberg stars as Vanessa. Kathleen Turner stars as Verna Chickle. Minnie Driver as Mona with (l-r) Kathleen Robertson and Ali Landry on the set. Minnie Driver stars as Mona and Hallie Kate Eisenberg stars as Vanessa. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Mona Hibbard steadily advances as an American beauty queen in spite of her less than congenial temperament. Her best friend from childhood, Ruby, has the patience of a saint, which is why she's the one person who is willing to help Mona pursue her ambition. Ruby even helps her to hide the secret that would completely derail Mona's plan to capture the "Miss American Miss" title: an illegitimate daughter, Vanessa. Her biggest obstacle is losing her killer instinct for her maternal instinct.
Director
Sally Field
Producer
John Bertolli, B.J. Rack
Screenwriter
Jon Bernstein
Distributor
Destination Films
Production Co
Prosperity Pictures, Fogwood Films, Flashpoint Limited, Destination Films, Two Drivers Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 29, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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