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Music of the Heart

Play trailer Poster for Music of the Heart PG 1999 2h 4m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
64% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.
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Music of the Heart

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Critics Consensus

Meryl Streep's depiction of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things transcends, inspires, and entertains.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Adams Time Out Jun 24, 2006
Meryl dominates the proceedings. She simply disappears into the role, and the movie, for all its educational impulses, becomes about watching her do it. Go to Full Review Kay Dickinson Sight & Sound Dec 2, 2002
The standard plotline of a teacher bearing the torch of liberal enlightenment to an educationally bereft group comes off rather dubiously here. Go to Full Review Tom Keogh Film.com Jan 1, 2000
It may be premature to think Craven just doesn't spark outside the horror genre, but there's nothing here to suggest the opposite. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jul 30, 2023
3/4
...the picture grows increasingly engrossing as it builds towards its tremendously satisfying finale... Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 17, 2020
3.0/4.0
I highly recommend the film for those seeking inspiration, motivation, and affirmation of the power that one person can have on the life of another. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Sep 4, 2015
C+
The vacuous but well-meaning pic is poorly executed and seems as if it were a TV movie. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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B P @Bradster69 Sep 2, 2026 Not Bad, but Not My Favorite See more Tim M @tgmacman Jul 30, 2026 Its transition from feel-good story to narrative feature isn't pitch perfect, however Music of the Heart benefits from an always committed Meryl Streep. See more Evelyn X @yiyi1111 May 30, 2026 Such a deeply moving film. It tells the story of a woman who chooses to be strong and independent, fiercely pursuing her dream and using her talent to educate children in a neighborhood where survival is a daily struggle. The movie beautifully captures the pure joy of teaching, learning, and making music together. The legendary Carnegie Hall performance is the ultimate fulfillment of every young musician's dream. It brings well-deserved approval from doubtful parents, high praise from world-famous musicians, and expands the children’s horizons into a vast, unexplored world through the power of the violin. I was deeply impressed by Roberta’s elegance, resilience, and her iconic curly hair. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jul 26, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 6, 2025 Success in 2 hours and 4 minutes!!!!!!!!! Happy 26th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Jan 28, 2023 Belief, encouragement and a little grit went a long way in a NYC school district that took a risk on a violin program. Streep is good and the NSync/Estefan duet at the end will take you back! See more Read all reviews
Music of the Heart

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Cast & Crew

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Wes Craven

Director

Meryl Streep

Roberta Guaspari

Aidan Quinn

Brian Turner

Angela Bassett

Janet Williams

Cloris Leachman

Assunta Guaspari

Gloria Estefan

Isabel Vasquez

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Music of the Heart

Music of the Heart (1999) Music of the Heart (1999) Music of the Heart (1999) Music of the Heart (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.
Director
Wes Craven
Producer
Susan Kaplan, Marianne Maddalena, Walter Scheuer
Distributor
Miramax Films, Buena Vista International [us]
Production Co
Miramax Films, Craven-Maddalena Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 6, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.8M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Surround
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