Being John Malkovich

1999
R
1h 53m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

358K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:47

Body Swap Comedy Psychological Drama Satire Showbiz Drama Supernatural Fantasy Comedy Drama Fantasy

A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

358K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,923

365

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 49 wins & 79 nominations total

Videos3

'Being John Malkovich' | Anniversary Mashup

Photos164

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
John Malkovich was approached about this film several times and loved the script, but he and his production crew felt that another actor would fit the role better. Malkovich offered to help produce the film, and aid Spike Jonze in any way, but refused to star in it. Eventually after a couple of years Malkovich's will was worn down and he agreed to star in the film.

Goofs
Just after the first time Lotte falls out of the portal onto the side of the New Jersey Turnpike, a palm tree is visible in the distance over Craig's shoulder.

Quotes
Craig Schwartz: You don't know how lucky you are being a monkey. Because consciousness is a terrible curse. I think. I feel. I suffer. And all I ask in return is the opportunity to do my work. And they won't allow it... because I raise issues.

Crazy credits
at the end of the cast listing is noted ...and John Malkovich

Connections
Edited from 1998 MTV Video Music Awards (1998)

Soundtracks
Allegro, from Music for Strings
Written by Béla Bartók
Performed by The Cleveland Orchestra
Conducted by Christoph von Dohnányi
Courtesy of The Decca Record Company Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User reviews942

Review

Featured review

9/10

strange and compelling

Unemployed puppeteer Craig Schwartz (John Cusack) and animal lover Lotte Schwartz (Cameron Diaz) are in a loveless marriage. Craig gets a job on the low ceiling 7½ floor of a Manhattan office building. He falls for alluring fellow worker Maxine Lund (Catherine Keener) who doesn't return the feelings. He finds a doorway in his office that leads into the mind of John Malkovich. After 15 minutes, the person is ejected into a ditch on the New Jersey Turnpike. Maxine decides to sell tickets at $200 a pop. Lotte is completely changed by the experience and thinks she's a transsexual. Craig's boss Dr. Lester is obsessed with Malkovich.

This is one of the strangest and most compelling ideas ever put on the screen written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. It is exciting that everything and everyone is a little off in this movie. Cameron Diaz is ugly. John Cusack is disheveled. Catherine Keener is a sex goddess. The whole movie is off its axis and so much the better for it. It's so weird that it's a lot of fun.