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Comedy drama

Crimes of the Heart (1987): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Crimes of the Heart (1987) movie poster

Crimes of the Heart is a 1987 comedy drama directed by Bruce Beresford, starring Diane Keaton, Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard. It is based on Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $22.9 million worldwide. It was nominated for 3 Oscars. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
82%
worldwide gross
$22.9M
award nominations
5
Metascore
58
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Crimes of the Heart (1987) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 45m (105 min)
Director
Bruce Beresford
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Crimes of the Heart About?

The premise of Crimes of the Heart without spoilers, adapted from Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Following a shocking incident involving one of their own, three estranged sisters find themselves reunited in a small Mississippi town. The eldest, Lenny, cares for their ailing grandfather while Meg, a struggling actress, returns with a whirlwind of experiences. As they grapple with their shared history and individual struggles, the sisters confront family secrets and complicated relationships, discovering the enduring strength of their bond amidst laughter and heartache.

Crimes of the Heart Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • sister sister relationship
  • friendship between women
  • sibling relationship
  • based on play
  • woman puts on pantyhose
  • dark comedy
  • husband wife relationship
  • southern
  • spinster
  • birthday
  • female stockinged feet
  • female stockinged legs
+38 more
  • pantyhose
  • f rated
  • united states of america
  • cat
  • sugar
  • gas oven
  • box of chocolate
  • newspaper article
  • screenplay adapted by author
  • sister
  • reunion
  • grandfather
  • pianist
  • aquarium
  • dancing
  • panties
  • saxophonist
  • upskirt
  • hospital
  • bedridden
  • anger
  • blood
  • cemetery
  • revolver
  • gravestone
  • photograph
  • windchime
  • saxophone
  • jail cell
  • tears
  • checkers
  • popcorn
  • birthday cake
  • gunshot wound
  • newspaper headline
  • grandfather granddaughter relationship
  • cousin cousin relationship
  • lonely hearts
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Cast & crew

Crimes of the Heart Cast

Diane Keaton leads the cast, with Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard. Directed by Bruce Beresford; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Bruce Beresford

More films directed by Bruce Beresford, best-rated first: Ladies in Black, Driving Miss Daisy, Breaker Morant and Tender Mercies.

Full filmography
Ratings

Crimes of the Heart Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Crimes of the Heart 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 58 on Metacritic.

Plot

Crimes of the Heart Plot Summary

What happens in Crimes of the Heart from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As the quirky Magrath sisters—Lenny, Meg, and Rebecca “Babe”—gather at their family abode in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, on Lenny’s birthday, a complex tapestry of secrets and betrayals begins to unravel. Babe’s reckless choice to shoot her abusive husband, Zackery Botrelle, results in severe injuries and ignites a series of bombshells that will undeniably change the dynamics of their dysfunctional family forever.

Full summary

The whole story of Crimes of the Heart, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Crimes of the Heart Box Office

Crimes of the Heart grossed $22.9 million worldwide.

1987 box office

Worldwide gross

$22.9M

US & Canada
$22.9M
Awards

Crimes of the Heart Awards & Nominations

Crimes of the Heart was nominated for 3 Oscars. The 5 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Oscars 1987.

5 nominations2 ceremonies

  • Academy Awards (Oscars) logo
    Oscars 1987 3 nominations
    • Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Sissy Spacek
    • Nominated Actress in a Supporting Role – Tess Harper
    • Nominated Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium)
  • Golden Globe Awards logo
    Golden Globes 1987 2 nominations
    • Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
    • Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actress) – Sissy Spacek
Videos

Crimes of the Heart Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Crimes of the Heart 1986 TV trailer
  • Clip Official Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Crimes of the Heart?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What impulsive act does Babe commit that triggers the unraveling of family secrets?

Cars

Cars in Crimes of the Heart

14 cars on screen, including the 1967 Chevrolet C-10 and the 1970 Chevrolet Nova.

All 14 cars
  • 1967 Chevrolet C-10 in Crimes of the Heart 1967 Chevrolet C-10 Important role
  • 1970 Chevrolet Nova in Crimes of the Heart 1970 Chevrolet Nova Important role
  • 1986 Ford Tempo in Crimes of the Heart 1986 Ford Tempo Important role
  • 1979 MCI MC-9 in Crimes of the Heart 1979 MCI MC-9 Important role
Details

Crimes of the Heart Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “Crimes du coeur” and “Crimini del cuore”.

Also known as
  • Crimes du coeur
  • Crimini del cuore
  • Crimes du cœur
  • Преступления сердца
  • Bűnös szívek
  • Verbrecherische Herzen
  • Crímenes del corazón
  • פשעים שבלב
  • Убийство зад кулисите
  • ロンリー・ハート
  • Crimes do Coração
  • Zločiny srdce
+1 more
  • 芳心之罪

Seen Crimes of the Heart?

FAQ

Crimes of the Heart FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Crimes of the Heart, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Crimes of the Heart?

Crimes of the Heart runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).

When was Crimes of the Heart released?

Crimes of the Heart was released on January 23, 1987.

Who directed Crimes of the Heart?

Crimes of the Heart was directed by Bruce Beresford.

More films by Bruce Beresford

Who is in the cast of Crimes of the Heart?

Crimes of the Heart stars Diane Keaton, Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Crimes of the Heart make at the box office?

Crimes of the Heart grossed $22.9 million worldwide.

How is Crimes of the Heart rated?

Crimes of the Heart has 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Is Crimes of the Heart based on a book?

Yes. Crimes of the Heart is adapted from Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley.

Was Crimes of the Heart nominated for any awards?

Crimes of the Heart received 5 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

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