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Biographical thriller

Heavenly Creatures (1994): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Heavenly Creatures (1994) movie poster

Heavenly Creatures is a 1994 biographical thriller directed by Peter Jackson, starring Kate Winslet, Clive Merrison and Melanie Lynskey. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. It won 1 award from 2 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
95%
worldwide gross
$3M
award won
1
Metascore
86
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Heavenly Creatures (1994) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
Peter Jackson
Genres
Biography , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
Studio
Miramax
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Heavenly Creatures About?

The premise of Heavenly Creatures without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In this gripping drama set in Christchurch, New Zealand, fifteen-year-old Juliet's life is upended by an intense connection with fellow outsider Pauline. Bound by shared passions and fantasies centered around Hollywood star Mario Lanza, the girls create an elaborate inner world as a means of escaping the pressures of their families. Their bond deepens into an all-consuming relationship, ultimately leading them to plot a daring escape to America, fueled by a dark determination to be together.

Heavenly Creatures Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • lesbian protagonist
  • teenage girl
  • sex with a minor
  • teenager
  • friendship between girls
  • fantasy life
  • 1950s
  • virgin
  • shared hallucination
  • shared bath
  • school uniform
  • bludgeoned to death
+38 more
  • bathtub
  • teen angst
  • new zealand
  • dream
  • mother daughter relationship
  • girls' school
  • extramarital affair
  • divorce
  • christchurch new zealand
  • diary
  • title spoken by character
  • lesbian sex
  • teenage crush
  • suspected lesbian
  • lesbian subtext
  • based on true story
  • lesbianism
  • orgy
  • brick
  • scantily clad female
  • copulation
  • voyeur
  • voyeurism
  • woman in a bathtub
  • f rated
  • folie a deux
  • counselor
  • unfaithfulness
  • love triangle
  • fantasy world
  • infidelity
  • underage drinking
  • adultery
  • bludgeoning
  • tuberculosis
  • white panties
  • sex in bed
  • coitus
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Cast & crew

Heavenly Creatures Cast

Kate Winslet leads the cast, with Clive Merrison and Melanie Lynskey. Directed by Peter Jackson; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Peter Jackson

More films directed by Peter Jackson, best-rated first: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, They Shall Not Grow Old and King Kong.

Full filmography
Ratings

Heavenly Creatures Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Heavenly Creatures 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 86 on Metacritic.

Plot

Heavenly Creatures Plot Summary

What happens in Heavenly Creatures from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the year 1952, in Christchurch, a well-off 13-year-old English girl named Juliet Hulme finds herself transferring to a new school where she forms a close bond with a 14-year-old girl from a working-class background, Pauline Parker. Their friendship blossoms over shared experiences of trauma from childhood illnesses and lengthy stays in hospitals. Pauline is enchanted by Juliet’s boldness and stunning beauty, contrasting sharply with her own turbulent relationship with her mother, Honora, marked by constant conflict.

Full summary

The whole story of Heavenly Creatures, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Heavenly Creatures Box Office & Budget

Heavenly Creatures grossed $3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, 61% of what it cost. $3 million came from the US and Canada and $815 (0%) from the rest of the world.

1994 box office

Worldwide gross

$3M

61% of its budget back

US & Canada
$3M
International
$815
Budget
$5M
US & Canada 100% Rest of the world 0%
Awards

Heavenly Creatures Awards & Nominations

Heavenly Creatures won 1 award from 2 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the TIFF 1994, with 1 win from 1 nomination.

1 win2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Heavenly Creatures Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

HEAVENLY CREATURES REMASTERED - Trailer - Peccadillo
  • Featurette Heavenly Creatures - Looking Back - Exclusive Extra
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Heavenly Creatures?

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 year does 'Heavenly Creatures' take place in?

Cars

Cars in Heavenly Creatures

25 cars on screen, including the 1937 Rover 12 hp Sports Saloon P2 and the 1952 AEC Regal IV.

All 25 cars
  • 1937 Rover 12 hp Sports Saloon P2 in Heavenly Creatures 1937 Rover 12 hp Sports Saloon P2 Important role
  • 1952 AEC Regal IV in Heavenly Creatures 1952 AEC Regal IV Minor role
  • 1937 Chevrolet Master in Heavenly Creatures 1937 Chevrolet Master Minor role
  • 1938 Morris Eight Series II Tourer in Heavenly Creatures 1938 Morris Eight Series II Tourer Minor role
Details

Heavenly Creatures Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “Creature del cielo” and “Amizade Sem Limites”.

Also known as
  • Creature del cielo
  • Amizade Sem Limites
  • Criaturas celestiales
  • Божествени създания
  • Almas Gêmeas
  • Créatures célestes
  • Engel min engel
  • Himmelska varelser
  • 천상의 피조물
  • Supreme
  • Небесные создания
  • Himmlische Kreaturen
+13 more
  • Sorte engler
  • Taivaalliset olennot
  • Небеска створења
  • 罪孽天使
  • Mennyei teremtmények
  • Svarta änglar
  • Ουράνια πλάσματα
  • Cennet Yaratıkları
  • Niebiańskie istoty
  • 乙女の祈り
  • Небесні створіння
  • ทรพีนี้ เพื่อรักเรา
  • Nebeská stvoření

Seen Heavenly Creatures?

FAQ

Heavenly Creatures FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Heavenly Creatures, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Heavenly Creatures?

Heavenly Creatures runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was Heavenly Creatures released?

Heavenly Creatures was released on November 16, 1994.

Who directed Heavenly Creatures?

Heavenly Creatures was directed by Peter Jackson.

More films by Peter Jackson

Who is in the cast of Heavenly Creatures?

Heavenly Creatures stars Kate Winslet, Clive Merrison and Melanie Lynskey, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Heavenly Creatures make at the box office?

Heavenly Creatures grossed $3 million worldwide ($3 million domestic, $815 international) on a budget of $5 million.

How is Heavenly Creatures rated?

Heavenly Creatures has 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

What awards did Heavenly Creatures win?

Heavenly Creatures won 1 award from 2 nominations, including Metro Media Award at the TIFF 1994.

Does Heavenly Creatures have a post-credit scene?

No. Heavenly Creatures has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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