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Comedy drama

Home Again (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Home Again (2017) movie poster

Home Again is a 2017 comedy drama directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer, starring Reese Witherspoon as Alice, Candice Bergen and Michael Sheen. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $37.3 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. Critics gave it 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
33%
worldwide gross
$37.3M
Echo Score
65
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Home Again (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 37m (97 min)
Genres
Drama , Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$12M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Home Again About?

The premise of Home Again without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Recently separated Alice moves to Los Angeles with her daughters, seeking a new beginning. On her 40th birthday, she impulsively offers her guest house to three young filmmakers, and their presence unexpectedly shakes up her life. As Alice navigates this new dynamic and rediscovers herself, her ex-husband makes a sudden reappearance, leading to a heartfelt and transformative experience for everyone involved.

Home Again Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • older woman younger man relationship
  • neurotic woman
  • milf
  • older woman younger man sex
  • older woman attracted to younger man
  • premarital sex
  • divorcee
  • marriage
  • single mother
  • kiss
  • waking up naked
  • feet on table
+38 more
  • daddy issues
  • electra complex
  • bechdel test failed
  • sex in bed
  • f rated
  • blonde woman
  • new york
  • title directed by female
  • triple f rated
  • female protagonist
  • strong female protagonist
  • champagne
  • drinking champagne
  • director
  • cameraman
  • camera
  • divorce
  • jacuzzi
  • typewriter
  • father daughter relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • birthday
  • greek-islands
  • staring into a mirror
  • pancake
  • happy birthday
  • first day of school
  • two daughters
  • singing happy birthday
  • fortieth birthday
  • advertising
  • advertisement
  • commercials
  • website
  • new business
  • los angeles california
  • school
  • schoolgirl
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Cast & crew

Home Again Cast & Characters

Reese Witherspoon leads the cast as Alice, with Candice Bergen as Lillian and Michael Sheen as Austen. Directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer; 16 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Home Again Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Home Again 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

65 /100

Home Again Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Home Again presents a competently crafted romantic comedy that delivers a modest feel-good experience but rarely transcends genre expectations. While the film’s polished visual style and amiable cast lend an engaging atmosphere, the narrative remains firmly rooted in familiar rom-com clichés and predictable developments. Character performances, led by Reese Witherspoon’s warm presence, offer genuine charm even as story depth is limited by formulaic plotting. The end result is a pleasant yet unremarkable entry whose appeal lies mainly in its comforting tone.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Home Again excels at delivering a polished visual presentation with softly lit compositions and stylish set designs. Critics noted the casual-chic interiors and tasteful styling, and users praised the film’s attractive environments as well. Though visually appealing, the design choices adhere closely to genre conventions. Overall, the production design and cinematography create an inviting aesthetic without breaking new creative ground.

  • Character & Emotion 65

    When it comes to character and emotion, the cast delivers amiable performances but seldom attains substantial depth. Critics frequently described the characters as hollow or overly self-absorbed, yet users highlighted the warmth and chemistry among the lead actors, particularly Reese Witherspoon’s engaging presence. Despite the charm of individual performances, character arcs remain lightly sketched. Ultimately, the emotional resonance is limited by the script’s focus on surface-level interactions.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Regarding story and flow, Home Again adheres closely to rom-com formulas, resulting in a predictable narrative trajectory. Critics pointed out the presence of clichéd plot beats and a lack of originality, while users acknowledged its modest charm and occasional humor but noted thin plotting. The pacing remains steady but fails to surprise. In sum, the story’s familiarity limits its overall engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, the film offers a pleasing audiovisual atmosphere that supports its lighthearted tone. The soundtrack and sound design remain unobtrusive, while the consistent visual style complements the narrative’s warmth. Critics and users alike noted the coherent aesthetic, though the sensory elements never override the genre’s conventional framework. Overall, the sensory presentation is comfortably satisfying.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Concerning rewatch factor, Home Again offers a moderate comfort-food appeal that may invite occasional revisits. Viewers appreciate its predictable warmth and gentle humor, but the reliance on familiar rom-com structures limits repeat discovery. The film’s friendly atmosphere and likable cast provide reassurances, yet the lack of deeper narrative complexity reduces its lasting replay value.

Plot

Home Again Plot Summary

What happens in Home Again from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film opens with a nostalgic voice-over from Alice Kinney (Reese Witherspoon), reflecting on her life leading up to her 40th birthday. Her tale intertwines with the life of her father, a renowned filmmaker who fell in love with his leading actress, Lillian Stewart (Candice Bergen). Following Alice’s birth, her father’s affair led to the end of their marriage. After a failed marriage with Austen (Michael Sheen), with whom she shares two daughters, Alice relocates from New York City to her father’s former residence in Los Angeles, determined to revive her interior design career.

Full summary

The whole story of Home Again, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Home Again Box Office & Budget

Home Again grossed $37.3 million worldwide on a $12 million budget, 3.1 times what it cost. $27 million came from the US and Canada and $10.3 million (28%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$37.3M

3.1× its budget

US & Canada
$27M
International
$10.3M
Budget
$12M
US & Canada 72% Rest of the world 28%
Videos

Home Again Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Home Again?

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 is the relationship between Alice Kinney's parents?

Cars

Cars in Home Again

10 cars on screen, including the 1977 Porsche 911 S and the 2016 Volvo XC90.

All 10 cars
  • 1977 Porsche 911 S in Home Again 1977 Porsche 911 S Important role
  • 2016 Volvo XC90 in Home Again 2016 Volvo XC90 Important role
  • 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV in Home Again 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV Minor role
  • 2009 Ford E-350 in Home Again 2009 Ford E-350 Minor role
Details

Home Again Also Known As

36 alternative titles, including “De vuelta a casa (Home Again)” and “De vuelta a casa, un cœur à prendre”.

Also known as
  • De vuelta a casa (Home Again)
  • De vuelta a casa, un cœur à prendre
  • De Volta para Casa [Home Again] (2018)
  • Un Cœur à prendre
  • Bienvenue à la maison
  • Kærligheden flytter ind
  • Знову вдома
  • כולם חוזרים הביתה
  • Újra otthon
  • De Volta Para Casa
  • Liebe zu Besuch
  • В гостях у Элис
+24 more
  • 愛情齡距離
  • Který je ten pravý?
  • Wszyscy moi mężczyźni
  • Всички мои мъже
  • Uma Casa Cheia
  • Kapımdaki Aşk
  • Home Again - Kärleken flyttar in
  • Σπίτι Μου Σπιτάκι Μας
  • 40 sono i nuovi 20
  • Kaip išsirinkti vyrą
  • Tagasi koju
  • Spet doma
  • Mi nueva yo
  • Home Again – Rakkaus muuttaa taloon
  • 再次回家
  • 러브
  • 어게인
  • Ciemos pie Elisas
  • Ktorý je ten pravý?
  • Cum să faci ca s-o desfaci?
  • 緣來無限期
  • ホーム・アゲイン, სტუმრად ელისთან
  • โฮม อะเกน
  • De tornada a casa

Seen Home Again?

FAQ

Home Again FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Home Again?

Home Again runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).

When was Home Again released?

Home Again was released on September 8, 2017.

Who directed Home Again?

Home Again was directed by Hallie Meyers-Shyer.

More films by Hallie Meyers-Shyer

Who is in the cast of Home Again?

Home Again stars Reese Witherspoon as Alice, Candice Bergen as Lillian and Michael Sheen as Austen, among 16 credited actors.

How much did Home Again make at the box office?

Home Again grossed $37.3 million worldwide ($27 million domestic, $10.3 million international) on a budget of $12 million.

How is Home Again rated?

Home Again has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does Home Again have a post-credit scene?

No. Home Again has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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