Terms of Endearment (1983): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Terms of Endearment is a 1983 comedy drama starring Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson and Debra Winger. It is based on Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry. It runs 2 hours 12 minutes and earned $108.4 million worldwide on a $8 million budget. It won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Supporting Role, and 6 awards in all. Critics gave it 79 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 12m (132 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $8M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Terms of Endearment About?
The premise of Terms of Endearment without spoilers, adapted from Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A fiercely independent woman, Aurora Greenway, struggles to balance her own desires with the heartbreak of her daughter, Emma. Following the end of Emma's marriage, she seeks comfort from her mother, leading Aurora to confront her own mortality and the complexities of their relationship. The experience forces both women to examine past hurts and consider the importance of reconciliation as they navigate life’s challenges.
Terms of Endearment Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- cancer
- mother daughter relationship
- based on novel
- grief
- telephone call
- girl
- death of wife
- death of daughter
- female protagonist
- directorial debut
- boy
- love
+38 more Show fewer
- astronaut
- neighbor
- hospital
- adultery
- single mother
- mother in law son in law relationship
- husband wife relationship
- family relationships
- domineering mother
- compassion
- dysfunctional family
- mother son relationship
- melodrama
- houston texas
- housewife
- friendship
- extramarital affair
- 1970s
- 1960s
- 1950s
- terminal illness
- new york city
- motherhood
- station wagon
- father son relationship
- grocery store
- widower
- college teacher
- father daughter relationship
- painting
- crying woman
- grandmother granddaughter relationship
- crying man
- death
- widow
- tumor
- jealousy
- possessiveness
Terms of Endearment Cast
Shirley MacLaine leads the cast, with Jack Nicholson and Debra Winger.
Terms of Endearment Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Terms of Endearment 79 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 79 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic
Terms of Endearment Plot Summary
What happens in Terms of Endearment from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In the affluent neighborhood of River Oaks, Houston, Aurora Greenway, a widow, has meticulously shaped her life to maintain a sense of control, especially over her relationship with her daughter, Emma. Despite her own vulnerabilities, Aurora consistently checks in via telephone, striving to keep their connection strong and unwavering. However, Emma yearns for her independence and is eager to carve out her own identity outside of her mother’s influence.
This desire culminates when Emma decides to marry Flap Horton, an immature college professor, much to her mother’s dismay. As the couple navigates their rocky relationship filled with arguments and misunderstandings, Emma and Aurora’s bond remains compellingly intact. They eventually move to Iowa, where Flap focuses on his career as an English professor.
Full summary
The whole story of Terms of Endearment, scene by scene
Terms of Endearment Box Office & Budget
Terms of Endearment grossed $108.4 million worldwide on a $8 million budget, 14 times what it cost. $108.4 million came from the US and Canada and $260 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$108.4M
14× its budget
- US & Canada
- $108.4M
- International
- $260
- Budget
- $8M
Terms of Endearment Awards & Nominations
Terms of Endearment won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture and Actor in a Supporting Role, and 6 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1984, with 5 wins from 11 nominations.
6 wins18 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1985 1 nomination- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Shirley MacLaine
-
Oscars 1984 5 wins · 11 nominations- Won Actor in a Supporting Role – Jack Nicholson
- Won Actress in a Leading Role – Shirley MacLaine
- Won Best Picture
- Won Directing – James L. Brooks
- Won Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium)
-
DGA Awards 1984 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Feature Film – James L. Brooks
-
Golden Globes 1984 5 nominations- Nominated Best Director – James L. Brooks
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama – Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger
- Nominated Best Screenplay – James L. Brooks
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical – Jack Nicholson
Terms of Endearment Trailers & Videos
9 videos: 1 trailer, 1 teaser and 7 featurettes.
- Teaser Terms of Endearment 1983 TV trailer
- Featurette Jack Nicholson Wins Supporting Actor: 1984 Oscars
- Featurette Shirley MacLaine Wins Best Actress: 1984 Oscars
- Featurette Shirley MacLaine Says Jack Nicholson Is "Channeling"
How Well Do You Know Terms of Endearment?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the primary relationship explored in 'Terms of Endearment'?
Cars in Terms of Endearment
30 cars on screen, including the 1966 AMC Ambassador Cross Country and the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3.
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1966 AMC Ambassador Cross Country Important role -
1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Important role -
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Minor role -
1974 Jaguar XJ12 Series II Minor role
Terms of Endearment Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Laços de Ternura” and “Tendres Passions”.
- Also known as
-
- Laços de Ternura
- Tendres Passions
- Tid til kærtegn
- 애정의 조건
- Met Hart en Ziel
- Ömhetsbevis
- Terms of Endearment XXX
- La fuerza del cariño
- Zeit der Zärtlichkeit
- Voglia di tenerezza
- Becéző szavak
- Думи на обич
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- 母女情深
- Язык нежности
- Sevgi Sözcükleri
- תנאים של חיבה
- Czułe słówka
- Cena za něžnost
- Мова ніжності
- 愛と追憶の日々
- Hellyyden ehdoilla
- Σχέσεις Στοργής
- 親密關係, სინაზის ენა
- Cena za nežnosť
- La força de la tendresa
- ค่าแห่งความรัก
Seen Terms of Endearment?
Movies Like Terms of Endearment
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Evening Star, Aurora and Mother.
Terms of Endearment FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of Terms of Endearment, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Terms of Endearment?
Terms of Endearment runs 2 hours 12 minutes (132 minutes).
When was Terms of Endearment released?
Terms of Endearment was released on November 23, 1983.
Who is in the cast of Terms of Endearment?
Terms of Endearment stars Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson and Debra Winger.
How much did Terms of Endearment make at the box office?
Terms of Endearment grossed $108.4 million worldwide ($108.4 million domestic, $260 international) on a budget of $8 million.
How is Terms of Endearment rated?
Terms of Endearment has 79 on Metacritic.
Is Terms of Endearment based on a book?
Yes. Terms of Endearment is adapted from Terms of Endearment by Larry McMurtry.
What awards did Terms of Endearment win?
Terms of Endearment won 6 awards from 18 nominations, including Actor in a Supporting Role at the Oscars 1984.
Does Terms of Endearment have a post-credit scene?
No. Terms of Endearment has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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