Heartburn

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Heartburn

R

1986

1h 48m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Rachel Samstat (Meryl Streep), a New York food critic, beds Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson), a Washington, D.C., newspaper columnist. The two fall in love, and Rachel relinquishes her job and relocates to be with a man who views himself as unfit for marriage. They try to build a life together -- literally -- as they struggle with the construction crews renovating their home. When Rachel gets pregnant, Mark is enthusiastic, but then soon begins doubting whether he could be a family man.

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Critics Consensus

Despite an astonishing collection of talent across the board, Heartburn's aimless plot inspires mild indigestion instead of romantic ardor.

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Jul 30, 2024

So far it's the best American movie of the year.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Jan 2, 2018

What's profound about it is its intimacy. You feel as if you were there, and it happened to you, and its heroism, the heroism of everyday life, is yours.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Jan 16, 2013

2/4

This is the most disappointing film of the year, considering its pedigree -- a Mike Nichols film from a Nora Ephron script, starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 20, 2026

3/5

…each meal glimpsed in this movie has got a complete easy-to-follow recipe in the original book. It’s such a cool idea that it’s a shame that Ephron the writer doesn’t carry forward her own innovative idea…

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Aug 5, 2025

1.5/4

The audience is never fully let in on either character’s interior life, as we skip from incident to incident.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

May 6, 2024

If anything saves Heartburn from disaster, it is the occasional visually comic surprise and a few very funny lines.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Apr 19, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Chris L

@Christoph2000 Mar 5, 2026

Jack Nicholson, the most Oscar-nominated actor in history, plays himself up against Meryl Streep, the most Oscar-nominated actress in history. This marriage, like that of the late Nora Ephron's to Carl Bernstein, was always doomed, yet doesn't make for the most investing form of source material. Ultimately it's a movie about the vitality of trusting one's better judgment, which isn't always an easy move to make. Better than the critics say, but Itsy Bitsy Spider mixed with synth music typical of the 80s over the end credits? That's a choice that should never have been signed off on. Funny yet plodding. CARLY SIMON x

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Reina L

@ReinaLaCarolina Feb 7, 2026

The movie is perfection.

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Philip H

@ScottyH168 Feb 6, 2026

It should have been good, but isn’t.

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Bronwyn D

@RT07483080 Apr 24, 2025

My opinion is very different from most I guess. I love this movie. Very relatable. Good story, heartfelt, & of course, the acting is phenomenal.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Jan 10, 2024

A far more subtle comedy than it was given credit for. The performances across the board as great and Nichols observes such small moments with great care (i.e. when two supporting characters become aware of Nicholson's infidelity due to a single line of dialogue).

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Mike Nichols

Director

Meryl Streep

Rachel Samstat

Jack Nicholson

Mark Forman

Maureen Stapleton

Vera

Jeff Daniels

Richard

Stockard Channing

Julie Siegel

Heartburn: Official Clip - Living in a Dream World

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Heartburn: Official Clip - I Don't Believe in Marriage

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Heartburn: Official Clip - Can't We Get Someone Else to Do It?

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Heartburn: Official Clip - Missing Socks

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Heartburn: Official Clip - Imagining Things

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Heartburn: Official Clip - Baby Songs

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Heartburn: Official Clip - Apparently They Don't Have Doors Either

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Heartburn: Official Clip - You Just Threw it in the Drawer

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Synopsis

Rachel Samstat (Meryl Streep), a New York food critic, beds Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson), a Washington, D.C., newspaper columnist. The two fall in love, and Rachel relinquishes her job and relocates to be with a man who views himself as unfit for marriage. They try to build a life together -- literally -- as they struggle with the construction crews renovating their home. When Rachel gets pregnant, Mark is enthusiastic, but then soon begins doubting whether he could be a family man.

Director: Mike Nichols
Producer: Robert Greenhut, Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Nora Ephron
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.3M
Runtime: 1h 48m

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