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Noel

Play trailer Poster for Noel PG 2004 1h 36m Holiday Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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28% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
It's nearly Christmas in New York City. Rose (Susan Sarandon) is in the hospital with her elderly mother, who's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Nina (Penélope Cruz) is ready to call off her upcoming marriage because of fiancé Mike's (Paul Walker) jealous rages, and Mike is being followed by Artie (Alan Arkin), a waiter who believes Mike is the reincarnation of his late wife. Meanwhile, a young man named Jules (Marcus Thomas) wants to re-create his happiest Christmas memory.
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Noel

Noel

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Critics Consensus

Noel strains for holiday uplift, but -- despite the involvement of an outstanding ensemble cast -- settles for treacly sentiment instead.

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Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed Observer Nov 18, 2004
One of those unpleasant fiascoes meant to lodge a lump in the throat at Christmas, but it only ends up making you want to bludgeon the elves with their own toy-shop hammers. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper Nov 15, 2004
The nut-ball factor is just too high for these characters. Go to Full Review Bob Longino Atlanta Journal-Constitution Nov 12, 2004
C
The kind of sappy, sadness-turns- to-gladness holiday movie that shows up on cable TV this time of year. Go to Full Review Andrea Beach Common Sense Media Dec 19, 2017
2/5
Christmas tearjerker has mature themes, some sex. Go to Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Apr 29, 2009
I had a very hard time displaying malice to this. Go to Full Review Eric Monder Film Journal International Mar 1, 2007
Pleasantly watchable. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Oct 1, 2026 Noel = a 2.5 star Movie! See more Michael D @MikeD1234 Feb 17, 2026 I saw a short film clip about this movie, with Robin Williams and Susan Sarandon. I love both of these actors. I visited Rotten Tomatoes to see the reviews. They were terrible. But, I figured... how bad could it be with Robin and Susan in it. Holy Moly, I didn't think it would be possible, but it was so bad, even with a stellar cast (beyond the above mentioned), I had to turn it off after 45 minutes. Don't bother with this one. See more Marita I @MJING Dec 15, 2025 Maybe this movie has improved with time! Susan Sarandon is amazing in this film that's not so much about Christmas but about the true meaning of love. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 14, 2025 Successful holiday drama in 01 hour, 36 minutes, and 50 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Thematic Material, Some Language and Sensuality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Originally released by Paramount Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Jeff M @jeffmarshallmovieblogger Feb 11, 2024 How did this cornucopia of holiday corniness attract not one, not two, but FOUR Oscar winning actors to participate? It blows my mind! Is a good script really that hard to find? This is one of those motion pictures that actually has several ongoing stories occurring simultaneously, and we witness overlapping story lines and characters from one story popping up in one of the other stories to form an overall cohesion. It makes me sad because the basic theme of overwhelming loneliness during the holidays is topical and an important subject this time of year. This movie contains the strangest, most ludicrous plot line in recent memory - a lonely guy whose greatest Christmas memory was spending the holiday in the emergency room after an accident when he was little hires a thug to rough him up so he has an excuse to go back to the hospital for a Christmas celebration. A movie featuring this cast certainly can't be a full-out disaster but whatever credibility can be found is almost entirely due to the talent of the actors involved. A big disappointment! See more Dec 15, 2021 Wonderful touching Christmas story that teaches us about love, compassion, and forgiveness of one another See more Read all reviews
Noel

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Cast & Crew

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Chazz Palminteri

Director

Penélope Cruz

Nina

Susan Sarandon

Rose

Paul Walker

Mike

Alan Arkin

Artie

Marcus Thomas

Jules

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Noel

Noel (2004) Noel (2004) A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." A scene from the film "Noel." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis It's nearly Christmas in New York City. Rose (Susan Sarandon) is in the hospital with her elderly mother, who's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Nina (Penélope Cruz) is ready to call off her upcoming marriage because of fiancé Mike's (Paul Walker) jealous rages, and Mike is being followed by Artie (Alan Arkin), a waiter who believes Mike is the reincarnation of his late wife. Meanwhile, a young man named Jules (Marcus Thomas) wants to re-create his happiest Christmas memory.
Director
Chazz Palminteri
Producer
Howard Rosenman, Al Corely, Bart Rosenblatt, Eugene Musso
Screenwriter
David Raynr
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Neverland Films
Rating
PG (Thematic Material|Some Language|Sensuality)
Genre
Holiday, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 5, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 20, 2013
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Surround
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