X
- 1989
- R
- Columbia Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
- 1989
- R
- Columbia Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
Summary Will sex ruin a perfect relationship between a man and a woman? That's what Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) debate during their travels from Chicago to New York. 11 years and 2,000 miles later, they're still no closer to finding the answer. And they've never ventured past their friendship to discover the love that's right in front of th...
Directed By: Rob Reiner
Written By: Nora Ephron
- 1989
- R
- Columbia Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
- 1989
- R
- Columbia Pictures
- 1 h 36 m
When Harry Met Sally...
76
8.0
Where to Watch
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Summary Will sex ruin a perfect relationship between a man and a woman? That's what Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) debate during their travels from Chicago to New York. 11 years and 2,000 miles later, they're still no closer to finding the answer. And they've never ventured past their friendship to discover the love that's right in front of th...
Directed By: Rob Reiner
Written By: Nora Ephron
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 17 Critic Reviews
76
76% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
24% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 17 Critic Reviews
76
76% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
24% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
A ravishing, romantic lark brimming over with style, intelligence and flashing wit.
Like Harry and Sally, the movie is hardworking, spot on; it winepresses its conversation into epigrams. No surprise here.[31 July 1999, p.65]
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 164 User Ratings
8.0
87% Positive
143 Ratings
143 Ratings
11% Mixed
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
2% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 164 User Ratings
8.0
87% Positive
143 Ratings
143 Ratings
11% Mixed
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
2% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Nov 3, 2015
Loved this movie. It's a great dissection of why men and women are the way they are. It's got a clever screenplay by Nora Ephron and great direction by Rob Reiner. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal was a fantastic paring. I would have to say that it's one of the best romantic comedies of all time. In a genre which often produces stale movies this one breaks the mold.
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The joy comes not from the will-they-won't-they romance between the two leads, but from the sharply written humour from the pen of writer Nora Ephron.
By Staff (Not Credited) FULL REVIEW
From his long experience in television, [Reiner] has learned how to create characters with just enough depth to hold together but not so much that they become too individualized, too stubbornly complex. [12 July 1989, Tempo, p.1]
As a successful careerist who tries purging his neuroses in a coin-operated batting cage, Crystal is funny enough to keep Ryan from all-out stealing the film. She, though, is smashing in an eye-opening performance, another tribute to Reiner's flair with actors. [12 July 1989, Life, p.1D]
Rob Reiner directs with deftness and sincerity, making the material seem more engaging than it is, at least until the plot machanics begin to unwind and the film starts to seem shapeless.
By Staff (Not Credited) FULL REVIEW
Like the sitcom version of a Woody Allen film, full of amusing lines and scenes, all infused with an uncomfortable sense of deja vu.
By Caryn James FULL REVIEW
Oct 5, 2013
Best Romantic Comedy I have ever seen. Director Rob Reiner has a killer instinct for setting up jokes and punchlines, and is vastly aided by the performances and chemistry of Crystal and Ryan, as well as crisp supporting work from Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby and I can seriously say that is one of the greatest films of all time.
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Sep 19, 2010
I'm probably one of the sappiest guys I know. Maybe even abnormally so. It is probably because I grew up with primarily my mother. As a result, I fall for the romantic comedy. I would like to think I like the more intellectually stimulating ones, but most people would probably say I'm fooling myself. I can't stand Pretty Woman, or any other Julia Roberts romantic comedy. Nor can I tolerate pure fluff. Again, maybe I'm naive, but I tend to like the romantic movies that do a little more than the normal romantic fluff. When Harry Met Sally redefined (or defined, depending on to whom you talk) the romantic comedy. The dialogue, memorable quotes, flawless acting and directing, as well as the sparkling chemistry between two unlikely actors, When Harry Met Sally is a near-perfect story of two opposites who, over time, grow to realize just how compatible they really are. It's a hopeful friends-to-lovers progression that never seems forced. Rob Reiner adapts Nora Ephron's script and edits it to flawless execution. At no point does the connection seem unnatural. The audience is carried end-to-end and experiences the same maturity through Harry and Sally's relationship, recognizing the imperfections of each character and recognizing elements of each's life in their own lives. When Harry Met Sally set the standard and has been copied poorly by many wanna-bes, but it is the original and worth the time if you have never seen it.
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Nov 11, 2024
Fresh out of school, a pair of young adults with a mutual friend take a long road trip to New York City. The common acquaintance doesn’t stick in either of their lives, but the content of their time-killing conversation sure does. He’s callous and cynical, she’s composed and idealistic, and when the subject shifts to romance, they both get off on the wrong foot. She thinks platonic friendship is possible between the sexes, he confidently disagrees, and that’s a conflict they just can’t move past. The first impression is so bad, they both allow it to color a decade’s worth of terse social interactions. While chance and coincidence place them, repeatedly, in the same room (or row of airline seats) over the ensuing years, they each fight the inevitable, even as their rare romantic compatibility grows obvious. Reminiscent of Annie Hall, both in its timeless portrayal of a complicated relationship and its heady mix of **** truths with pointed punchlines, When Harry Met Sally still feels contemporary, thirty-five years after the fact. Society might be enamored with fast paced dating apps nowadays, but the secrets of lasting love remain unchanged. It’s all about the interplay, about finding a partner who can challenge us to improve without upsetting the cart, and about taking the leap of faith necessary to open up and share our inner selves with someone who might just reject us out-of-hand. Harry and Sally both make such attempts in New York, with mutually disastrous results, but the failed risks finally give them something new to commiserate over. A fresh slant on the topic that split them so many years prior. As they ease into exactly the sort of strictly-platonic friendship that Harry once insisted was impossible, they grow closer; relaxing and revealing themselves without even realizing what they’ve done. It’s a beautiful change to observe, two spirits in simpatico, even as their artificial boundary (JUST FRIENDS) stands in the way of a total revelation. Eventually, they’ve gotta deal with that elephant in the room. I loved this. Billy Crystal’s style of comedy isn’t always for me - I usually associate him with an exhausting flood of quick-hits and dad jokes - but Nora Emphron’s script and Rob Reiner’s direction keep his brasher tendencies in check and Meg Ryan serves as his perfect counterpart. Once they give each other that long-sought second chance, the two are wonderful together. A harmonious set of conversational sparring partners that can poke and tease each other without losing their smile. I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face, either. Sharp, witty and often laugh-out-loud funny, this also serves as a valid observational / confessional piece (a sort of on-screen therapy for the unhappily divorced Reiner) that should strike home for jilted romantics of any generation.
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Sep 4, 2018
a sophisticated love track.. When Harry Met Sally.. When Harry Met Sally is a character driven romantic drama about two platonic friends who struggles to see the affection for each other. The chemistry is decent enough to charm their way out, but fortunately it doesn't need to since its writing is the protagonist in itself. The flirty talk, hilarious topics and references, makes the pragmatic conversations thoroughly entertaining and electrifying. Addition to that, Crystal's comic timing and Ryan's support to him, blends in aptly. The structure of the feature is newer and fresh that is respected equally as much as the characters have been. The little nuances like fiddling with the props around the scene and a brief love track narrated by various couple in an interview is just pure delight. Reiner's world is brimmed with such sweet innuendos that makes it utterly pleasing with a big smile on the face that stays with the audience long after the curtain drops. The background score is a bit disappointing along with the sound department although the cinematography (like the phone call between Harry and Sally) play a vital role in storytelling and has fine editing. It is shot with bright and light colors spread across the whole screen that is appealing for the viewers from the first frame. As mentioned earlier, the performance is decent if not anything extraordinary especially by the lead cast Crystal and Ryan. Reiner's execution is unfortunately chalky around the edges but with a sincere heart at the center of it, it sails off the shore safely. Smart and funny conversation, simple and sensible track and, a safer perspective are the high points of the feature. When Harry Met Sally is a sophisticated love track on context of its subjective procedure that even respects the space of audience.
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Production Company
- Castle Rock Entertainment
- Nelson Entertainment
Release Date Jul 12, 1989
Duration 1 h 36 m
Rating R
Tagline I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 5 Nominations
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
American Comedy Awards, USA
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
