The defence The Prestige Tourist
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
Hobson's Choice
Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1954
A widower refuses to let his three daughters marry in order to avoid paying settlements, so they'll just have to outsmart him.
Movie details
Hobson's Choice
“A Masterpiece of Lusty, Gusty, Rowdy Entertainment”
1954 Comedy · Drama · Romance 1h 48m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
7.4 / 10
Community rating
A widower refuses to let his three daughters marry in order to avoid paying settlements, so they'll just have to outsmart him.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Hobson's Choice?
For the defence
The Prestige Tourist
“You like your greatness pre-approved.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
Melody
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A widow with three children hires a handyman to fix her house during a major storm. When not doing home repairs, he shares his philosophy of believing in the power of the universe to deliver what we want.
The Magnificent Ambersons
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The spoiled young heir to the decaying Amberson fortune comes between his widowed mother and the man she has always loved.
Irreplaceable You
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A stunning cancer diagnosis spurs Abbie to seek a future girlfriend for fiancé and childhood sweetheart Sam, who's clueless when it comes to dating.
Emma.
Comedy · 2020
In 1800s England, a well-meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.
Emma
Comedy · 1996
Emma Woodhouse is a congenial young lady who delights in meddling in other people’s affairs. She is perpetually trying to unite men and women who are utterly wrong for each other. Despite her interest in romance, Emma is clueless about her own feelings, and her relationship with gentle Mr. Knightley.
The Happiest Millionaire
Comedy · 1967
A happy and unbelievably lucky young Irish immigrant, John Lawless, lands a job as the butler of an unconventional millionaire, Biddle. His daughter, Cordelia Drexel Biddle, tires of the unusual antics of her father--especially since the nice young men around town all fear him. Wouldn't you fear a father-in-law that keeps alligators for pets and teaches boxing at his daily Bible classes?
About a Boy
Drama · 2002
Will Freeman is a good-looking, smooth-talking bachelor whose primary goal in life is avoiding any kind of responsibility. But when he invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single moms, Will gets a hilarious lesson about life from a bright, but hopelessly geeky 12-year-old named Marcus. Now, as Will struggles to teach Marcus the art of being cool, Marcus teaches Will that you're never too old to grow up.
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between
Romance · 2022
Clare and Aidan make a pact to break up before college — no regrets, no broken hearts. But will one epic goodbye date offer them a last chance at love?
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Romance · 2025
Bridget Jones navigates life as a widow and single mum with the help of her family, friends, and former lover, Daniel. Back to work and on the apps, she's pursued by a younger man and maybe – just maybe – her son's science teacher.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
David Lean
Written by
Wynyard Browne · David Lean · Norman Spencer
Charles Laughton
Henry Horatio Hobson
John Mills
William Mossop
Brenda De Banzie
Maggie Hobson
Daphne Anderson
Alice Hobson
Prunella Scales
Vicky Hobson
Richard Wattis
Albert Prosser
Derek Blomfield
Freddy Beenstock
Court is in session
Put Hobson's Choice on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.