Back to trending
Crimes of the Heart

Crimes of the Heart

Comedy · Drama · 1986

Three sisters try to come to grips with the meaning of their mother's suicide.

Movie details

Crimes of the Heart

“Meg just left one. Lenny never had one. Babe just shot one. The MaGrath sisters sure have a way with men.”

1986 Comedy · Drama 1h 45m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.1 / 10

Community rating

Three sisters try to come to grips with the meaning of their mother's suicide.

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 Crimes of the Heart?

The 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.

About Alex

About Alex

Comedy · 2014

When a group of old college friends reunite over a long weekend after one of them attempts suicide, old crushes and resentments shine light on their life decisions, and ultimately push friendships and relationships to the brink.

Sweetie

Sweetie

Drama · 1989

The buttoned-down, superstitious Kay is attempting to lead a normal existence with her new boyfriend Louis. That’s until Sweetie, her rampaging, devil-may-care sister, returns home after an absence, exposing the rotten roots of their family and placing a strain on Kay and Louis’ relationship.

The Adults

The Adults

Drama · 2023

Eric returns home for a short visit and finds himself caught between reuniting with his sisters and chasing a victory with his old poker group. As the trip extends, Eric finds it increasingly difficult to avoid confrontations and revelations as his carefully constructed façade of his adulthood gives way to old childhood conflicts.

Soul Food

Soul Food

Comedy · 1997

Traditional Sunday dinners at Mama Joe's turn sour when sisters Teri, Bird and Maxine start bringing their problems to the dinner table in this ensemble comedy. When tragedy strikes, it's up to grandson Ahmad to pull the family together and put the soul back into the family's weekly gatherings.

The Reivers

The Reivers

Comedy · 1969

In turn-of-the-century Mississippi, an 11-year-old boy comes of age as two mischievous adult friends talk him into sneaking the family car out for a trip to Memphis and a series of adventures.

This Is Where I Leave You

This Is Where I Leave You

Drama · 2014

When their father passes away, four grown, world-weary siblings return to their childhood home and are requested -- with an admonition -- to stay there together for a week, along with their free-speaking mother and a collection of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. As the brothers and sisters re-examine their shared history and the status of each tattered relationship among those who know and love them best, they reconnect in hysterically funny and emotionally significant ways.

August: Osage County

August: Osage County

Comedy · 2013

An intense look at the lives of the strong-willed daughters of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional mother who raised them.

His Three Daughters

His Three Daughters

Drama · 2024

Emotions run high when three estranged sisters reunite in a cramped New York City apartment to watch over their ailing father during his final days.

The Savages

The Savages

Drama · 2007

A sister and brother face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father.

The Edge of Seventeen

The Edge of Seventeen

Comedy · 2016

Two high school girls are best friends until one dates the other's older brother, who is totally his sister's nemesis.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bruce Beresford

Written by

Beth Henley

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton

Lenny Magrath

Jessica Lange

Jessica Lange

Meg Magrath

Sissy Spacek

Sissy Spacek

Babe Magrath

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

Doc Porter

Tess Harper

Tess Harper

Chick Boyle

David Carpenter

David Carpenter

Barnette Lloyd

Hurd Hatfield

Hurd Hatfield

Old Granddaddy

Court is in session

Put Crimes of the Heart on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

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.