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Citizen Ruth

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  • Trailer 1

Movie Info & Cast

Release Date:

Dec 13, 1996

Runtime:

1hr 46m

Synopsis

An irresponsible, drug-addicted, recently impregnated woman finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate when both parties attempt to sway her to their respective sides.

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.7
23.5K
9.8K
6.1K
RATINGS 53 FANS
3.7
  • Sep 10, 2020

    yeah i want to write a movie but an abortion satire where laura dern huffs patio sealant and punches a child has already been made so what's the point

    458 Likes
    jarod
    jarod
    Feb 17, 2020

    This is Laura Dern's world and we're just blessed to be living in it. Alexander Payne's directorial debut shows exactly how much of a mess the abortion debate is, but keeps the heart of his film at the right place: it's all about how Ruth decides what she wants to do…

    247 Likes
    Jaime Rebanal 🇵🇸
    Jaime Rebanal 🇵🇸
    Jul 27, 2018

    PERFECT ENDING.

    192 Likes
    jourdain searles
    jourdain searles
  •
    Mar 8, 2021

    better than citizen kane

    146 Likes
    anna
    anna
    Dec 30, 2020

    Ruth punching a grade-school kid because he’s about to get her busted for huffing paint while she’s pregnant—legendary.

    109 Likes
    Michael Clawson
    Michael Clawson
    Mar 23, 2022

    when will tippi hedren come down in a helicopter and personally escort me to a women’s health clinic in a bulletproof limo

    109 Likes
    eely
    eely
  •
    Apr 28, 2022

    As an official, card carrying member of the Legion of Dern, I insist that anyone who reads this watches this movie.

    103 Likes
    Jerry
    Jerry
    May 26, 2012

    Speaks so wonderfully for itself, but I just wanted to note how great the final shot of this film is, which is what I call pitch-perfect satire.

    98 Likes
    Peter Labuza
    Peter Labuza
    Jul 27, 2021

    Citizen Ruth is a chaotic battle for agency. Indigent, drug-addicted and pregnant Ruth Stoops is caught in an ideological war after being convicted for endangering her fetus. When she is advised by the judge to get an abortion, a pro-life family comes to the rescue and a…

    88 Likes
    Maria
    Maria
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

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Top Reviews
  • Javier M
    Javier M liked
    Citizen Ruth

    7/10 Controversial Laura Dern Arthouse

    3Y
    Hank Leet
    Hank Leet liked
    Citizen Ruth

    Still relevant today

    3Y
View More Popular Citizen Ruth Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

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Metacritic

63
metacritic
Based on 18 Critics
6.0

USER SCORE (15)

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Reviews
30

Payne is just as guilty of using her (Ruth) as a figurehead for his ideas--most of them about the stupidity and futility of politics--as are the targets of his satirical abuse.

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Metacritic review by Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
75

A satire with the reckless courage to take on both sides in the abortion debate.

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Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
75

Has its share of bitingly funny moments, and some of the comedy is quite inventive.

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Metacritic review by James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Citizen Ruth (1996) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is Citizen Ruth (1996)?
The movie is 1hr 46min long.
What's Citizen Ruth (1996) about?
An irresponsible, drug-addicted, recently impregnated woman finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate when both parties attempt to sway her to their respective sides.