Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

85% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

In a small New England town, Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) works as a housekeeper for the rich but heartless Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt). When Vera turns up dead, Dolores is accused of killing her elderly employer -- so her estranged daughter, Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a well-respected New York City journalist, decides to visit her mother and investigate the matter for herself. As Selena digs deeper into the case, she uncovers shocking truths about the murder and her own childhood.

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Dolores Claiborne

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Critics Consensus

Post-Misery Kathy Bates proves to be another wonderful conduit for Stephen King's novels in this patient, gradually terrifying thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Hugo Davenport Daily Telegraph (UK) Aided by strong performances, Hackford keeps the suspense simmering nicely until a botched courtroom showdown... Interesting, though, to see Stephen King in the guise of feminist. Nov 18, 2022 Full Review Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune It's rare to see a pop best seller come out this well in the movies. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 4, 2019 Full Review Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: D+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network Bates and Jason Leigh both shine in this savvy adaptation of a challenging Stephen King book. Dolores Claiborne proves that when the right people board a project, there's no such thing as an unfilmable book Rated: 4/5 Nov 2, 2022 Full Review Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot A delightful yarn. Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 25, 2022 Full Review Dolores Claiborne | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The story remains compelling even as some of the particulars become obvious before they're revealed. Rated: 3/4 Sep 18, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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helder f This a very good movie, with a great plot and great performances. Kathy Bates is a wife, a mother, and caregiver. She’s accused of killing the woman she’s been taken care of. Her estranged daughter then returns home, bringing with her the suspicion that her mother had killed her father. The movie is a bit long but Bates’s performance keeps the movie alive. The daughter, Selena, is frustrating, a bit contrived. The story is very captivating but at times surreal… there’s always an element of doubt as the story unfolds. Is the mother, the only who truly knows what happen, telling the truth? I guess some will appreciate this tone of uncertainty and suspicion, I’d have preferred something more definite Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/05/24 Full Review Devra B This is my all time favorite Stephen King movie. Cathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh are amazing in it. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/24 Full Review Kirsten W I love the mood of this film. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review Alec C The past can hold some dark secrets that will lead to dire consequences in the present! A reporter returns to her old town when her mother is accused of murder and realizes that the truth is hidden deep within her own mind. A sobering reminder of the affects of trauma and how on the surface, they are vey well hidden! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review Gabriel S I find that adaptations of Stephen King's work are always enjoyable to watch, even when the adaptation is kinda bogus — definitely not the case here, making it clear. The reason is because Stephen King, although often verbose, is a great storyteller. Dolores Claiborne from 1995 incorporates the best part about King's work: character development.Kathy Bates steals the show here. There couldn't be a better fit than her to play Dolores, and what a play! During this slow ride, we get to love Dolores and root for her, regardless of the ultimate truth.If you like slow drama-heavy stories that focus on character development, Dolores Claiborne doesn't disappoint. The movie starts slow, but the great question keeps you going: is Dolores a murder? Watch it to find out. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/20/23 Full Review Montgomery M stephen king movies with kathy bates in them are so good Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Taylor Hackford Director Kathy Bates Dolores Claiborne Jennifer Jason Leigh Selena St. George Judy Parfitt Vera Donovan Christopher Plummer Det. John Mackey David Strathairn Joe St. George
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Dolores Claiborne

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Synopsis In a small New England town, Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) works as a housekeeper for the rich but heartless Vera Donovan (Judy Parfitt). When Vera turns up dead, Dolores is accused of killing her elderly employer -- so her estranged daughter, Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a well-respected New York City journalist, decides to visit her mother and investigate the matter for herself. As Selena digs deeper into the case, she uncovers shocking truths about the murder and her own childhood.

Director
Taylor Hackford

Producer
Taylor Hackford, Charles Mulvehill

Screenwriter
Stephen King, Tony Gilroy

Production Co
Castle Rock Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Corporation

Rating
R

Genre
Crime, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 18, 2008

Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.8M

Runtime
2h 11m

Sound Mix
Surround
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