Capote

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2:06

Capote

R

2005

1h 55m

Biography

History

Drama

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

191 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Reading of the murder of a Kansas family, New York City novelist Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) decides to cover the story himself, and travels to the small town with his childhood friend, aspiring novelist Harper Lee (Catherine Keener). When Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Dick Hickock (Mark Pellegrino) are arrested and charged, Capote forms an emotional bond with Smith during his jailhouse interviews despite the young criminal's apparent guilt.

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Critics Consensus

Philip Seymour Hoffman's riveting central performance guides a well-constructed retelling of the most sensational and significant period in author Truman Capote's life.

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Tim Robey

Sight & Sound

Aug 1, 2018

As Capote, Philip Seymour Hoffman is in complete control of his effects... No other actor has the ability to laugh at his own jokes and be so appallingly funny.

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Zadie Smith

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jan 16, 2018

It's the acting that sings, especially when Hoffman duets with luminous Catherine Keener, the lady with the loveliest laugh in film. Hoffman's writer is a self-serving egoist; Keener's a restrained, wise soul.

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Victoria Segal

New Statesman

Sep 26, 2017

Unfortunately, by the end of it, Capote isn't the only one who wants to turn to drink.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 26, 2025

3/4

Anyone checking out this drama expecting an exhaustive expose on the literary lion and social raconteur might be surprised to learn that the film focuses exclusively on the period when he researched and wrote his nonfiction masterpiece In Cold Blood.

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Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

Mar 28, 2025

4/5

Hoffman's Oscar-winning performance is the main reason to watch this biographical drama. [Full review in Spanish]

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Dec 17, 2022

Hoffman goes beyond mimic to inhabit the contradictory soul under the fey, mannered skin of the social creature who is most at home holding court in New York cocktail parties.

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Gareth V

@geewah Oct 13, 2026

It’s a quiet, calculated character study, and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance is the reason it’s remembered.

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Dominic B

@RT83360345 Aug 13, 2026

Hoffman and Keener both great, he chewing his scenes, she with quiet charm.

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Thor O

@RT17845264 Aug 10, 2026

Well, couldn’t make it thru the first 2 minutes cause I couldn’t understand a word the main character was saying. Along with the absurd voice he had, sounded like if a squeaky toy could talk.

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John F

@RT84127024 Jul 28, 2026

PSH is awesome but the story and supporting cast struggle to keep up. Folks interested in the true story ought to check out In Cold Blood (1967).

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 Jul 2, 2026

Entertaining, but you’ve got to be in the mood for drama. The story’s slow-cooked, anchored by Hoffman’s performance that earned him the Oscar, with a decent cast backing him up. The direction is competent and steady, letting the acting do the work. If you’re familiar with In Cold Blood, it lands even better. Not a great film overall, but the lead acting leaves a mark.

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acsdoug D

@acsdoug Jun 22, 2026

Phiip Seymour Hoffman's performance received many accolades - including the Academy Award for Best Actor - and deservedly so. Clifton Collins, Jr., did not receive the same level of acclaim and that's a shame in my opinion. The scenes these two excellent actors shared are phenomenal. On top of that the story is top notch.

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Bennett Miller

Director

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Truman Capote

Catherine Keener

Nelle Harper Lee

Clifton Collins Jr.

Perry Smith

Chris Cooper

Alvin Dewey

Bruce Greenwood

Greenwood

Capote: Official Clip - This is My Work

1:51

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Capote: Official Clip - I Want to Take Your Notebooks

1:59

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Capote: Official Clip - Charming the Deweys

2:10

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Capote: Official Clip - Paying for Compliments

1:39

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Capote: Official Clip - Did You Fall in Love With Him?

1:55

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Capote: Official Clip - The Way I Am

1:53

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Capote: Official Clip - Remembering the Murder

1:58

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Capote: Official Clip - What's the Name of Your Book?

2:06

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Capote: Official Clip - They're Torturing Me

2:06

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Capote: Official Clip - I Did Everything I Could

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Synopsis

Reading of the murder of a Kansas family, New York City novelist Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman) decides to cover the story himself, and travels to the small town with his childhood friend, aspiring novelist Harper Lee (Catherine Keener). When Perry Smith (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Dick Hickock (Mark Pellegrino) are arrested and charged, Capote forms an emotional bond with Smith during his jailhouse interviews despite the young criminal's apparent guilt.

Director: Bennett Miller
Producer: Caroline Baron, William Vince, Michael Ohoven
Screenwriter: Dan Futterman
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: R (Violent Images|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.7M
Runtime: 1h 55m

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