The Accidental Tourist

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The Accidental Tourist

PG

1989

2h 1m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

32 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After the murder of their young son, the marriage between Macon (William Hurt) and his wife Sarah (Kathleen Turner) disintegrates, and she moves out. After a freak accident puts him on crutches, Macon goes to stay with his quirky siblings at the family home, where he meets the spirited Muriel (Geena Davis), a dog trainer with a young son of her own, with whom he begins a friendship. When Sarah learns about this, she attempts a reconciliation and Macon is forced to make a decision.

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Critics Consensus

Generous with its characters' foibles and virtues, The Accidental Tourist is a thoughtful drama vested with insight into the complications of relationships.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/4

I've never seen a movie so sad in which there was so much genuine laughter.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jun 15, 2022

This eccentric family invented by Anne Tyler leaves the page finding strange new life with screenwriter/director Lawrence Kasdan. [Full review in Spanish]

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 28, 2021

4/4

It's perfect in every way -- like Lost In Translation, The Piano and a few others, it's the sort of intimate movie that irrevocably touches certain viewers while leaving the rest shrugging their shoulders.

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Oct 11, 2019

As a comedy, Accidental Tourist is smart, witty and sophisticated.

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Alberto Abuín

Espinof

Sep 4, 2019

It has that slow rhythm, but without calm, very much to the taste of its director. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Cathy Burke

United Press International

Dec 9, 2017

The strength of the film is that of the novel: an intoxicating brew of irresistable characters.

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Chris V

@RT67356260 3 days ago

Excellent acting from Hurt and Davis in a compelling story. It may have a slow beginning, but the pacing picks up speed and the story becomes more interesting as the characters develop on screen. The only unfortunate part of the film is the hammy acting of Kathleen Turner who was not right for her role. This is one of the better mainstream movies released in the late 1980s.

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Maarit L

@Komedienne Jun 4, 2026

Lovely, beautiful movie.

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Donna M

@donner49 May 10, 2026

Not a line is wasted, nor delivered poorly. This is a sweet, but not cloying, dramedy with excellent performances all around. When I want to see a little gem, perfectly constructed, I re-watch The Accidental Tourist. When asked what is my favorite movie, this has been it since it opened, and I watch waaaay too many movies. Enjoy!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 17, 2026

The worldwide gross is $32,600,000.00 over a budget of $15,000,000.00.

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Drew M.

@Stonehands211 Mar 30, 2026

This one did not really work for me much at all, unfortunately. Good ideas of a story but not really mind all that well. There was a lot left on table I thought. The screenplay and direction made Hurt and Turner seem like bad actors somehow.

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Melissa L

@Agent99 Jan 30, 2026

It was okay, but I was hoping for a different ending.

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Lawrence Kasdan

Director

William Hurt

Macon Leary

Kathleen Turner

Sarah Leary

Geena Davis

Muriel Pritchett

Amy Wright

Rose Leary

Bill Pullman

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Synopsis

After the murder of their young son, the marriage between Macon (William Hurt) and his wife Sarah (Kathleen Turner) disintegrates, and she moves out. After a freak accident puts him on crutches, Macon goes to stay with his quirky siblings at the family home, where he meets the spirited Muriel (Geena Davis), a dog trainer with a young son of her own, with whom he begins a friendship. When Sarah learns about this, she attempts a reconciliation and Macon is forced to make a decision.

Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Producer: Michael Grillo, Charles Okun, Lawrence Kasdan
Screenwriter: Frank Galati, Lawrence Kasdan
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 6, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 28, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.3M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Surround

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