Heavenly Creatures

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Heavenly Creatures

R

1994

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

107 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through their shared love of handsome big screen tenor Mario Lanza and games of make believe. But when their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense friendship is becoming unhealthy, the girls decide to run away to America, hatching a dark plan for those who threaten to keep them apart.

Critics Consensus

Dark, stylish, and captivating, Heavenly Creatures signals both the auspicious debut of Kate Winslet and the arrival of Peter Jackson as more than just a cult director.

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Stella Bruzzi

Sight & Sound

05/16/2023

A beautifully choreographed descent into the realm of the personal and therefore the inexplicable.

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Jami Bernard

New York Daily News

05/16/2023

4/4

A film as fascinating as the obsessive friendship it depicts.

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

05/16/2023

The film explores their minds with wonder and sympathy, plotting the course of an intense relationship that traps the girls in their own fantasies.

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Karl Puschmann

New Zealand Herald

08/05/2024

Heavenly Creatures is a haunting film that stays with you. It’s dark and disturbing and strangely beautiful. Like a lonely walk through a solitary park on a brisk Christchurch afternoon in June.

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Malinda Lo

AfterEllen.com

05/01/2024

As it is, watch Heavenly Creatures for excellent acting and direction, but not for its portrayal of lesbianism.

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Barbara Vancheri

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

05/16/2023

It's disturbing but powerful stuff.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 May 2

To find out more about Peter Jackson and Kate Winslet’s humble beginnings. The story of a remarkable friendship—one that has withstood the test of time, artillery, explosives and fire—has plenty to offer viewers and is sure to linger in the memory.

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Adam A.

@AdamBaum Feb 14

the music from madam butterfly's "Wait Scene" during the murder scene was perfectly perfect

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Mo S.

@9mr_0 Dec 3

فلم جميل جدا و الممثلين ابدعوا بتجسيد الشخصيات و المخرج ابدع بتصوير الخيلات و الواقع

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Lorenz L

@Lorenz1060 Aug 31

Ah, yes! Just what we all need! A morality fable for matricidal teenage lesbians! Perhaps we can just chalk it up to age: at 31, it’s not holding up well.

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Bernard M

@RT23286849 Aug 25

Excellent film based on a true story. Fabulous performances and writing. The set design really captures the feel of 50’s New Zealand. I am not an admirer of Peter Jackson’s work but this film is outstanding in all aspects.

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Eric W.

@Jtuess 08/13/2025

I believe this is Kate Winslet’s first feature film. It’s no wonder Peter Jackson went on to become a celebrated director. Actual true stories that can be proven make my stomach churn.

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Peter Jackson

Director

Melanie Lynskey

Pauline Yvonne (Parker) Rieper

Kate Winslet

Juliet Hulme

Sarah Peirse

Honora Parker Rieper

Diana Kent

Hilda Hulme

Clive Merrison

Dr. Henry Hulme

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Synopsis

Wealthy and precocious teenager Juliet (Kate Winslet) transfers from England to Christchurch, New Zealand, with her family, and forms a bond with the quiet, brooding Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) through their shared love of handsome big screen tenor Mario Lanza and games of make believe. But when their parents begin to suspect that their increasingly intense friendship is becoming unhealthy, the girls decide to run away to America, hatching a dark plan for those who threaten to keep them apart.

Director: Peter Jackson
Producer: Jim Booth
Screenwriter: Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Distributor: Miramax Films, Miramax Home Entertainment [us]
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $870.8K
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo

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