Doubt

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1:55

Doubt

PG-13

2008

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

221 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1964 the winds of change are sweeping through Sister Aloysius' (Meryl Streep) St. Nicholas school. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic priest, is advocating reform of the school's strict customs, and the first black student has just been accepted. When a fellow nun (Amy Adams) tells Sister Aloysius that Father Flynn may be paying too much personal attention to the student, Sister Aloysius begins a personal crusade against the priest -- despite her lack of evidence.

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Critics Consensus

Doubt succeeds on the strength of its top-notch cast, who successfully guide the film through the occasional narrative lull.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/12/2017

A

Don't miss it.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

02/10/2009

2/5

The moral grey area of the title perhaps worked better in the stage play; exposed on screen it's not "doubt" being expressed, it's the sound of Streep's headmistressy voice demanding, "That Oscar - on my desk, NOW."

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

02/06/2009

1/5

Doubt looks like some sort of upscale horror film, complete with crows and swirling leaves like The Omen. It's actually a terminally muddled piece of star-studded Oscar-bait.

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Lauren LaMagna

Next Best Picture

May 1

9/10

But one doesn’t need to understand the history of the Catholic Church to enjoy the film, because, if anything, "Doubt" is an acting masterclass featuring one of the strongest acting quartets a film has ever seen.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 2

3/4

What really matters here is the cast.

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Kenneth R. Morefield

1More Film Blog

04/27/2025

2/5

He is either innocent or guilty. I can respect a film that says we don’t always get to know the answer. But I can't respect a film, however well shot and acted, that says the answer hardly matters.

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Johann D. M

@Johann33 Apr 6

This drama, based on John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning 2004 play Doubt: A Parable, follows a Catholic school principal in the Bronx in 1964 who begins to question a beloved priest’s ambiguous relationship with a troubled student. A gut-wrenching film driven by razor-sharp dialogue, it never stops impressing thanks to its masterclass performances. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and even Viola Davis in her brief appearance deliver unforgettable work. The film is deeply thought-provoking, maintaining an ambiguity that lingers not only throughout but long after the credits roll. Its execution is magnificent, with each scene carrying a breathtaking intensity. The subject matter remains powerfully relevant, and its metaphorical reflection on uncertainty leaves a lasting impact. A compelling and devastating experience in equal measure.

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Les N

@Vegas628 Mar 6

To see 2 masters at work. A pleasure.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 Mar 1

If this religious drama has charisma, it is because of its tone, which rubs shoulders with reality, and the acting duel between Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep. The end result leaves no one indifferent and is worthy of debate. Those who have not seen it, hurry up.

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JACK W

@Bourne2revmovs Feb 22

I always loved Phillip Seymour-Hoffman he had a good string towards his end. Watching Meryl Streep is intense. She embodies the role so well, she's in that ''holy'' space, even referring to 'those' in cloth that abuse authority as clever in their ways. Meaning a house divided, not that of just the school/church, but morally, and SPIRITUALLY.

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Farah R.

@Farah Feb 16

Doubt is anchored by the intense and powerful performances of its cast ensemble. The raw and sincere acting of Streep, Hoffman, Adams, and Davis are nothing short of masterful, and the reason this adaptation is impactful as it leaves audiences to grapple with the truth.

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Gracie M.

@Graciemorris00 Feb 9

Not really sure how I feel about this movie it was interesting….but the scenery and acting was incredible!

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John Patrick Shanley

Director

Meryl Streep

Sister Aloysius

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Father Flynn

Amy Adams

Sister James

Viola Davis

Mrs. Miller

Alice Drummond

Sister Veronica

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Synopsis

In 1964 the winds of change are sweeping through Sister Aloysius' (Meryl Streep) St. Nicholas school. Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic priest, is advocating reform of the school's strict customs, and the first black student has just been accepted. When a fellow nun (Amy Adams) tells Sister Aloysius that Father Flynn may be paying too much personal attention to the student, Sister Aloysius begins a personal crusade against the priest -- despite her lack of evidence.

Director: John Patrick Shanley
Producer: Scott Rudin, Mark Roybal
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Scott Rudin Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.4M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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