This Must Be the Place

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This Must Be the Place

R

2012

1h 58m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

86 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

At 50 years of age, former rock star Cheyenne (Sean Penn) still dresses the part and lives in Ireland off the royalties and dividends from smart investments. The death of his estranged father brings Cheyenne back to New York, where he discovers the old man had one obsession: to hunt down a Nazi war criminal (Heinz Lieven). Cheyenne decides to pick up the quest where his late father left off, and sets out at his own pace on a journey across America.

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Critics Consensus

This Must Be the Place may feature too many wayward detours to satisfy some passengers, but Sean Penn's beguiling performance and Paolo Sorrentino's scenic visuals make this a road trip worth following.

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Nicolas Rapold

Film Comment Magazine

Jun 28, 2013

The conceit of showing a pop-culture figure's life out of the limelight is beyond hackneyed, but the film's incongruous visual splendor and Penn's all-or-nothing commitment keep Sorrentino's unabashed folly afloat for a while.

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Scott Foundas

Film Comment Magazine

Jun 20, 2013

Sorrentino's aggressively life-affirming movie has wormed its way into the hearts of a surprising number of usually sensible, discerning critics.

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Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Nov 21, 2012

2.5/4

Penn has created a colorful tour guide, but in "This Must Be the Place," there's no there there.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jun 27, 2023

5/10

Penn's performance as the rockstar offers slight moments of eccentricity, but his road trip turns dull and loses substance when it stops to interrogate the platitudes of loneliness, old age, and the need for self-discovery. [Full review in Spanish]

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Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

Oct 4, 2022

5.5/10

In tragicomic and pompous tone, Sorrentino once again gloats over the pathos of his characters. [Full review in Spanish]

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

Apr 27, 2020

3/5

It elicits a form of emotional rapture that is either the story's themes subtly catching up on the viewer or Sorrentino's shamanistic direction papering over the film's cracks

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S M

@Mazer415 Oct 29, 2026

I had to watch it twice, which made much more come to light. This movie is like a slow walk on an unfamiliar trail, every detail catches your attention. Sean Penn gives a marvelous performance as a being who has experienced the yin and yang of life. He is deeply affected by the trials he has been through yet holds onto his curiosity, like a child he is also exceptionally honest and straightforward in his communications. I’m glad I watched it again. As for Frances - she is much like Gene Hackman, starting or supporting, she brings her all. The movie is complex, detail oriented, even in the scenes. It is a touching film, quirky, funny, concerning and brutal in its telling of Sean Penns character. Many will miss this gem because it breaks so many molds which Hollywood loves to cookie cutter their way through, Bravo to everyone who brought this story to the film world

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Amy G

@AmyGu Jul 6, 2026

Sublime! Moving, beautifully filmed, just a gem. It's a sentimental journey of coming to terms with loss and it's a thinker. Loved watching it (after seeing a clip on social media) and getting to see Sean Penn deliver a wonderfully earnest performance.

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Eric H.

@RT27009131 Jun 4, 2026

Endearing yet too boring to amount to much.

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Andrei D

@RT74856639 Apr 3, 2025

The core concept and the off beat rhythm sometimes work and Penn is pretty good but its elements do not fully coalesce into something actually engaging

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Michele M

@RT05943730 Oct 27, 2024

It's not for everyone, of course. I love quirky, slower-paced films with characters that are strange and lovely. There were parts that didn't quite connect for me, yet the film as a whole is beautiful in pacing, character development, and weirdness. Sound track is great, too. Of course, everything Frances McDormand is in is worth watching!

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Bill W

@RT55041566 Sep 13, 2024

This was slow and unbearable. I tried to force myself to watch it but gave up halfway through.

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Paolo Sorrentino

Director

Sean Penn

Cheyenne

Frances McDormand

Jane

Eve Hewson

Mary

Kerry Condon

Rachel

Harry Dean Stanton

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Synopsis

At 50 years of age, former rock star Cheyenne (Sean Penn) still dresses the part and lives in Ireland off the royalties and dividends from smart investments. The death of his estranged father brings Cheyenne back to New York, where he discovers the old man had one obsession: to hunt down a Nazi war criminal (Heinz Lieven). Cheyenne decides to pick up the quest where his late father left off, and sets out at his own pace on a journey across America.

Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Producer: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Andrea Occhipinti
Screenwriter: Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contarello
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Lucky Red, Medusa Film, Indigo Films
Rating: R (Language|Brief Disturbing Images|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $142.2K
Runtime: 1h 58m

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