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Running With Scissors

Play trailer Poster for Running With Scissors R 2006 2h 0m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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32% Tomatometer 135 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
As the son of an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother, young Augusten Burroughs faces a challenging childhood at the very least. His life takes an unexpected turn when his mother gives him to her unorthodox therapist, and the boy becomes a member of the doctor's own strange, extended family.

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Running With Scissors

Running With Scissors

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Critics Consensus

Despite a few great performances, the film lacks the sincerity and emotional edge of Burroughs' well-loved memoir.

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Critics Reviews

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Will Lawrence Empire Magazine 01/29/2007
2/5
Well-acted by the superb ensemble cast but there just isn't a likeable character amongst them to care about. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper 10/31/2006
In the real world, mental illness is a serious problem. In this film, it gives everyone a license to run around like characters in a Lewis Carroll story -- all of it set to predictable pop hits from the 1970s. Go to Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle 10/30/2006
2/5
Murphy's take on Burroughs' hellish childhood is tonally fractured, unleavened with black-as-pitch gallows yuks and -- very nearly its saving grace - a series of performances that pitch and yaw between 'normal' and utterly mad. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/21/2020
4/10
A few hysterical moments can't compensate for the prolonged weirdness that blankets the picture. Go to Full Review Paul Constant The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 03/01/2018
This movie doesn't work because an honest adaptation of Running with Scissors can't work. Without Burroughs's narration, we're left with a Tobe Hooper horror film. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 08/28/2009
Strictly for the Anderson-Baumbach crowd of privileged idiots Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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prawnda s @RT72497680 Oct 5 i think this is ryan murphy's most notable work just via name recognition, but its as cruddy and disrespectful to his audience's time and intelligence as anything else the man has made. See more Julian S. @akajulianscott Sep 23 The book is wilder and more complete, but the film has Bening—and that alone makes it worth watching. See more Randall V @RT43136474 Sep 1 I haven't read the book "Running With Scissors," but this kind of subject matter requires three-dimensional characters. I couldn't even care about the kid, let alone anyone else. Everyone's flat, just a caricature. And one thing that does is make no one accountable for their actions--the psychiatrist is an execrable man engaging in abuse of everyone he encounters. You don't just tell someone to kill themselves in a movie as a throwaway line. But it just comes off as another quirk of some eccentric character. Not! I watched this with someone who had gone through similar types of emotional abuse, and he was beside himself. And that was well before the way-too-long two-hour running time. See more Ed . @RT01276001 Aug 29 Looking for Attention Prime example of a film that starts out 'interesting' and then wears thin and wears my patience. The string of weird scenes for the sake of being weird unravels well before the film's end. In my opinion, its author courts drama and invents it when it serves his purposes. Even his name change demonstrates this. Having said all this, I give him much credit for overcoming his additions and staying sober. He has talents that others enjoy. C'est la vie! YMMV. See more LeVeta S @RT45389340 May 3 My daughter and I loved it. What a crazy childhood. See more Jen S @RT17621316 04/10/2025 So depressing to watch See more Read all reviews
Running With Scissors

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Cast & Crew

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Ryan Murphy

Director

Annette Bening

Deirdre Burroughs

Gwyneth Paltrow

Hope

Brian Cox

Dr. Finch

Jill Clayburgh

Agnes Finch

Joseph Fiennes

Neil Bookman

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Running With Scissors

Running With Scissors (2006) A scene from the film "Running With Scissors." On the set of the film "Running With Scissors." A scene from the film "Running With Scissors." A scene from the film "Running With Scissors." A scene from the film "Running With Scissors." A scene from the film "Running With Scissors." A scene from the film "Running With Scissors." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis As the son of an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother, young Augusten Burroughs faces a challenging childhood at the very least. His life takes an unexpected turn when his mother gives him to her unorthodox therapist, and the boy becomes a member of the doctor's own strange, extended family.
Director
Ryan Murphy
Producer
Brad Grey, Ryan Murphy, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner
Screenwriter
Ryan Murphy
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Plan B Films
Rating
R (Strong Language|Sexuality|Substance Abuse|Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 14, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.8M
Runtime
2h 0m
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