Being John Malkovich poster
Review

Being John Malkovich 1999

Directed by Spike Jonze · 113 mins · 1,897 views

4.2 Letterboxd 4.07(547,165)
Ratings S O N R M T K K T S

Synopsis

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.

Trailers

Reviews (71)

  1. S
    Sameer S 8 月 23, 2026

    What in the Charlie Kaufman was that?

  2. O
    oleff 8 月 22, 2026

    isn’t it fun when you watch something and you’re like “oh yeah creativity doesn’t have to have defined borders, the human mind can come up with anything”

    2,975 4
  3. N
    Nick 8 月 22, 2026

    John Malkovich reading this script and agreeing to go all in on it is the definition of king shit

    10,574 6
  4. R
    rach 8 月 22, 2026

    what actually posesses someone to sit down and write a film like this? i have no words

    4,806 2
  5. M
    Mikael Stånggren 8 月 22, 2026

    Love how John Malkovich, in the midst of losing his marbles and getting ready for the loony bin, turns to Charlie Sheen for advice. That right there is when the film transcends from great, bizarre fun to a surrealistic masterpiece.

    3,959 8
  6. T
    Thomas Flight 8 月 22, 2026

    Greatest Brad Pitt cameo of all time.

    2,498 2
  7. K
    kayla 8 月 22, 2026

    Imagine how bad their house smelled with all those animals running around ew dude

    1,932 9
  8. K
    Karsten 8 月 22, 2026

    Hate films like this because they’re so good I usually just don’t know where to begin when I have to write about them. It’s one of those that takes full advantage of the creative freedom that comes with filmmaking and reminds me why I love this art form so much. Not a horror film but the existential anxiety that this comes with is enough for me to qualify it as a spooky watch for Halloween this year.

    5,730 9
  9. T
    Than Tibbetts 8 月 22, 2026

    Malkovich. Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich, Malkovich. Malkovich? Malkovich, Malkovich Malkovich. Malkovich! Malkovich? Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich. Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich… Malkovich. Malkovich Malkovich, Malkovich. Malkovich? Malkovich, Malkovich Malkovich. Malkovich!

    12,078 54
  10. S
    sophie 8 月 22, 2026

    you know you’re fucked when you ask charlie sheen for advice

    5,068 5
  11. 🌻
    🌻 lindsay 🌻 8 月 22, 2026

    i cannot imagine writing this and then having to approach john malkovich with this idea….

    4,142 2
  12. J
    James (Schaffrillas) 8 月 22, 2026

    Honestly fuck Maxine, Lotte deserves so much better

    5,176 20
  13. C
    Collin Taylor 8 月 22, 2026

    Oh my god, they even give the chimp a character arc.

    7,037 11
  14. J
    Jaisurya 8 月 22, 2026

    Being John Malkovich is Hard

  15. E
    ezgi 8 月 22, 2026

    who tf came up with this idea

  16. T
    Tom Galea 8 月 22, 2026

    This movie was actually so crazy and confusing. But to be fair it was actually pretty good. I rate it

  17. L
    Limpy Bill 8 月 22, 2026

    As funny and sad as any film I’ve ever seen, still and always. I love this movie and I can’t begin to explain how much, or why.

    1
  18. N
    nat 8 月 22, 2026

    what the fuck is going on. the ending ?….?……?….. wth

    1
  19. G
    Gigi 8 月 22, 2026

    I love that when you look up this movie one of the first google queries is “is Being John Malkovich a true story” Lololol Love anything Charlie Kaufman touches but this is my fave thing he ever did

  20. E
    Ethie 8 月 22, 2026

    Why don’t more people talk about this movie. Are there any other movies like this where an actor plays themselves in a unique way that isn’t propaganda or a cash grab?

  21. C
    ChemicalGuns 8 月 22, 2026

    What a very long and twisted way to discover lesbian IVF

    2
  22. M
    majkacool 8 月 22, 2026

    K R E A T I V I T E T AT ITS FINEST

  23. E
    elle 8 月 22, 2026

    Malkovitch! Malkovitch? Malkovitch.

  24. P
    Paavo Puhakka 8 月 22, 2026

    How did they get John Malkovich to agree to do this. Truly 1 of 1.

  25. S
    sex dwarf 8 月 22, 2026

    ну я не понимаю как можно просто украсть идею и снять фильм по номеру уральских пельменей тимбилдинг на стульях

    8 4
  26. B
    boxxytee 8 月 22, 2026

    Saturday morning wake and bake movie

  27. J
    jonajawm 8 月 22, 2026

    E BAH เริ่ดมาก

  28. F
    freechurro64 8 月 22, 2026

    Lmao imagine explaining this movie to people who have never heard of it before

  29. S
    Safyre 8 月 22, 2026

    out of all crazy things in this movie the most fuck up thing is charli Sheen balding cap

    5
  30. Y
    Youssef Moataz 8 月 22, 2026

    I dont know what to say or think about this movie. ts is genuinely so batshit crazy I cant form an opinion on it. I cant believe john malkovich actually read this script and agreed to do it.

  31. P
    PSP 8 月 22, 2026

    henry cavillin portalı bulan dm

  32. T
    Tanya 8 月 22, 2026

    very very existential and essentially an identity crisis! absurd stuff!! phenomenal acting, didn’t recognise cameron diaz for a second!! very very detailed!!

  33. I
    Ianzedillo23 8 月 22, 2026

    ¿Quieres ser John Malkovich? nos presenta a Craig Schwartz, un titiritero callejero obsesionado con su trabajo, muy frustrado, manipulador e insatisfecho con su vida y su matrimonio. ​El objetivo principal de Craig es sentirse deseado, admirado y lograr el éxito profesional controlando la mente y el cuerpo de John Malkovich, buscando escapar de su propia vida vacía. ​Sin embargo, al intentar lograr esto, se enfrenta a un problema con él mismo y con la gente que lo rodea: Craig no…

  34. J
    Jared 8 月 22, 2026

    NEED Spike Jonze to be back directing on a movie set right now! One of the most impressive directing debuts I’ve ever seen. A pitch perfect script and good performances made this such a joy to watch. While watching, I just wanted to know so much more about the making of this movie, and it’s such a crazy, bold idea that shouldn’t work as well as it does. Without a doubt, one of the best dark comedies ever made. A

  35. Y
    ylena 8 月 22, 2026

    i’m single. i’m aging. i have adult acne. i have nothing of value to say this week. i’m getting into car seat headrest a decade late. i jerk off once a day about nothing good. i generate insipid discourse. i have zero muscle mass, so my stomach folds on itself when i sit down. i have lunch-lady upper arms. i eat the same thing every day. i dress like shit. i have no furniture in my apartment. but i’m still famous.

    2
  36. N
    ninoblu 8 月 22, 2026

    i’m afraid i have no idea what you’re saying to me.

  37. U
    usmanbalanafilm 8 月 22, 2026

    Awesome movie damn good

    2
  38. I
    ila_dc 8 月 22, 2026

    mi ha fatto pariare un sacco

  39. G
    gio5476 8 月 22, 2026

    I dont even know

  40. G
    Golden_Apple 8 月 21, 2026

    vad lázas álom

  41. S
    SpencerNeale 8 月 21, 2026

    Incredible funny and unbelievably poignant about new tech and fractured authenticity. I had forgotten how funny it is. Laughed out loud throughout. A masterpiece of cinema and philosophy.

  42. E
    emily 8 月 21, 2026

    lester is my cats name

  43. F
    femlense 8 月 21, 2026

    This movie does a great job of putting the wild idea of past lives and the human vessel into perspective without making it seem too intense or intimidating. I have lots to say, but for the sake of this account, we’ll get into the feminist lens. As always, I try to fit a lot into this review, but the truth is I cannot say it all. If you are new to feminism, I highly suggest starting with some reading of…

  44. B
    bananaboatbutt 8 月 21, 2026

    Bizarre yet hilarious metaphysical comedy about identity, control, celebrity and the very nature of being as imagined by acclaimed screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, brought to life by the excellent Spike Jonze. John Cusack plays Craig, a pathetic puppeteer who takes a job at the Kafkaesque Lestercorp, where he meets Maxine (Catherine Keener), the woman of his dreams, and discovers a portal into the mind of John Malkovich, playing himself. The film is caustically funny and thrillingly alive as we watch these…

  45. L
    Lyric 8 月 21, 2026

    I bet JM was hyped after reading the script. Play yourself but also play yourself being played by others. Crazy concept that would be a blast to act out.

  46. S
    Shayd 🌱🎱 8 月 21, 2026

    Freak shit

  47. D
    dean2team 8 月 21, 2026

    Shout out Elijah da Chimp, hope he gets the right therapy to try and understand what the hell is going on

    2
  48. F
    Fredericco Montenegro 8 月 21, 2026

    Eu não consigo não associar esse filme à ConAir, ConAir tem os dois atores Johns do filme, o Malkovich e o Cusack(Inclusive os personagens dos dois nesse filme parecem fazer um 180 entre as personalidades dos personagens deles em ConAir). Enfim, esse é definitivamente o meu tipo de filme, esquisito, meio nojento, premissa bizarra e com um humor meio duvidoso.

  49. C
    conormp4 8 月 21, 2026

    There is only one gender, and it’s Malkovich

  50. P
    partyuberfor1 8 月 21, 2026

    i wonder if i, too, would have an existential revelation after being john malkovich for 15 minutes

    1
  51. M
    Marikaxx 8 月 21, 2026

    spike jonze to niemożliwie kreatywny gość

  52. S
    sugaringyoki 8 月 21, 2026

    John Malkovich

  53. A
    Andy Muejejeje 8 月 21, 2026

    Creo que lo mejor de esta película es que no sé quien es John Malkovich

  54. B
    BOSS 8 月 21, 2026

    Wow. An insanely well executed extremely strange concept. Hilarious with the right amount of transexual and lesbian psychosexual horror and filmed so down to earth (and in so many cool ways) that it goes beyond a film and more like something “lived in”. Can’t stand how pathetic the main guy is though. The puppet work is genuinely beautiful, and the puppeteering theme coming back full circle coupled with John Malkovich’s actual overall performance is nuts. So good. Shout out to Lester even. Definitely a rare worthy of rewatch film for me. Talk about a fever dream!

    1
  55. B
    Brody Brody 8 月 21, 2026

    We are John Malkovich. We carry the flame.

    2
  56. L
    Lara Von 8 月 21, 2026

    I watched this after Titane, and all I was saying is this is more fucked up than Titane.

  57. N
    NoobMaster505 8 月 21, 2026

    Craig doesn’t have the right to be that good looking 🫩 The monkeys flashbacks killed me

  58. N
    n1ck_3513 8 月 21, 2026

    Tackles the concept of escapism so well through an incredibly surreal lens that keeps getting weirder and weirder as the story evolves. It feels like the concepts aren’t revealed to us all at once, instead it feels as though pulling on a thread that unravels into something completely unexpected. Really appreciate the Malkovich performance, and how seemingly eager he was to embrace his role as the butt of the joke at times.

  59. R
    rennnies 8 月 21, 2026

    it’s like woa is this the best movie ever and then it’s like oh hello charlie sheen :/

  60. H
    HEF5 8 月 21, 2026

    Makes so much sense Charlie Kaufman wrote this

  61. S
    sierra2cute 8 月 21, 2026

    honestly no plot but a crazy story with MANY things happening, oh John Malkovich

  62. D
    dogesoswag 8 月 21, 2026

    the björk song at the end really tied it all together

  63. M
    MartaMcGuill 8 月 19, 2026

    It was definitely fun, inventive (if not a bit too quirky) and it took full advantage of its premise. Imagine being so unfulfilled with your life that your dream is to become John Malkovich. With what happened to the poor man in the movie, I’d hate to be in his place. The satire of Hollywood’s actors was the strongest comedic part. Moreover, big congrats to Malkovich. He WAS John Cusack.

    1
  64. B
    Bene 8 月 19, 2026

    I think the monkey part is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a movie. I much prefer this approach to storytelling by Charlie Kaufman than the bleak, nihilistic stuff he seems to gravitate towards in his latter work.

  65. R
    rodrigo nascimento 8 月 16, 2026

    prefiro pagar terapia do que virar john malkovich

  66. C
    caparasi 8 月 10, 2026

    film ciudat in care toate persoanejele sunt superficiale

  67. M
    mpus🧏🏻‍♀️ 8 月 7, 2026

    great movie, terrible portal

  68. S
    seankim97 8 月 3, 2026

    Hilarious at times but could have leaned into the philosophical implications a bit more, puppetry is inherently funny though

  69. A
    AURHO 7 月 9, 2026

    credo sia uno dei film migliori mai creati, è tutto così randomico e perfetto

  70. T
    Tommi_Salami 5 月 20, 2026

    I wonder how many chimp flashback sequences there are in cinematic history. I’m just disappointed they never let the chimp be John Malkovich. Missed opportunity.

  71. V
    Vantom 2 月 12, 2018

    一部我是谁我在哪的片子,意识形态上的东西都很悬,怎么说都成立,“我”是指我的灵魂还是肉体?所谓灵魂操纵肉体又如何证明灵魂和肉体是同一个人? “我”究竟是什么?(马尔科维奇究竟做错了什么你们要这么对待他!

Write a Review

My rating

J John Cusack Craig Schwartz
C Cameron Diaz Lotte Schwartz
J John Malkovich John Horatio Malkovich
C Catherine Keener Maxine Lund
O Orson Bean Dr. Lester
M Mary Kay Place Floris
W W. Earl Brown First J.M. Inc. Customer
C Carlos Jacott Larry the Agent
W Willie Garson Guy in Restaurant
B Byrne Piven Captain Mertin
G Gregory Sporleder Drunk at Bar
C Charlie Sheen Charlie
R Reggie Hayes Don
K K.K. Dodds Wendy
J Judith Wetzell Tiny Woman
O Octavia Spencer Woman in Elevator
N Ned Bellamy Derek Mantini
E Eric Weinstein Father at Puppet Show
M Madison Lanc Daughter at Puppet Show
K Kevin Carroll Cab Driver
Director Spike Jonze
Writer Charlie Kaufman
Producer Sandy Stern, Michael Stipe, Vincent Landay, Steve Golin
Executive Producer Michael Kuhn, Charlie Kaufman
Editor Eric Zumbrunnen
Original Music Carter Burwell
Sound Richard L. Anderson, Joseph A. Brennan, Gary Gegan, Ren Klyce, Elliott Koretz, B.J. Lehn, Matthew Iadarola, Nick Peck, Marvin Walowitz, Malcolm Fife, David Abrahamsen
Special Effects Jason Barnett, John E. Gray, Ryan Arndt, John Ziegler
Stunts Alexa Sheehan, Dan Bradley, Eric Chambers, Cris Thomas-Palomino, Bob Elmore, Jani D. Davis, Ray Lykins, Bobby Ore, Scott Rogers, Grant Mathis, Lee Waddell
Art Direction Peter Andrus
Casting Justine Arteta, Kim Davis-Wagner
Synopsis
One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body.
Director
Spike Jonze
Writer
Charlie Kaufman
Studio
Propaganda Films, Single Cell Pictures, Gramercy Pictures
Country
USA
Language
English, French
Year
1999
Runtime
113 mins

View all genres »

  • Italy02 Sep 1999
  • USA01 Oct 1999
  • USA29 Oct 1999
  • USA03 Dec 1999
  • France08 Dec 1999
  • Finland03 Mar 2000
  • Mexico10 Mar 2000
  • UK17 Mar 2000
  • Netherlands30 Mar 2000
  • Czechia13 Apr 2000
  • Germany04 May 2000
  • South Korea13 May 2000
  • Portugal10 Nov 2000
  • Hungary23 Mar 2000
  • Poland07 Apr 2000
  • Japan23 Sep 2000
  • Belgium29 Oct 1999
  • USA02 May 2000
  • Netherlands29 Sep 2011
  • Netherlands26 Sep 2012
  • Netherlands07 Mar 2003