Synopsis
Trailers
Reviews (172)
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M
So this is what would’ve happened to Chris Mccandless if he didn’t go into the wild.
37 -
K
I probably liked this movie a little more than it was just because it had Sigourney Weaver in it. She delivers a great performance here. She’s funny but also heartbreaking. I also really like Emilie Hirsch and his work in this was also strong. The plot was nothing spectacular. I’ve seen a lot of movies like this. It even feels a bit like a movie you’d see being shown at midday on TV. Still, I enjoyed the feel of it and got some Sigourney which is never a bad thing.
83 -
E
Absolut inget speciellt men en tillräckligt bra och en jäkligt sorglig film. Jag vet helt ärligt inte hur jag hade reagerat om något sånt här hade hänt på riktigt. En bra rollista har den också. Men inte så mycket mer, känner inte att detta är en film jag behöver se igen direkt.
8 -
B
So he got to third base with his half-brother, right? Because that very important fact goes completely unacknowledged by everyone in the film.
23 -
B
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B
This movie hits a weird tone, like writer/director Dan Harris tried to merge Ordinary People with American Beauty. It ends up shallower than the former and less funny than the latter. There’s an extraordinary dark and brittle bond between mother and son. They’re played by Sigourney Weaver and Emile Hirsch who are so well within their wheelhouses that there’s no surprise when either nails an emotional beat. And the beats themselves get rushed as the cluttered script skips to one after another. Nothing gets breathing room. Harris so neglects Jeff Daniels’ character in the first two acts that his third-act turn is practically a deus ex machina. The two biggest revelations get held until so late in the movie (one…
13 -
C
Sigourney, blunt in one hand, cigarette in the other, taking turns pulling drags from each, will always be peak cinema.
46 -
M
I still cannot believe that this movie doesn’t have a bigger reputation than it actually does, it’s so good. It’s been tucked away in my DVD collection for years and came across it the other day when I was stuck in a mode of nostalgia, so I decided to chuck it on. I knew I liked it but I totally did not remember liking it this much. It takes a lot to make me laugh out loud, but there was at least ten lines of dialogue that cracked me up and the rest mostly just kept a smile on my dial. It’s funny, because it’s actually a story about suicide and grief which isn’t funny at all, but the cast…
62 1 -
C
I watched this when i was 11 and i was SHOOK, and also in love with emile hirsch to the point where i saw (and pretended i liked) “twice born” Also, are we going to act like that kiss between tim and kyle wasn’t incestuous?
8 1 -
A
Solid acting but not much more than that the movie is just average and slow lifted by some good performances
10 -
C
Rewatch als DVD | SD | Sony Pictures | Aus meiner Filmsammlung Die Familie Travis ist nach dem Suizid ihres ältesten Sohnes zerrüttet. Mutter Sandy (Sigourney Weaver) hat sich in Zynismus geflüchtet, während Vater Ben (Jeff Daniels) sich von der Familie entfremdet hat. Tochter Penny (Michelle Williams) ist ausgezogen und Sohn Tim (Emile Hirsch) ist als das „schwarze Schaf“ gebrandmarkt. Imaginary Heroes (2004) ist das Regie-Debüt von Dan Harris, der zuvor für Regisseur Bryan Singer ausgesucht wurde, um das Drehbuch für dessen X-Men 2 (2003) zu verfassen. Der Film geht dabei der Frage nach, wie sehr wir an vermeintlichen Bildern unserer Vorbilder hängen ohne dabei uns selbst zu sehen. Das kleine Familien-Melodrama wird von einem fantastischen Cast getragen, allen voran Emile Hirsch…
15 -
B
Working my way through the Michelle Williams filmography I was super excited to get to this one as it also stars another one of my favourite actresses, Sigourney Weaver. Sigourney is one of the most underrated actresses ever, she’s got the crown of the “queen of sci-fi” and all that jazz, but I personally love her comedy and drama work so much more. She’s very good in this, it’s basically just a stock standard family drama about a family coming to terms with the death of the eldest son, but it’s elevated to something better because of Sigourney’s performance. She’s at times very funny and then at times really touching, she’s one of those performers that can just do it…
17 -
K
Der er sådan ingen man hepper på, virkelig dårligt plot og slutningen var dybt forvirrende og slet ikke tilfredsstillende
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E
This could’ve been a really good movie but it just wasn’t that well done. Never have I been so confused on how characters are connected to each other. Also them throwing that plot twist in at the end was insane omg wow just a little incest and domestic violence plot twist to really liven things up And the husband telling his wife who is the most gracefully aged women I’ve ever seen to get plastic surgery to “look 10 years…
1 -
H
Imaginary Heroes is a family drama that examines the aftermath of a tragedy within a seemingly ordinary household. As hidden tensions begin to surface, the film explores grief, guilt, emotional isolation, and the difficulty of connecting with those closest to us. One of the film’s greatest strengths is its ensemble cast, which brings authenticity to the family’s struggles and emotional conflicts. The story carefully observes how each character attempts to cope with loss in different ways, revealing both their vulnerabilities…
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1
I could’ve gotten through this a week ago but she didn’t die and seeing this hardly recovered from what happened brought me all the memories and emotions i felt and saw back. It’s hard to live as and with a suicidal person, i hate my family and their genetics the reason why i gave it 5 stars it’s just personal reasons
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D
Очевидний ґей-поворот перетворився на раптовий інцест-поворот.
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Mmars hammy 5 月 30, 2026
Hay incesto en esta pelicula y nadie en las reviews esta hablando de eso okay
1 -
S
This is one of those hidden gems that I wish everyone has seen. It’s powerful and moving. Sigourney Weaver is wonderful in this. Jeff Daniels a legend. Emile Hirsch is great. If you want to watch a movie that makes you think about life and the meaning of it, I suggest you watch this film.
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S
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H
Странно, но актёрскую игру в этом кино я увидел лишь у сына, он хоть как-то передаёт ту пустоту, что обитает в голове после подобных событий. Хоть каждый из семьи и переживает “потерю” по разному, но всё же странно видеть как они забивают друг на друга и пытаются веселиться. Может у нас менталитет разный с ними… Как драма фильм немного сумбурный. Честно говоря, я хотел приравнять фильм к мусорным, но финальные сцены и открытия нам новой информации о семье изменило моё мнение. Хотя оценка всё же не поднялась выше середины.
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I
“Look at the stars. Same stars as last week. Last year. When we were kids. When we weren’t even born. In a hundred years, no one will ever know who we were… They’ll know those same stars.” Imaginary Heroes seems to be critically overlooked and perhaps considered a hidden gem. Though I share somewhat with this assessment, I believe that the film lacked enhancing the alluring resonance of Sigourney Weaver’s character, as she combats the inner turmoil of losing her…
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C
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A
the gasp i let out after seeing this had above a 2.5 star average was heard from 3 suburbs away
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ᵂ
Yeah, no. Left me scratching my head in more ways than one. Bizarre tone. Horrible score, took me out of many scenes and a lot of them are poorly staged anyway. Strange performances, some scenes with Weaver and Hirsch were okay but get sabotaged by the worst choices imaginable. Love Daniels to death but wow he’s awful here, can’t blame my man though as his character made no sense. The Sister character comes in and out of the story so haphazardly…
2 -
O
I really liked this one. A lot. I’m more sure what to do with the storyline of one step brother being an abusive bully and the other step brother being one he falls in love with (ish, maybe not love). I do think I like how they all comeback together in the end ❤️
1 -
T
:college girls are the bomb ::you’re tellin’ me :oh , are you? :: tonight i am
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J
Heavily dysfunctional family goes through a tragedy and doesn’t talk to each other about it. They just deal with it in their own ways and it’s really uncomfortable to watch. It’s a great cast that holds it together. Overall very average BUT it was definitely enjoyable in the sense that it’s refreshing to see a bunch of bad people trying to make everything okay again.
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G
The other woman throwing kiwis at sigourney weaver to wake her up from her dope induced slumber on the front lawn gave me LIFE
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H
Got dunked on at release, then quietly slipped into the dustbin of cinema history. I loved it in the mid-2000s and still do: superb acting, well judged soapy elements, and a great soundtrack. It feels like it was living in the shadow of American Beauty but with far more warmth and humour.
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B
slept on. Disagree with most of the negative reviews. It did seem like it was meant to be an exploration of each family member’s individual experiences after a brother/son commits suicide, but it ended up a bit sloppy in that it almost ignored some characters altogether until the last minute (see Michelle Williams). I think it was an incredible take on unique family dynamics, albeit some unnecessary, and unfortunately middle class suburbia. Some great performances and some truly heart wrenching moments. Better than people give it credit for.
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N
i was deleting some of my notes when i found the name of this movie in one. it was recommended to me by someone i met at the airport as i was going home. i was left alone with my thoughts for a moment, so naturally i started crying lol. he approached me, we chatted a bit, then began to talk about grief and how hard losing a loved one is, and that’s how he suggested this movie to me.
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E
bring back those movies!! i said immediately!!
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L
Engaging family drama with a visceral resolution.
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A
Really enjoyed this.
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W
How have I not heard of this movie before.
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R
Feels like the sister of Ordinary People where the roles of the parents get reversed but there’s a happy ending instead
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M
a lot funnier than you’d expect. 2004 faves 2000s faves Blurays & DVDs I own dark comedy faves faves from Sony Pictures Classics
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V
This movie its like without identity . It tries to be serious but it’s not as dramatic as i wanted . I wanted more tension like the final father son scene which was amazing . I wanted more like this . It’s good as it is but it’s a shame because it could be much better
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B
This movie means so much to me. It impacted my youth deeply. I loved the quiet subtle sibling relationship between Penny and Tim. I ended up getting “if you listen closely you can hear it breaking” tattooed in 2009 next to my heart. I rewatched it for the first time in over a decade and though it’s not a perfect movie, it will forever move me.
1 -
B
Sigourney Weaver facing an entire blunt while simultaneously smoking a cig
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L
*só os mais tristes on*
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E
i spent half the movie thinking tim was played by jack black/ his son
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H
i don’t know what happened i was too busy looking at sigourney weaver
1 -
L
Someone teach Sigourney how to smoke a joint oh my god. Also really weird implications over what happened between Tim and Kyle after the reveal near the end. Like what do you mean by that. My opinions of this movie are so all-over-the-place. Like I was thoroughly enjoying this movie until that bit. Which I do like the conversation between Tim and Ben afterwards, but it leaves me so many questions about Tim’s relationship with Kyle. Does Kyle know?? The…
2 -
S
I didn’t love it, but I couldn’t stop watching. It feels quiet, strange, a bit empty in places — and somehow that emptiness makes sense. Everyone avoids the truth, hides behind jokes, and keeps hurting each other without meaning to. Nothing gets solved, nothing feels clean. Not dramatic, not comforting, just… human. “Imaginary Heroes” — nobody’s really a hero, everyone’s just faking it. It felt unfinished in a way that actually worked.
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J
The tagline – “People are never who they seem to be.” – as it applies to various characters of the film. Matt: This is obvious. He seems to be an accomplished, handsome athlete who is seen as a hero by everyone around him. In fact he is a troubled circa 20 year-old who is pressured by his father and bullies his younger (half-) brother. Frankly I think there are some indications that he is struggling with his sexuality, which (as…
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E
ENGLISH Coming-of-age story about a 17-year-old who finds his brother dead in his room when he’s supposed to wake him up. Accompanied by his mother (Sigourney Weaver, her talent completely wasted). At the same time, it’s also a film about coping with grief. Each of the three remaining family members deals with the loss differently. Drugs play a role. There’s nothing wrong with the movi itself; it’s well-made, without Hollywood kitsch, calmly directed, with believable characters and a compelling story.…
7 -
S
to think that i was gonna turn this movie off 5 minutes in… very speechless right now
2 -
M
two things happen when you meet your heroes. either they’re assholes or they’re just like you are. either way you always lose
2 -
A
this movie tug on my heart strings so bad. and on a sad note it was highly relatable. the different struggles that each family member faced with the loss of matt made this movie so much deeper and more realistic. i loved Sigourney weaver in this movie and how she made a safe place for her children especially Tim. I also liked the moments when her and Tim would bond over dumb stuff, because of that i rate this movie 5/5; it’s a great way to start of my 2026 catalog of movies watched.
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P
это кино не про смерть, а про то, как трудно признать отсутствие и всё-таки продолжить жить, не стирая память о тех, кто ушёл -he’s still part of this family. -the truth is you won’t understand how good for you I am until I’m dead.
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I
One of my favorite movies from my teenage years. It’s amazing for all the right and wrong reasons, all the absurdities that makes us humans, the love and confusion of our youth, and for the angst behind the comedy. This must be my third time watching it, and I still love it the same. So relatable.
2 -
BBrandon Hall 12 月 20, 2025
In this ‘mixture of poignant drama and quirky humor…delivered by a superb cast’ (Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune), the Travis family experiences a stunning tragedy which begins to unravel them. Teenaged son Tim (Emile Hirsch, The Girl Next Door) views his life as a bad dream. His father, Ben (Jeff Daniels- Terms of Endearment, The Hours), tunes out and treats his wife and children like strangers. His mother, Sandy (Oscar-nominee Sigourney Weaver 1986, Best Actress, Aliens) sharpens her tongue with sarcasm…
1 -
K
This film was surprisingly really amazing!! It’s super underrated and Sigourney Weaver’s acting was so good.
1 -
Mmel 12 月 13, 2025
they really don’t make movies like this anymore. the 2000s were so good where did we go wrong
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N
um dos poucos filmes dramáticos que já vi que não é completamente chato e nem te guia somente pelo que vai acontecer no final, mas te guia pra entender o que tá acontecendo *agora*. este filme tem muito a oferecer, tanto pelas performances quanto pela história, mensagem por trás dela e desenvolvimento. queria que fosse mais conhecido
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F
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S
There is a scene in this film wherein Tim’s neighbour/half-brother/possible lover says something along the lines of “the stars live forever and the sky stays unchanged while we die out and will be forgotten”. Not only is it a poor analogy that faults under the least bit of scrutiny, much like the rest of the film’s pretentious messaging on suicide, but it also gives off the impression that Dan Harris saw the beautifully poignant “Tears in Rain” monologue from Blade Runner and thought “What if I just stole that and made it worse in every possible way?”.
2 2 -
N
Life is complex
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H
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C
How not to handle your emotion There is a reveal in this movie that makes one scene fucking weird and it’s never addressed so I’m docking a 1/2 star
3 -
JJordan 11 月 10, 2025
so please explain why half way through the film it was randomly revealed that the main character unknowingly engaged in incest and it was just not mentioned again???
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Y
Fucked up in a good way
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K
An offbeat and affecting little dysfunctional-family drama. The last act is messy, though. *Choices* were made. I still appreciated the film’s quirky, serious-but-not-too-serious tone and great performances by Sigourney Weaver and Emile Hersch. It tries to ride the ORDINARY PEOPLE/AMERICAN BEAUTY vibe train even though things kind of go off track. Bonus queer subplot and a drag cabaret number.
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E
A suburban family deals with the loss of their gifted son, in an update of Ordinary People. It captures the post 9/11 miasma of the suburbs, the party scenes feel especially anemic especially when compared to the 80s. A genuine downer, but worth seeking out as a state of the nation, mid-2000s fable.
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Aauroragoj 9 月 15, 2025
a freaked out Ordinary People where everyone dresses way uglier and is generally more unpleasant to look at. and that was not a normal plot twist and u can’t just brush over that thanks
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J
sigourney weaver smoking cigarettes always makes me cighorny, but seeing her take alternating puffs between the cigarette in her left hand and the blunt in her right hand was somehow 420 times better
6 -
J
Contrived poignancy abounds in a display of empty hipster copyism. Riding the coattails of the early 2000s 70s revival it sets it sights on updating Ordinary People, but while Redford’s film is inert, indeterminate, delicate and intimating – as befits a film about secrets and pain, repression and memory – IM is quite the opposite. The pale-by-comparison effect is worsened by the inclusion of Weaver who stars in the similarly throw-back but infinitely superior The Ice Storm. Harris is a brilliant screenwriter, responsible for the greatest superhero film of the century, but this is hollow. Sundance syndrome at its most soulless.
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C
bring back the early 00’s indies I haven’t seen this movie in 20 years but right on cue I said “you’ll cook the food, and you’ll shut the fuck up”. didn’t know it was buried in me.
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L
I find it hard to believe that this movie came out in 2004. It looks like something from the 80s or 90s, but alas, it has Michelle Williams in it, so that tracks, I guess.
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J
For some reason this is probably the film I’ve seen the most. In the top five at least. I put it on during my first year of university, having recalled watching it a few years before that. The scene which stood out in my mind the most, and which still does, is when Tim and Kyle kiss. That’s what probably makes me come back to it more than anything, that whole subplot that never really gets resolved. Is Tim and/or…
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R
nothing outstanding that i’ve seen in films before but a good enough blockbuster that i’d watch it again.
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M
bel film, se si tralasciano i colpi di scena à la beautiful tra cui uno in particolare (?????). michelle williams tvb
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B
“¿Qué voy a hacer por el resto de mi vida? De repente, todo importa.” . “En miles de años nadie se va a acordar de nosotros. Sólo esas estrellas que están ahí arriba.” . “Personalmente, odié la secundaria.” La amé.
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A
Good characters. I liked the ending. It made the movie make more sense.
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J
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J
Dang. Fucked up ass family. wtf. Ecstasy do make you be gay with your homies tho. Valedictorian girl from old school was once again my favorite character lol. 👨🏻🎓
1 -
N
man i love sigourney weaver. the movie was fine ig
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M
Sigourney Weaver, the woman that you are ! Prayers for Bobby 2
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W
they all found solace in each other… that’s what separates this from american beauty
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M
A miserable, awful movie about miserable, awful, and incredibly dysfunctional people.
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M
kris deltarune ahh guy
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M
Sigourney Weaver y la vecina 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 Sigourney Oscar Snub🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Jeff Daniels deprimido 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 El hijo extra 🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾🦾 #SigourneyWeaver
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H
THEY’RE BROTHERS WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABT IT WTF
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E
great cast, never knew exactly where it was going. this is like a more modern ordinary people, i feel like they share similarities.
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M
Good cinematic vibe, came across it accidentally, plot could be evolved more but nice plot twist. Kinda left me a bit confused though because I didn’t really understand why Tim didn’t try to help his brother, however, I guess it’s to highlight how no one can save you (not even your own family). Also bit weird how Tim was the result of an affair and wasn’t actually related to his dad which meant that he accidentally kissed his half brother. But Tim was a likeable character and the acting was pretty good.
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G
Sigourney Weaver smoking a blunt and a cigarette at the same time then tripping over and falling asleep in her yard might be the best thing I’ve ever seen
2 -
M
Not even Ordinary People lookin ass. Ice Storm lookin ass, and who wants that? Angsty 15 year old me probably woulda eaten this up.
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L
Matt is a star swimmer, he kills himself. He leaves behind his brother Tim, sister Penny and his parents Sandy and Ben. They are all struggling privately and in their own way. They all need therapy, Sandy smokes blunts instead. It’s uncovered that Tim is actually the product of an affair Sandy had with her neighbor. Tim is best friends with the neighbor’s son Kyle. At one point the boys do ecstasy and kiss. I really don’t know why they…
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C
Jeff Daniels and Sigourney Weaver are a married couple dealing with what happens after their oldest sons suicide. Emile Hersch plays the youngest son who’s also dealing with those thoughts. The movie does a great job in showing how a family deals with such a tragedy. The acting is great and Sigourney is awesome in this.
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B
Not bad or anything, it definitely means well, but it just felt like it had potential to be more imo.. the pacing is slightly odd.. big fan of the cast.. Kip Pardue fans will be disappointed..
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A
Normally really connect with movies that got this “The Ice Storm” or “Wonder Boys” type of tone and themes, but this one doesn’t quite manage to hit the beats in the same way. It has an interesting way of revealing its story, but it doesn’t quite pull it off – it becomes a gimmick that overshines the human drama. And the human drama isn’t as powerful either, as the traumas in a way become too obvious and underscored, so i become indifferent to the characters experiences. But the cast is awesome, but not everyone hits their top level – but Sigourney Weaver nails it! 2000s, ranked
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Y
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E
Eu amo o elenco 💕 Eu tinha o DVD desse filme 🤣
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S
A little bit too close to Ordinary people and Sigourney is amazing
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I
This movie is drawn out, but Sigourney Weaver double fisting a blunt and a cigarette is something magical I didn’t know existed…
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B
Wait, I feel catharsis?
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Q
Film intenso e delicato. Molto bravi Hirsch e Weaver. Merita molta più visibilità.
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L
I don’t think it was the ecstasy girl
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L
underbara detaljer !! intetsägande helhet
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V
Scenes were written for this and scenes were filmed. I don’t think it had one cohesive moment to moment. It honestly feels like there was studio meddling or something of the sort because some scenes felt like they just ended abruptly. As we got to the end all I could of is…why?
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J
Jeff Daniels didn’t have much speaking parts until the latter part of the movie and yet he stole every scene he was in. Sigourney was great. Hirsch was always such a good actor and if his issues didn’t exist, he could have been even better. The biggest shame in this movie is that Michelle Williams didn’t get much screentime.
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Z
I was surprised by the end
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D
One of my favorite movies ever!
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J
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S
Must have watched this 50 times in high school. The whole movie is a core memory for me
1 -
N
No one is acknowledging how good this movie is at executing the different way people grieve and how genuinely sad this is, even if they were very dysfunctional
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L
This is the family that keeps on giving. One thing after another, awful secrets and awful people are revealed and just when you think it’s enough they serve you a new one and then another. It’s no Ordinary People, but it’s its own kind of animal. I can’t say it’s perfect but it constantly gave me stuff to digest, and that’s uncommon. One thing bothered me and I hate it for it. They couldn’t resist an American ending, not really…
3 -
S
when i was in middle school i saw the clip of emile hirsch kissing that boy and instantly put Imaginary Heroes on my first ever watchlist in my notes app. ended up getting it on dvd a couple of years ago at a local shop. finally watched it today ! i liked it a lot ! tonally a bit messy but i did laugh out loud at some parts and was quite moved at others. some of the reveals maybe…
2 -
L
Not a terrible drama. It has a fantastic hook as well as really great central performance from Sigourney Weaver going for it. But it does go on a bit too long and peters out by the end. It script is strange for modern times because of how dangerous and wild it makes weed in its world. Its for sure a product of its time because it just comes across as super silly in the way the characters talk about it. It also has multiple moments where the film really vilifies poor people.
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P
actually devastating, I thought the plot twist was very unnecessary and ruined Kyle and Tim’s whole dynamic instead of adding the depth I think they wanted to add.
2 -
_
This movies plot was nothing special but I still really enjoyed it. Really didn’t want it to be incest but whatever. It made me cry and the friend guy and Tim’s relationship was ruined I kinda wanted them together. Plot twist is insane. Loved it actually
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M
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M
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K
A solid black comedy drama that would’ve been a bit better had it been about 20 minutes shorter. The film doesn’t have a strong enough story to make it worthy of a nearly two-hour-long run time, even if I was pretty invested in the characters. Sigourney Weaver delivers an excellent performance, while Emile Hirsch, Jeff Daniels, and Michelle Williams are equally as good. A pretty good and somewhat underrated film that more people should check out.
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T
Some good performances and a great cast, but this film felt really messy and weird and like it was changed a lot in the editing room? It’s all over the place. Some odd musical choices and scenes that were cut off. There’s 11 minutes of deleted scenes and 2 audio commentaries on the dvd – maybe that will help explain it. Felt like it was trying to be Ordinary People but not even remotely in the same ballpark.
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C
Rewatch als DVD | SD | Sony Pictures | Aus meiner Filmsammlung Die Familie Travis ist nach dem Suizid ihres ältesten Sohnes zerrüttet. Mutter Sandy (Sigourney Weaver) hat sich in Zynismus geflüchtet, während Vater Ben (Jeff Daniels) sich von der Familie entfremdet hat. Tochter Penny (Michelle Williams) ist ausgezogen und Sohn Tim (Emile Hirsch) ist als das „schwarze Schaf“ gebrandmarkt. Imaginary Heroes (2004) ist das Regie-Debüt von Dan Harris, der zuvor für Regisseur Bryan Singer ausgesucht wurde, um das Drehbuch für dessen…
15 -
T
30 minutes in and i didn’t feel a need to finish. slow, weird, didn’t like any of the characters.
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R
After their college athlete son commits suicide, Sandy and Ben Travis re-evaluate their relationship. Their teenage son, Tim, offers some relief from the difficulties when Sandy starts smoking marijuana with him, though Ben feels excluded from their newfound friendship. When Tim realizes he is no longer attracted to his girlfriend, Steph, his interest in neighbor Kyle, takes on a whole new meaning. This is one of those movies that I watched randomly because it had Sigourney Weaver in it, so…
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C
Great actors… script that struggles to keep up.
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U
Well, in my humble opinion, critics and audiences totally missed the ball on this one! It’s been ages since I’ve seen a movie that so seamlessly melds the comic moments of tragedy with the pain often found in humor. With a couple glaring but not overly detrimental exceptions, both the dramatic and comic moments feel grounded in reality. I was reminded of THE ICE STORM, ORDINARY PEOPLE and MARVIN’S ROOM at times – although this one isn’t quite as good…
1 -
M
That’s a strong mother-son relationship. Michelle Williams is sooooo pretty. Ryan donowho stole the show.
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S
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C
This was a very good gem I found for $1 at F.Y.E. What a cast! Sigourney Weaver is the highlight. Jeff Daniel’s was also excellent, watching how he dealt with grief was very heartbreaking and very relatable. Seeing how the family as a whole and individually were affected by loss was very well done and quite powerful and even funny. Very surprised by the ending, it changed my perspective of the film in some ways for sure. A pretty gritty…
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CCleverName42069 1 月 3, 2025
A movie clearly made in the aftermath of American Beauty. Nice cast. Some parts work, others don’t. It’s fine, I guess.
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V
I forget that these same actors played Ripley,Harry and Christopher McCandless;especially a never better Sigourney Weaver.A thought provoking film which made me ponder about my own life.Christmas is approaching and I am stuck in a rut in a dead end low paying job,no personal life to speak of.Life sucks BIG TIME,hope it gets better
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A
Show me the life I deserved. The aftermath of suicide often becomes a distinct theme in family melodramas. These stories delve into personal trauma and grapple with the reasons behind such tragedies. Inevitably, a character will ponder, “Did I cause this?” Films like “Ordinary People” explore the reasons for departure, while “Imaginary Heroes” examines the reasons for staying. In “Imaginary Heroes,” Sigourney Weaver masterfully portrays the mother you never realized you needed. Following the suicide of one son, the narrative…
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M
Perhaps more of a three-star movie, but these types of films tend to Get Me and I view them more through an emotional lens rather than a technical one. Sigourney Weaver is so beautiful and wonderful and I love her immensely.
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D
Heartbreaking and depressing, with Emile outdoing himself as usual. I will never forget this movie.
3 -
G
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C
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A
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M
Explains everything you need to know about millennials and why we’re like this
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A
At one point Sigourney Weaver smokes a cigarette and a joint simultaniously, and I think that’s beautiful.
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J
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A
The family drama aspect of this film is honestly not bad — I like how it has this sort of edgy dark-humored bravado that slowly starts to slip — but I feel like it wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be. Like, it didn’t shake me at my core the way Ordinary People or The Ice Storm did. The acting is all around great, especially from Sigourney Weaver. Even Michelle Williams, who’s in the movie for like 3 minutes, is good with what she’s got.
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C
Without Sigourney Weaver this film wouldn’t be as entertaining as it tries to be. For such a tragic story, it wraps up hauntingly sweet.
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C
My favourite film when I was a teenager. Such tumblr teeny angst slightly coming of age but mainly just depression but edgy and extremely 00s. Sigourney Weaver is so fucking perfect in it. Realistically this is a 3.5 but for nostalgia n sentimental reasons it’s a 4. Watched on dvd
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R
жалею о потраченном времени
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WWhat's the Budget? 7 月 1, 2024
BUDGET: $10,000,000 / €9,326,192 BOX OFFICE (US) $228,767 BOX OFFICE (WW) $291,118
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R
My friend Brian and I watched Imaginary Heroes for the first and only other time just shy of 20 years ago when we were in our “early 20’s, post-Tarantino white guy film fan” phase and we LOVED it. Other films we were mildly obsessed with at the time were The Boondock Saints, American Psycho, Suicide Kings, etc. Imaginary Heroes doesn’t necessarily fit in with the rest of those, but it doesn’t not fit in with them. The film follows the…
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R
Why did I watch this on Vimeo? Like, this is a legit movie with a great cast. Why no love? It does get melodramatic at points but the subject matter is heavy enough to match. Also, was that Paul Rudd in the picture on the doctor’s desk near the end???
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U
I watched this movie because of Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels. In this one they play a married couple whose marriage is in serious trouble. They are dealing with years of baggage. Emile Hirsch and Michelle Williams are their troubled children. This well acted movie is probably one of the most depressing movies of all-time. Well done and well acted but I never want to spend another minute with this family,
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A
Sigourney Weaver on a swing smoking a joint AND a cigarette
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P
Золотое правило: если вы смотрите фильм начала нулевых о семейной трагедии, то рано или поздно увидите в кадре Мишель Уильямс.
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Mmango 6 月 7, 2024
nothing groundbreaking but i still found this interestingly good enough (i was pretty much begging them all to go to family therapy)
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S
Filme que ao mesmo tempo se apresenta leve,se torna um grande drama com situações que abordam a vida de qualquer um.O trio principal é perfeitamente bem montado.Hirsch continuava sua saga de grandes apresentações.
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S
This and A Home at the End of the World are the ultimate buried in the back of the DVD closet picks for forgotten indie cinema of 2004. Very American Beauty lite, but I’m glad I revisited this one. Kind of a clunky last 30 mins, but Sigourney does some A+ work here.
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E
Underrated and has a lot to offer. Definitely has some flaws but the pretty great performances and genuine care behind the film patches it up nicely.
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J
Kinda weird indie flick with a decent cast that seems to want to romanticise teen suicide at times while simultaneously showing the effects grief can have on people. A couple of twists at the end to keep things interesting. Very of the times.
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B
Good performances by the leads but quite a weird one. A lot of the big plot points seemed placed for shock value or like, hitting the hot button issues of the time rather than sincere storytelling
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E
I really have no idea what to make of this one. They have a stacked cast of talent that feels underutilized and a plot that just feels like it is trying to copy Ordinary People. The saving grace of this movie is Sigourney Weaver and Emile Hirsch and maybe the last 20 minutes but even then, idk man
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T
Originally was a 2.5, but the ending bumped it up. Nice score.
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C
Las actuaciones y la dirección están bien, pero el guion es difícil de defender. Suicidio, infidelidades, problemas mentales y médicos… Metamos todo en un solo guion a ver si lo hacemos más llamativo.
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J
Been trying to watch this for a few years. While little emotional depth, the idea of all these things happening was 😱😱😱
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S
I’m probably adding an extra star because I personally vibe with this movie. I like the cast, dark humor and I’m a sentimental fool who loves it when characters care about each other and try to improve their relationships.
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P
A nota original é 3,6.
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LLeah 1 月 11, 2024
johnny harper from the oc kisses his brother unexpectedly
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B
WHAT A GAYYY MOVIE so good! that scene where kyle finds a beaten up tim in the school toilets and then storms into the cafeteria, breaks a bottle, pushes the bully onto a table and digs the bottle into his neck, threatening that if he ever touches tim again he’ll kill him. that’s cinema. he was adamant they were just friends but you don’t do something like that unless they’re your boyfrienddddd. ALSOOOO, that scene where sigourney weaver goes to…
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L
These kind of good indie family dramas are few and far between. I also consider this a NYE movie.
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K
an undersong movie about a complicated family, but more specifically (for me) about a difficult yet beautiful relationship between a mother and son. they’re trauma-bonded by the living the and dead. this is that sad kind of christmas-adjacent movie that i love to watch each year.
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T
Estoy loca I’m chilling (estoy chillando) Me quiero tirar de un puente, y que mientras salto el puente se derrumbe, y sobrevivir la caída a duras penas para que el puente me caiga encima siendo consciente, y morir sin que encuentren mi cuerpo.
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D
I LOVED THIS MOVIES SO MUCH ‼️ 1. Sigourney smoking weed, perfection 2. it was sooo deep 😩 3. “it was just the ecstasy,” my ass, boys
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C
After their college athlete son (Kip Pardue) commits suicide, Sandy (Sigourney Weaver) and Ben Travis (Jeff Daniels) re-evaluate their relationship. Their teenage son, Tim (Emile Hirsch), offers some relief from the difficulties when Sandy starts smoking marijuana with him, though Ben feels excluded from their newfound friendship. When Tim realizes he is no longer attracted to his girlfriend, Steph (Suzanne Santo), his interest in neighbor Kyle (Ryan Donowho) takes on a whole new meaning. Emotional and perceptive. Though overly melodramatic.
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A
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S
well, do you love her? i don’t know. then you don’t.
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A
Too bad Dan Harris has no other work like this. A painfully charming American suburban indie. Perfectly cast.
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S
Dit Amerikaanse melodrama lijkt zich voor te doen als een typische parabel over ontmanteling van familiegeluk in de Amerikaanse buitenwijken, inclusief depressie, zelfmoord en overspel – we kennen dat intussen wel. Desondanks weet Imaginary Heroes een degelijke film te zijn, geschreven en geregisseerd door Dan Harris, op dat moment amper 25 jaar en intussen uitgegroeid tot een veelgevraagd scenarist (X-Men 2, Superman Returns). Het gezin Travis beleeft een tragedie. De oudste zoon, een zwemkampioen, jaagt zichzelf een kogel door het…
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R
Weaver first among troubled family’s ‘Heroes’ “Imaginary Heroes” gives us yet one more troubled suburban family, with suicide and drugs and a chill at the dinner table. But it gives us something else: A heroine with a buried but real sense of humor, and an ability to look at life from the outside instead of only through her own needs. That this person is the mother in the family, and that the father is cold and distant, goes without saying;…
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NNot Joe Morgenstern 2 月 18, 2005
Dan Harris creates a democracy of dysfunction in “Imaginary Heroes,” a tale of sudden tragedy in a suburban family, followed by a struggle back to some semblance of normal life. Everyone is touched by sadness or hobbled by self-deception, and everyone is interesting, even moving, to watch until the drama slowly suffocates beneath the weight of its revelations. That’s too bad, because Mr. Harris, who’s skillful with actors in his directorial debut, has a fine cast that includes Emile Hirsch,…
- Synopsis
- Matt Travis is good-looking, popular, and his school's best competitive swimmer, so everyone is shocked when he inexplicably commits suicide. As the following year unfolds, each member of his family struggles to recover from the tragedy with mixed results.
- Director
- Dan Harris
- Writer
- Dan Harris
- Studio
- ApolloProMedia GmbH & Co. 1. Filmproduktion KG (I), QI Quality International GmbH & Co. KG, Signature Pictures, Linson Entertainment
- Country
- Belgium, Germany, USA
- Language
- English
- Year
- 2004
- Runtime
- 111 mins
- Sweden14 Sep 2004
- Canada14 Sep 2004
- USA17 Dec 2004
- UK01 Jul 2005
- Germany10 Nov 2005
- Spain09 Jun 2006
- UK31 Mar 2025
- Denmark14 Sep 2004
- UK02 Mar 2009
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