Nell

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Nell

PG-13,

1994,

1h 53m,

Drama

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Watchlist

60%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Cut off from the modern world, Nell (Jodie Foster) is a wild child, who has lived her entire life with her mother in an isolated mountain cabin in North Carolina. When her mother dies, she is found by kindly Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson), who is fascinated by Nell and the language she has developed. Lovell and the equally curious psychologist Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) eventually camp out near Nell's cabin, slowly introducing her to the larger world she's never known.

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Critics Consensus

Despite a committed performance by Jodie Foster, Nell opts for ponderous melodrama instead of engaging with the ethical dilemmas of socializing its titular wild child.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

Nell is an effective film, and a moving one. That is largely because of the strange beauty of Jodie Foster's performance as Nell, and the warmth of the performance by Liam Neeson, as a doctor who finds himself somehow responsible for her.

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Steve Crum

Crum on Showbiz

Mar 10, 2026

B+

It is the first two-thirds, encompassing the discovery of Nell that spotlights Foster, Neeson and Richardson’s ensemble performances, that clinches.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

Apr 21, 2022

The film Nell featured Miss Foster, and was a tour de force (whatever that may mean).

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Mal Vincent

The Virginian-Pilot

Mar 1, 2022

3.5/4

Jodie Foster's performance is much better than the movie, but Nell is still one of those movies you should see.

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Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

May 22, 2018

All of this proves somewhat uplifting and, in the end, fairly moving. Under Apted's caring direction, Foster gives a fearless, appealing, utterly uninhibited performance throughout.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Nov 23, 2007

3/5

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Finn R

Oct 30, 2017

Great acting. Cool movie. I think Momma is a remake kind of.

Luke L

Sep 25, 2017

I think this may be one of my very favorite movies! I was somewhat uncomfortable in the beginning with Jodie Fosters character being so differvent. You know, we all like normal. That's a whole lot of what this movie is about. I think it was a brilliant movie and for those who said it was "boring"...well to me, that speaks volumes about them rather than the movie. The characters were believable and acting was spot on. I like all of Liam Neesons movies but this is now my favorite by far.

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Poe W

Mar 15, 2017

Jodie Foster as Nell is a sad and very strange character. She obviously has the mind of a child and speaks like one. Chick a pay in the may. Whatever that means. I didn't care. Boring story and an even more boring performance.

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Rey S

Jun 16, 2014

foster's performance is a strong reason to see 'nell' , but it has nothing fiercely profound to say. simply stirring up the bare bones of emotion (love, fear), the film is bland, sketchy fiction.

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Michael Apted

Director

Jodie Foster

Nell

Liam Neeson

Jerome Lovell

Natasha Richardson

Paula Olsen

Nick Searcy

Todd Peterson

Robin Mullins

Mary Peterson

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Synopsis

Cut off from the modern world, Nell (Jodie Foster) is a wild child, who has lived her entire life with her mother in an isolated mountain cabin in North Carolina. When her mother dies, she is found by kindly Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson), who is fascinated by Nell and the language she has developed. Lovell and the equally curious psychologist Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) eventually camp out near Nell's cabin, slowly introducing her to the larger world she's never known.

Director: Michael Apted
Producer: Renee Missel, Jodie Foster
Screenwriter: William Nicholson, Mark Handley
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Egg Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.7M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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