• Trending
    • Certified Fresh & Verified Hot
    • TV Premier dates
    • New horror Movies
    • Best Movies of All Time
  • Movies
    • Movies In Theaters
    • Movies at Home
  • TV Shows
    • New TV
    • Most Popular TV
  • News
    • What to Watch
    • Guides
    • RT News
    • Awards
  • Games
    • Find Your Next Horror Watch
  • Video
  • Showtimes
  • Fanstore
  • About Rotten Tomatoes
  • Critics
  • Download the App Now
  • Logout
Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App New News Showtimes

Songcatcher

Play trailer Poster for Songcatcher PG-13,  2001,  1h 52m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 73% 86 Reviews Tomatometer 77% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 86 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A film about a woman whose drive to pursue the things she believes in leads her on an unexpected path to self-discovery. It is 1907, and musicologist Doctor Lily Penleric has just been denied a promotion in the male-dominated world of her university. Frustrated and determined to get academic recognition, she heads to Appalachia with a recording device and writing materials.
Songcatcher

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The story may be a bit too melodramatic, but great performances abound in Songcatcher. The real reason to see the movie, however, is the hypnotic music.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader Apr 24, 2012
Like the main character, it's stodgy and didactic -- and full of grace and surprises. Go to Full Review
Dennis Harvey Variety Mar 27, 2009
Songcatcher unfolds at a leisurely but enjoyable pace, its dramatic contrivances never pushed too hard by director Maggie Greenwald. Go to Full Review
Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle Mar 10, 2003
0.5/5
Buy the soundtrack. Skip the film. Go to Full Review
Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) Apr 30, 2024
B+
The music is heavenly, as are the performances of Miss McTeer and Aidan Quinn. Go to Full Review
Ronni Radner Out Magazine May 27, 2022
With an infectious soundtrack featuring Emmylou Harris, Songcatcher is an artfully inspirational tale of women's independence during times of turbulent change. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jan 24, 2013
B
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Abraham L Jun 23, 2017 I love the concept and the subject material, but frankly, the sex scenes made me cringe and seemed unrealistic in the time and context. Sort of tainted it for me. See more
Theodore W Jan 8, 2017 Loved the singing, the music, the cinematography, the acting, and everything else about this lovely film. Good to see Pat Caroll again! See more
Read all reviews
Songcatcher

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Maggie Greenwald

Director

Janet McTeer

Lily Penleric

Aidan Quinn

Tom Bledsoe

Pat Carroll

Viney Butler

Jane Adams

Elna Penleric

Gregory Russell Cook

Fate Honeycutt

More Like This

View All
The Golden Bowl 54% 39% The Golden Bowl Watchlist La belle époque 90% 86% La belle époque Watchlist A Walk on the Moon 74% 71% A Walk on the Moon Watchlist Stage Beauty 65% 78% Stage Beauty Watchlist The Sleeping Dictionary 67% The Sleeping Dictionary Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Songcatcher

Songcatcher (2001) Tom Bledsoe and Lily Penleric (AIDAN QUINN and JANET MCTEER). Deladis Slocumb and Lily Penleric (EMMY ROSSUM and JANET MCTEER). View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A film about a woman whose drive to pursue the things she believes in leads her on an unexpected path to self-discovery. It is 1907, and musicologist Doctor Lily Penleric has just been denied a promotion in the male-dominated world of her university. Frustrated and determined to get academic recognition, she heads to Appalachia with a recording device and writing materials.
Director
Maggie Greenwald
Producer
Dick Miller, Ellen Rigas-Venetis
Screenwriter
Maggie Greenwald
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, Songcather Films LLC
Production Co
ErgoArts, Independent Film Project, Rigas Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Content|Intense Scene of Childbirth)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 15, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 6, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings