• 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

Sunshine State

Play trailer Poster for Sunshine State PG-13,  2002,  2h 21m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 79% 106 Reviews Tomatometer 58% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
79% Tomatometer 106 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
This drama tells the story of a Florida island besieged by country-club resort developers. Included in the story are a woman (Angela Bassett) returning home after a long absence, and another woman (Edie Falco) who is forced to sell the restaurant and motel she inherited.
Sunshine State

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Wonderfully acted, but the story and pacing can use a little work.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
David Ansen Newsweek Mar 8, 2018
Who wants to complain abut an American movie that has too much on its mind? ... Best of all is Falco, whose bruised, brusque, soulful Southern girl banishes all traces of Carmela Soprano. Go to Full Review
Adam Nayman eye WEEKLY Aug 20, 2002
4/5
A fiercely intelligent South Florida mosaic. Go to Full Review
Peter Howell Toronto Star Aug 9, 2002
3/5
Sunshine State resembles Sayles' sketchbook more than his finished work, and we might hope that something more polished might spring from it. Go to Full Review
Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine Feb 16, 2023
Another approach to engaging with and defanging anti-blackness in once-venerated cultural objects... Go to Full Review
Stuart Klawans The Nation Jul 21, 2015
All this is admirable. I just wish Sayles would also put a little movie into the movie. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 22, 2011
B-
This well acted ensemble melodrama is not one of John Sayles' strongest films. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Anakin W Jan 5, 2018 interesting film, well acted
Read all reviews
Sunshine State

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

John Sayles

Director

Edie Falco

Marly Temple

Angela Bassett

Desiree Perry

Jane Alexander

Delia Temple

Ralph Waite

Furman Temple

James McDaniel

Reggie Perry

More Like This

View All
Melinda and Melinda 52% 47% Melinda and Melinda Watchlist Snow Cake 62% 86% Snow Cake Watchlist Dr. T & the Women 61% 20% Dr. T & the Women Watchlist Born Romantic 54% 55% Born Romantic Watchlist Songcatcher 73% 77% Songcatcher Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
View All

Sunshine State

Sunshine State (2002) Sunshine State (2002) Sunshine State (2002) Left: Edie Falco as Marty Temple Right: Marc Blucas as Scotty Duval. Left: Tom Wright as Flash Phillips Right: Angela Bassett as Desiree Perry. Mary Alice as Eunice Stokes. Left: Edie Falco as Marty Temple Right: John Sayles, The Director. James McDaniel as Reggie Perry. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This drama tells the story of a Florida island besieged by country-club resort developers. Included in the story are a woman (Angela Bassett) returning home after a long absence, and another woman (Edie Falco) who is forced to sell the restaurant and motel she inherited.
Director
John Sayles
Producer
Maggie Renzi
Screenwriter
John Sayles
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Anarchists' Convention
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Elements|Sexual References|Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 21, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.1M
Runtime
2h 21m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, SDDS
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings