Wilson

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2:13

Wilson

R

2017

1h 34m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

131 Reviews

29%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Feeling lonely and isolated, Wilson (Woody Harrelson) tracks down Pippi (Laura Dern), the ex-wife who left him 17 years earlier. She tells the neurotic and middle-aged misanthrope that he is the father of a teenager named Claire (Isabella Amara). Shocked, excited and hopeful, Wilson embarks on a madcap quest to connect with the daughter he never knew he had.

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Critics Consensus

Woody Harrelson delivers a solid performance as Wilson's titular grump, but the movie surrounding him can't quite manage to make the character's sour outlook consistently relatable.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Jun 11, 2017

2/5

Despite the mordant humour and the full-throttle chaos of Harrelson's performance, we struggle to connect with any emotional truth here.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

Jun 9, 2017

2/5

It struggles to fill the big screen, either emotionally or visually, and after a while Harrelson's say-it-as-it-is persona becomes irritating.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Jun 7, 2017

3/5

Director Craig Johnson (who also dealt with middle aged angst in his previous film, The Skeleton Twins) has a nicely matter of fact way of showing Wilson's tribulations.

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Lauren Bradshaw

Fangirl Freakout

Nov 5, 2021

D+

Harrelson and Dern's performances inevitably outshine their source material, as the film's sloppy third act will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 17, 2021

2/4

Harrelson, who over the last decade has built himself up into one of our best supporting players, is just fine as Wilson. There's no doubt the actor would have taken the character to greater extremes, but that's not what's asked of him.

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

May 6, 2020

Wilson has more than a handful of solid moments, but they are peppered between fairly stock observations about the way the world works, and how everybody tends to screw everybody else when given the chance.

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Callie C

@RT75969992 1 day ago

I'm kind of sad that this movie gets such low reviews. It's not for cynics. I found the storytelling to be captivating and the characters interesting because they are so realistic. This movie is about characters who are not uncommon. They are just quirky and flawed, like everyone else, and trying to make the best out of their circumstances. Wilson, Pippi, and Claire were all dealt a bad hand and still found ways to turn it around. Wilson's positive outlook and search for connections, despite his obvious shortcomings, was inspiring. This movie connected with me similarly to how Wilson was able to connect with many strangers, gaining trust and hope over time.

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m1935 T

@ditzler62 Dec 25, 2025

Another absolute waste of time written and directed by master manipulators that mocks Christianity, white Americans, the nuclear family, and normality. fortunately it lost over $4 million, about four and a half times what it cost, so you reap what you sow.

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donnie m

@RT64375194 Dec 21, 2025

woody harrelson is sooooooooooooooooo overdramatic-every word-every movement and it grosses me out so much i can't watch the movie

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Keith B B

@Okbullard Dec 11, 2025

I've liked Woody Harrelson since he filled in for Coach in the amazing sitcom, Cheers. Wilson was so abrasive, conceited and rude. But half way through he did lighten up a bit. Laura Dern was sooo good in this one. Give it a look if there's nothing else on.

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Mikael H

@Mikael590 Jun 10, 2025

The graphic novel could have translated into a very different film.

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Gareth v

@geewah Jun 22, 2023

Middle of the road movie. Maybe the character of Wilson works best in a graphic novel format.

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Craig Johnson

Director

Woody Harrelson

Wilson

Laura Dern

Pippi

Judy Greer

Shelly

Margo Martindale

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Cheryl Hines

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Synopsis

Feeling lonely and isolated, Wilson (Woody Harrelson) tracks down Pippi (Laura Dern), the ex-wife who left him 17 years earlier. She tells the neurotic and middle-aged misanthrope that he is the father of a teenager named Claire (Isabella Amara). Shocked, excited and hopeful, Wilson embarks on a madcap quest to connect with the daughter he never knew he had.

Director: Craig Johnson
Producer: Mary Jane Skalski, Jared Goldman
Screenwriter: Daniel Clowes
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Ad Hominem Enterprises
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Language Throughout)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $653.0K
Runtime: 1h 34m

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