The Brothers McMullen

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The Brothers McMullen

R

1995

1h 38m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

When you're a good Irish Catholic, you choose one person to be with for the rest of your life. But how can you be sure you've found "the one"? Each of the three brothers McMullen turns up a different answer to that question in this warm-hearted romantic comedy about the reality of true love and familial bonds. "The Brothers McMullen" is not about flash or style; it's about the basic connections people pursue every day as they struggle with family, relationships and personal identity.

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Critics Consensus

Like many twenty-somethings, The Brothers McMullen can be a tad self-absorbed, but they're still likely to win you over with their (slightly profane) charm.

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Manohla Dargis

Spin

Dec 27, 2022

While seriously lacking in polish, Burns's debut has an edge on most of its big-ticket competition thanks to its bright dialogue and a couple of sweet performances, including one by the writer-director himself.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

This is not a "religious" film, and the brothers are far from saints. But they know right and wrong, and in their imperfect ways they are struggling to attain a state of grace. Sometimes they slip. Sometimes they don't struggle so hard. Life's like that.

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Quentin Curtis

Independent on Sunday

Jan 20, 2026

Burns is by far its most compelling presence, and the movie can sag when he is off-screen. But it presents glancing insights into repression, the terror of modern relationships, and... the male need for a protective shield.

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Dec 27, 2025

While the movie is a beloved favorite for many, and it deserves a certain margin of error for being a first film and realistically evoking city life, it does not age as well as some of Burns’ other movies in terms of momentum

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Mike Davies

Birmingham Post

Mar 29, 2024

A small but engaging, amusing and often touching story that will strike many a chord, whatever your religion, nationality or sibling relationship.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

Apr 25, 2022

A self-absorbed picture.

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Phil D.

@phildub Jan 16, 2026

Very relatable in an uncomfortable way. A good job showing how much us guys struggle even when we reach our goal in a relationship. I didn’t realize Edward Burns was a film maker in addition to acting. Very impressive.

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Brian F.

@FedUpDVDCollector Dec 20, 2025

Perfectly mid. Home-wreckers can come in many forms and attack at any point in relationships, a brother that opposes marriage, or a horned out brunette that throws herself at you. This movie is one I could’ve skipped.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 1, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 38 minutes.

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Dennis H

@DenHen May 30, 2025

Maybe the single most overrated movie of all time.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Feb 17, 2023

The characters did not engage me at all.

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Apr 12, 2022

I had the opportunity to interview one of the actors in this film, Michael McGlone, and the anecdotes he told on this film are incredible. The film is to be enjoyed with the family and have a good time with food and beer with your friends, I love this story and the performance of the pretty boy McGlone, is incredible, good job to the director Edward Burns for this genius.

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Edward Burns

Director

Jack Mulcahy

Jack McMullen

Michael McGlone

Patrick McMullen

Edward Burns

Barry

Connie Britton

Molly McMullen

Maxine Bahns

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Synopsis

When you're a good Irish Catholic, you choose one person to be with for the rest of your life. But how can you be sure you've found "the one"? Each of the three brothers McMullen turns up a different answer to that question in this warm-hearted romantic comedy about the reality of true love and familial bonds. "The Brothers McMullen" is not about flash or style; it's about the basic connections people pursue every day as they struggle with family, relationships and personal identity.

Director: Edward Burns
Producer: Edward Burns, Dick Fisher
Screenwriter: Edward Burns
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Videography, Brothers McMullen Productions, Marlboro Road Gang
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 1995, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.1M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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