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Life as a House

Play trailer Poster for Life as a House R 2001 2h 4m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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46% Tomatometer 101 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
"Life as a House" is the poignant, often humorous journey of one man who decides to tear down his house -- and winds up rebuilding the world around him. From the day he picks up his sledgehammer, George Monroe embarks on a grand adventure that will shatter expectations and build a foundation for many different dreams among his family and neighbors.
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Life as a House

Life as a House

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Critics Consensus

A manipulative tearjerker, Life as a House benefits from fine performances from the cast.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 25, 2010
3/5
Uneven but moving story of reconcilliation. Go to Full Review
Rick Groen Globe and Mail Mar 19, 2002
2/4
Gauged strictly by the gag-factor, a more honest title might be Life as a Basement Apartment with Bad Light and a Dank Smell. Go to Full Review
Jamie Russell BBC.com Mar 18, 2002
1/4
As a drama it's insipid, maudlin junk that'll have you reaching for the sick-bucket rather than the Kleenex. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 2, 2011
C+
This father-son melodrama is well acted, but it's too solemn and too concerned with being inspirational Go to Full Review
Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com Nov 9, 2006
2.5/4
When it's not veering into cheesiness, this well-acted tale of redemption has some affecting scenes and moments of genuine drama. Go to Full Review
Judith Egerton Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) Jun 25, 2004
2/4
Remember the movie Terms of Endearment, about a mother-daughter relationship, a terminal illness and a message about not taking people for granted? Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Nicholas T @nicktalbert2025 Oct 21, 2026 life as a house is drama movie i dont like it r lot a sex See more harper C @harper_clav Jul 11, 2026 Deeply captivating. It really connected to my teenage years as a rebel youngster. Great acting all around, especially Sam and his father. Only critique is the Dads death had very short build up. I think if they told Sam earlier he would have had more time to process and deeper understand what that meant. Same goes for the viewers of the movie. See more Dan0 A @Dan0ajrah May 16, 2026 This is a great movie, it is emotional and cuts deep. A tear jerker for sure. I have to recognize Hayden Christensen in this film because he did so well at portraying a very distraught and conflicted teen. This movie had me very engaged and I think it is worth the watch. See more Aurora W @SerialWatcher Apr 6, 2026 May not be for you but it is a beautiful and gut wrenching at times movie. Despite some random scenes like, (spoiler) her kissing his dad, the metaphor of the house and George and Sam’s relationship being built is amazing and it’s sad to see it end like it did. This movie shows the different lives of both George and his son Sam in order to paint the picture of their differences and problems, eventually helping us to understand their complicated relationship and at times straying See more Frank M @RT43656697 Nov 25, 2025 Life as a House may not be for everyone, but I loved it. I had never heard of it but watched it because I am a Kevin Klein fan. I am so glad I did. I am amazed that it is never listed as one of Kevin Klein's best movies. See more Randall F @Randalltex Oct 28, 2025 Achieves an intimacy rarely seen in a star-laden Hollywood drama. See more Read all reviews
Life as a House

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis "Life as a House" is the poignant, often humorous journey of one man who decides to tear down his house -- and winds up rebuilding the world around him. From the day he picks up his sledgehammer, George Monroe embarks on a grand adventure that will shatter expectations and build a foundation for many different dreams among his family and neighbors.
Director
Irwin Winkler
Producer
Rob Cowan, Irwin Winkler
Screenwriter
Mark Andrus
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
Winkler Films
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 26, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.6M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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