Patch Adams

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Patch Adams

PG-13

1998

1h 55m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

22%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After struggling with depression in a mental hospital, Hunter "Patch" Adams decides he wants to become a doctor. He enrolls at Virginia Medical University but is disillusioned by the school's clinical perspective on patient care. With the aid of a wealthy friend, Adams opens his own medical clinic for those without insurance. He forms a deep bond with fellow medical student Carin Fisher before a tragedy causes Adams to re-evaluate his approach.

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Critics Consensus

Syrupy performances and directing make this dramedy all too obvious.

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John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

01/05/2023

2/4

Only inspires me to steer clear of both hospitals and any movie that casts Robin Williams as a lovable clown.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

04/02/2019

Like too many of Mr. Williams's recent movies, Patch Adams wastes the genius of a peerless clown.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

04/01/2019

Comics who want to do Hamlet often end up, as here, serving big, sticky slices of ham.

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Sean P. Means

Salt Lake Tribune

01/04/2023

2/4

Patch Adams does serve as a platform for Williams to do what he does best: evoke laughter and wring tears. Even when the movie flatlines, Williams keeps the beat.

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Jonah Koslofsky

The Spool

02/09/2021

Patch Adams is full of shit. I truly can't think of a better way to describe it.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

12/18/2019

1/4

Patch Adams is offensive in the way it trots out every hoary plot device, no matter how improbable, exploitative or downright moronic.

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TheFilmCritics

@TheFilmCritics 5d

Few actors could make sentimentality feel as sincere as Robin Williams, and Patch Adams is a showcase for that particular gift. The film’s familiar underdog story follows an idealistic medical student determined to treat patients as people, not diagnoses, and Williams brings warmth, humor, and genuine humanity to the role. Its best moments come through Patch’s simple acts of kindness, while the movie’s heart remains firmly in the right place. Still, its emotional instincts can be painfully unsubtle, with swelling music, earnest speeches, underdeveloped supporting characters, and a simplistic view of compassion versus professionalism. The film occasionally confuses sentiment with depth, but Williams’ magnetic performance keeps it engaging and surprisingly affecting. It may lack nuance, yet its message—and the actor delivering it—are difficult to resist.

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Jeremy P

@Jezza_Linko 5d

awesome movie based on real life events Robin Williams at his best!!

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Tyler T

@RT07143055 6d

Not sure if anybody’s noticed this yet but the critics here on rotten tomatoes are the most pretentious sit in a café sipping cappuccino, turtleneck wearing non-gluten eating vegan fa*s. They’re always completely wrong about any movie unless it’s a movie with an all black cast and they’ll give it 100% or a movie that they were paid off to give a good grade to. Never listen to them this movie is amazing and a classic.

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Ashley J

@AshJones2 Jul 1

What an amazing movie! We should all strive to look at the world through Patch's eyes and help those struggling around us!

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Rubn C

@RT14100738 Jun 28

Absolutely brilliant

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Trevor G.

@tlgor1 Jun 7

Overall fantastic film

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Tom Shadyac

Director

Robin Williams

Hunter "Patch" Adams

Daniel London

Truman Schiff

Monica Potter

Corrine Fisher

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Mitch Roman

Bob Gunton

Dean Walcott

Patch Adams: Official Clip - Final Appeal

2:59

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - You Treat a Person

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - The Children's Ward

2:59

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - At Your Cervix

2:59

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - I Want to Help People

1:01

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - Patch Earns His Nickname

2:46

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - Group Therapy

1:42

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - To Be a Great Doctor

2:13

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - He At Least Listened

1:31

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Patch Adams: Official Clip - Revealing Graduation

1:20

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Synopsis

After struggling with depression in a mental hospital, Hunter "Patch" Adams decides he wants to become a doctor. He enrolls at Virginia Medical University but is disillusioned by the school's clinical perspective on patient care. With the aid of a wealthy friend, Adams opens his own medical clinic for those without insurance. He forms a deep bond with fellow medical student Carin Fisher before a tragedy causes Adams to re-evaluate his approach.

Director: Tom Shadyac
Producer: Mike Farrell, Barry Kemp, Marvin Minoff, Charles Newirth
Screenwriter: Steve Oedekerk
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $135.0M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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