The Sessions

Play trailer

The Sessions

R

2012

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Biography

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

198 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver (Annika Marks) scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Green (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Tender, funny, and touching, The Sessions provides an acting showcase for its talented stars and proves it's possible for Hollywood to produce a grown-up movie about sex.

Read Critics Reviews

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/07/2017

C-

The story isn't as provocative as it tries to be, and the contrived romance is just as frustrating to watch unfold.

Go to Full Review

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

09/01/2017

4/5

The Sessions could easily have slipped into schmaltz, but it's an unexpectedly funny delight, thanks in part to sterling work from Helen Hunt and John Hawkes.

Go to Full Review

Charlotte Ross

London Evening Standard

01/18/2013

4/5

Satisfaction guaranteed? Pretty much.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28

4/5

"The Sessions" shows a heartfelt and honest portrayal what the idea of sexual satisfaction and conquest mean to a person, especially one that can't just go out and perform the way everyone else can.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

09/21/2022

2.5/4

Lewin examines the potentially taboo subject of disabled people having intercourse in a matter-of-fact way that breaches the topic by rendering it a non-issue.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/22/2020

4.0/4.0

It is very seldom that I find virtually everything that I want within the confines of a single film.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Gareth v

@geewah Aug 13

The Sessions balances sensitive subject matter with warmth and respect, avoiding cheap sentimentality. While it occasionally leans into a familiar indie drama rhythm, its honesty and emotional depth make it stand out.

See more

Rosana B

@RosanaBotafogo 02/16/2025

Pensando inicialmente ser um drama ficcional retratado de maneira fofinha e engraçadinha, mas qual não foi minha surpresa ao pesquisar e descobrir que é baseado num artigo de 1990 "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate" de Mark O'Brien , um poeta paralisado do pescoço para baixo devido à poliomielite, que contratou uma substituta sexual para perder a virgindade, que relato lindo e triste… Muito emocionante, sensível, relatos necessário, não capacitista, realista e divertido... Inspirador e excitante...

See more

Jason H

@RT63227314 08/27/2024

Love from a worm's-eye-view of the disabled. Very self-centered to begin with and as you walk through life through that self-centered lens you just realized you're just missing out on all the kinds of "flavors of love" life has to offer.

See more

Anjum K

@RT90179324 05/17/2023

Too little was expressed in the means of emotions.

See more

Cees T

@RT15093300 04/11/2023

Kinda jealous ngl. 7/10 - Good.

See more

Kyle M

@RT77296778 01/30/2023

An empathetically mature, light-hearted grown-up film with a fragile topic that secondarily intrigues behind the star power's praised caliber to find genuine tenderness in their sensitive approach along with comedic amusement being their smartest degree. (B)

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Ben Lewin

Director

John Hawkes

Mark O'Brien

Helen Hunt

Cheryl

William H. Macy

Father Brendan

Moon Bloodgood

Vera

Annika Marks

Amanda

Sideways

97%

79%

Sideways

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Sideways

Notorious

52%

65%

Notorious

Watchlist

The Wolf of Wall Street

79%

83%

The Wolf of Wall Street

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Wolf of Wall Street

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

77%

76%

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

Made in Dagenham

80%

75%

Made in Dagenham

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver (Annika Marks) scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Green (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity.

Director: Ben Lewin
Producer: Judi Levine, Stephen Nemeth
Screenwriter: Ben Lewin
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Frank Dialogue|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital