Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

An American Affair

Play trailer Poster for An American Affair R Now Playing 1h 33m Drama History Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
17% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the early 1960s, teenager Adam Stafford (Cameron Bright) becomes obsessed with his new neighbor, Catherine Caswell (Gretchen Mol), a divorcée and free spirit. Stafford spies on Caswell as she meets with strange men, and, despite the warnings of his conservative parents, he begins working for her as a gardener. Amid rumors of her affair with President Kennedy, the two become close, but political intrigue surrounding her acquaintances soon infringes on their friendship.

Where to Watch

An American Affair

An American Affair

What to Know

Critics Consensus

With a plot both undercooked and cliche riddled, An American Affair unsuccessfully mixes a coming-of-age story and a presidential conspiracy thriller.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Dan Zak Washington Post 03/13/2009
An earnest, fictional coming-of-age story is squeezed from a bitter, true-life local tragedy. And it works. Go to Full Review Claudia Puig USA Today 03/12/2009
1.5/4
The title sums up the bland, unimaginative and cliche-laden thriller/coming-of-age tale. Go to Full Review Betsy Sharkey Los Angeles Times 03/06/2009
2.5/5
There are scenes that work here and there, but regrettably not nearly enough to hold the film together. In the end, this affair is definitely not one to remember. Go to Full Review Kevin Carr 7M Pictures 03/02/2011
2/5
gets in its own way by not knowing what kind of story it's telling, and by not knowing whose story it's telling Go to Full Review Bill Gibron Filmcritic.com 07/22/2009
1/5
so absurd and convoluted that even JFK's legacy can't subdue its preposterousness Go to Full Review Bob Strauss Los Angeles Daily News 03/13/2009
2.5/4
Out of its mind at a deep, essential level, An American Affair plays its dubious scenario with a straight face that makes the silly thing quite watchable. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Pamela H @Pamiejo 06/30/2024 This construct was done much better and much more believably in The Idea of You. I love Nicole Kidman but she couldn’t save this. The screenplay, the soundtrack, and the overacting were extremely irritating. Cheesy, cheesy, cheesy. See more 10/26/2018 The film is very, very interesting !! should i watch this again using boxxy software? See more 12/31/2016 It's good movie to watch See more 07/23/2013 I don't know about you guys but I thought this movie was good. It brought This scenario every young kid fantasies at one point in their live! See more 09/25/2012 In this film set in the 1963, when John F. Kennedy was president a young 13 year old boy, Adam (Cameron Bright) falls for his older neighbor, Catherine (Gretchen Moi), who is having romantic relations with the president of the United States. This film started out strong, detailing what struggles adolescence holds, but halfway through it fail flat & the ending wasn't impressive. This is one of those movies that you only watch once. See more 12/17/2011 LOVED THIS MOVIE!! What's the matter with you people...could have happened...very realistic...definitely kept ones interest...touching...great acting...and more See more Read all reviews
An American Affair

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

William Sten Olsson

Director

Gretchen Mol

Catherine Caswell

Cameron Bright

Adam Stafford

James Rebhorn

Lucian Carver

Perrey Reeves

Adrienne Stafford

Noah Wyle

Mike Stafford

More Like This

View All
The Children of Huang Shi 29% 66% The Children of Huang Shi Watchlist The Ballad of Little Jo 77% 64% The Ballad of Little Jo Watchlist Goya's Ghosts 30% 57% Goya's Ghosts Watchlist Oranges and Sunshine 71% 70% Oranges and Sunshine Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

An American Affair

James Rebhorn as Lucian Carver in "An American Affair." Gretchen Mol as Catherine Caswell in "An American Affair." Perrey Reeves as Adrienne Stafford and Noah Wyle as Mike Stafford in "An American Affair." Cameron Bright as Adam Stafford in "An American Affair." An American Affair (2009) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the early 1960s, teenager Adam Stafford (Cameron Bright) becomes obsessed with his new neighbor, Catherine Caswell (Gretchen Mol), a divorcée and free spirit. Stafford spies on Caswell as she meets with strange men, and, despite the warnings of his conservative parents, he begins working for her as a gardener. Amid rumors of her affair with President Kennedy, the two become close, but political intrigue surrounding her acquaintances soon infringes on their friendship.
Director
William Sten Olsson
Producer
Kevin Leydon
Screenwriter
Alex Metcalf
Distributor
Screen Media Ventures
Production Co
Astrakan Films
Rating
R (Language|Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 27, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 9, 2009
Runtime
1h 33m