Terms of Endearment

Play trailer

4:28

Terms of Endearment

PG

1983

2h 12m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

108 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Widow Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter, Emma (Debra Winger), have a strong bond, but Emma marries teacher Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) against her mother's wishes. When the marriage grows sour due to Flap's cheating, Emma eventually splits from him, returning to her mother, who is involved with a former astronaut (Jack Nicholson). Soon, Emma learns that she has terminal cancer. In the hospital, supported by Aurora, she tries to make peace with Flap and her children.

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Critics Consensus

A classic tearjerker, Terms of Endearment isn't shy about reaching for the heartstrings -- but is so well-acted and smartly scripted that it's almost impossible to resist.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

12/06/2022

Terms of Endearment is the rare commercial picture that sets audiences to laughing hysterically and crying unashamedly, sometimes within consecutive seconds, and then shoos them out of the theater in contended emotional exhaustion.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

08/22/2022

The picture isn't boring; it's just fraudulent.

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Neil Jillett

The Age (Australia)

07/21/2022

Thanks mainly to fine acting in all the major roles and most of the minor ones, "Terms" is pretty well irresistible entertainment. It turns giggles into lumps in the throat and crinkles the eyes with laughter while it is misting them with tears.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

07/25/2025

3.5/4

Winger gives us someone incredibly unique and specific...

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

02/07/2024

4.5/5

A rather atypical Best Picture winner, this look at the complicated relationship between mother and daughter is notable for bucking conventions rather than serving them.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

11/19/2023

4/4

A genuine heart-warmer and true heartbreaker.

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Keith B.

@Okbullard May 20

I saw this over 30 years ago and forgot what a gem it was. Wow what superb acting and storyline. Jack Nicholson was his typical excellent self. Shirley MacLain was amazing and stole every scene. I'd forgotten how much humor and drama with sadness was in this film it's definitely worth the watch.

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Lisa T

@Lisat183 Dec 15

This is probably one of the best movies I have ever seen. And no matter how many times I watch it I can never get through it without UGLY CRYING.

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Grace K

@RT25483909 Aug 15

The entire movie feels like it’s trying to make you cry and failing. I like the part where she slaps the annoying child.

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Rami A

@Bunt101 07/29/2025

Jack Nicholson was just being himself here. No doubt about that.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone 07/28/2025

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é bacaninha, e poucos ajudam a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e só as atuações de poucos atores ajudam a melhorar o filme.

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Mikael H

@Mikael590 06/09/2025

People call this a tear jerker but it was its abundant lightness that I enjoyed most. And funnily enough the right word for its central performances is “endearing”.

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James L. Brooks

Director

Shirley MacLaine

Aurora Greenway

Debra Winger

Emma Greenway Horton

Jack Nicholson

Garrett Breedlove

Jeff Daniels

Flap Horton

Danny DeVito

Vernon Dahlart

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Beach Ride

2:03

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Emma is Suspicious

1:52

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Asking Out Aurora

0:54

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - You Do Bring Out the Devil in Me

1:14

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Emma Says Goodbye

2:08

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Emma's Pain Shot

0:37

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Aurora Has a Drink

0:47

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - Emma's Pregnant

1:03

Terms of Endearment: Official Clip - I'm the Wrong Kind of Man

1:42

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Terms of Endearment: Trailer 1

4:28

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Synopsis

Widow Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) and her daughter, Emma (Debra Winger), have a strong bond, but Emma marries teacher Flap Horton (Jeff Daniels) against her mother's wishes. When the marriage grows sour due to Flap's cheating, Emma eventually splits from him, returning to her mother, who is involved with a former astronaut (Jack Nicholson). Soon, Emma learns that she has terminal cancer. In the hospital, supported by Aurora, she tries to make peace with Flap and her children.

Director: James L. Brooks
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Runtime: 2h 12m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)