Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

97% Tomatometer 232 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings

Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last single-guy bonding experience. While Miles wants to relax and enjoy the wine, Jack is in search of a fling before his wedding. Soon Jack is sleeping with Stephanie (Sandra Oh), while her friend Maya (Virginia Madsen) connects with Miles. When Miles lets slip that Jack is getting married, both women are furious, sending the trip into disarray.

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Sideways

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Critics Consensus

Charming, thoughtful, and often funny, Sideways is a decidedly mature road trip comedy full of excellent performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Anupama Chopra Film Companion This is a film about human beings who can be flawed and prickly but if you go a little deeper, you will see beauty. This is a wonderfully written script, with a great performance by Paul Giamatti. May 18, 2020 Full Review Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Christy Lemire Associated Press Apr 3, 2012 Full Review Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Payne does know how to capture two kinds of male menopause. But I can't say he ever surprised me. Feb 13, 2012 Full Review Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Alexander Payne’s road movie about best friends taking a bachelor party on the road through California vineyard country is a modern buddy film with a seventies sensibility. Jan 6, 2024 Full Review Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Payne is a compassionate observer here, letting the dialogue scenes breathe, unafraid to throw in some slapstick. Rated: B Sep 19, 2022 Full Review Sideways | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com It is a powerfully written story captured onscreen by Alexander Payne with a wondrous humanity and sensitivity. Rated: 4.0/4.0 Sep 23, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mason M Another great film from Alexander Payne. Sideways is a delightful watch, it's very well written, it balances comedy and drama quite nicely, and Paul Giamatti does a great job. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Koi P Like a chic flick, but with guys. Relaxing and fun watch. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/12/24 Full Review joe s Sideways is an enthralling, superbly written, and wonderfully produced movie, with an Oscar worthy performance from Paul Giamatti, and a great supporting cast, revolving around wine, along the northern California country, and a storyline that captivates you, definitely one of the best must see. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/06/24 Full Review Godfrey D Its a really good movie. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Munkhjargal A This movie has become a very interesting movie that has attracted the attention of the audience. The angle the director was able to see is amazing. The roles of the actors in the film were very special. I liked this movie very much. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Julia S Boring and overatet as hell Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Alexander Payne Director Paul Giamatti Miles Raymond Thomas Haden Church Jack Lopate Virginia Madsen Maya Sandra Oh Stephanie Marylouise Burke Miles' Mother
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Sideways

Sideways: Trailer 1 Sideways: Trailer 1 2:24 View more videos

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Sideways

From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Sandra Oh, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Paul Giamatti in SIDEWAYS From left: Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen, Director Alexander Payne, Thomas Haden Church and Sandra Oh on the set of SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Sandra Oh and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Virginia Madsen, Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church and Sandra Oh in SIDEWAYS View more photos

Synopsis Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last single-guy bonding experience. While Miles wants to relax and enjoy the wine, Jack is in search of a fling before his wedding. Soon Jack is sleeping with Stephanie (Sandra Oh), while her friend Maya (Virginia Madsen) connects with Miles. When Miles lets slip that Jack is getting married, both women are furious, sending the trip into disarray.

Director
Alexander Payne

Producer
Michael London, George Parra

Screenwriter
Rex Pickett, Alexander Payne

Distributor
Fox

Production Co
Fox Searchlight, Michael London Productions

Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Some Strong Sexual Content)

Genre
Comedy, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 2004, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2014

Box Office (Gross USA)
$71.5M

Runtime
2h 6m

Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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