Music of the Heart

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Music of the Heart

PG

1999

2h 4m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

64%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.

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Critics Consensus

Meryl Streep's depiction of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things transcends, inspires, and entertains.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Meryl dominates the proceedings. She simply disappears into the role, and the movie, for all its educational impulses, becomes about watching her do it.

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Kay Dickinson

Sight & Sound

Dec 2, 2002

The standard plotline of a teacher bearing the torch of liberal enlightenment to an educationally bereft group comes off rather dubiously here.

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Tom Keogh

Film.com

Jan 1, 2000

It may be premature to think Craven just doesn't spark outside the horror genre, but there's nothing here to suggest the opposite.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jul 30, 2023

3/4

...the picture grows increasingly engrossing as it builds towards its tremendously satisfying finale...

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 17, 2020

3.0/4.0

I highly recommend the film for those seeking inspiration, motivation, and affirmation of the power that one person can have on the life of another.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Sep 4, 2015

C+

The vacuous but well-meaning pic is poorly executed and seems as if it were a TV movie.

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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 2, 2026

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

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Tim M

@tgmacman Jul 30, 2026

Its transition from feel-good story to narrative feature isn't pitch perfect, however Music of the Heart benefits from an always committed Meryl Streep.

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Evelyn X

@yiyi1111 May 30, 2026

Such a deeply moving film. It tells the story of a woman who chooses to be strong and independent, fiercely pursuing her dream and using her talent to educate children in a neighborhood where survival is a daily struggle. The movie beautifully captures the pure joy of teaching, learning, and making music together. The legendary Carnegie Hall performance is the ultimate fulfillment of every young musician's dream. It brings well-deserved approval from doubtful parents, high praise from world-famous musicians, and expands the children’s horizons into a vast, unexplored world through the power of the violin. I was deeply impressed by Roberta’s elegance, resilience, and her iconic curly hair.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jul 26, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 6, 2025

Success in 2 hours and 4 minutes!!!!!!!!! Happy 26th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Jan 28, 2023

Belief, encouragement and a little grit went a long way in a NYC school district that took a risk on a violin program. Streep is good and the NSync/Estefan duet at the end will take you back!

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Wes Craven

Director

Meryl Streep

Roberta Guaspari

Aidan Quinn

Brian Turner

Angela Bassett

Janet Williams

Cloris Leachman

Assunta Guaspari

Gloria Estefan

Isabel Vasquez

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Synopsis

After being abandoned by her husband, depressed music teacher Roberta (Meryl Streep) lands a job teaching violin to underprivileged children in Harlem, New York. Despite initial friction from school principal Janet Williams (Angela Bassett) and the students, the program succeeds and attracts public recognition. After 10 years, however, the program is suddenly shut down following budget cuts -- and Roberta, together with Williams and her former pupils, works to hold a fund-raising concert.

Director: Wes Craven
Producer: Susan Kaplan, Marianne Maddalena, Walter Scheuer
Distributor: Miramax Films, Buena Vista International [us]
Production Co: Miramax Films, Craven-Maddalena Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 6, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 11, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.8M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Surround

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