Terms of Endearment

Come to laugh, come to cry, come to care, come to terms.

1983 • 132 min • Drama · Comedy

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Synopsis

Aurora, a finicky woman, is in search of true love while her daughter faces marital issues. Together, they help each other deal with problems and find reasons to live a joyful life.

Our family guide

Best from age 14

Movie Knight Score

845 reviews

100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
71 Audience · 844 · 49%

This dramatic comedy explores the complex, loving, and sometimes turbulent relationship between a strong-willed mother and her free-spirited daughter over several decades. They navigate life's joys, heartbreaks, and challenges with humor and deep affection. It's a poignant look at family bonds and finding happiness.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 4/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 4/10
Romance & sensuality: 5/10
Scary moments: 4/10

Heads up

Adult themes of infidelity and serious illness are central.
Some suggestive situations and language.
Deals with the emotional impact of death.

What it models well

Unconditional mother-daughter love
Resilience in facing adversity
Finding joy amidst sorrow
Supportive friendships

Talk about it after

How family relationships can be complicated yet deeply rewarding.
Coping with grief and loss.
The importance of open communication with loved ones.
What makes a relationship healthy or unhealthy?

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Terms of Endearment. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: James L. Brooks • Crew: James L. Brooks

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
I hated the story, let's get that out of the way first. This film is about character acting at it's best, though, and Shirley MacLaine ("Aurora") and Jack Nicholson ("Garrett") bring us charisma and entertainment in spades which thankfully rescues the really pedestrian plot from abject mediocrity.…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community