PG-13

The Cider House Rules

A story about how far we must travel to find the place where we belong.

1999 • 126 min • Drama

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Synopsis

Homer is an orphan who was never adopted, becoming the favorite of orphanage director Dr. Larch. Dr. Larch imparts his full medical knowledge on Homer, who becomes a skilled, albeit unlicensed, physician. But Homer yearns for a self-chosen life outside the orphanage. What will Homer learn about life and love in the cider house? What of the destiny that Dr. Larch has planned for him?

Our family guide

Best from age 16

Movie Knight Score

1320 reviews

71 Audience · 1320 · 100%

Homer Wells, an orphan raised in a Maine orphanage, becomes a skilled assistant to the eccentric Dr. Larch, learning medicine. Longing for a life beyond the orphanage, Homer ventures out into the world. He discovers love, loss, and difficult choices at a cider apple orchard, confronting complex moral dilemmas and his own destiny.

Violence & peril: 3/10
Language: 3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 6/10
Romance & sensuality: 5/10
Scary moments: 2/10

Heads up

Discussions and depictions of abortion.
Scenes involving drug use and addiction.
References to a past incestuous relationship.
A character passes away from an overdose.

What it models well

Compassion and empathy
Making difficult moral choices
Seeking purpose and belonging
Responsibility and care for others

Talk about it after

The choices Homer makes throughout his life and why he makes them.
The differing views on medical ethics and doing what is right.
The complexities of love, loss, and family outside of traditional structures.
The challenges of growing up and finding your own path.

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Cider House Rules. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.