Heavenly Creatures

  • 1994
  • R
  • 109m
movieMx RATING
7.0/101K
VERDICT
HIT
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Performance & Direction: Heavenly Creatures Review

Last updated: February 16, 2026

movieMx Editorial Team
REVIEWED BY

movieMx Editorial Team

🔍 Cinematic Analysis Expert

Leading cinematic analysis expert with over 10 years of experience in Bollywood and Hollywood box office tracking. Reviewed 500+ films with a focus on narrative structure and commercial profitability.

📅 Updated: February 16, 2026 🎟️ Verified Viewing

🎬 Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?

Is Heavenly Creatures (1994) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.

🎭 Cast Performances: A Masterclass

The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Heavenly Creatures features a noteworthy lineup led by Melanie Lynskey . Supported by the likes of Kate Winslet and Sarah Peirse , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.

Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.

💡 Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?

In summary, our editorial assessment of Heavenly Creatures (1994) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 7.0/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Result: HIT
Based on verified audience sentiment and box office trajectory, Heavenly Creatures stands as a HIT.

Story & Plot Summary: Heavenly Creatures

Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1994, Heavenly Creatures is a Drama, Fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Melanie Lynskey.

Story Breakdown

This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Precocious teenager Juliet moves to New Zealand with her family and soon befriends the quiet, brooding Pauline through their shared love of fantasy and literature. This friendship gradually develops into an intense and obsessive bond. The screenplay takes time to develop Melanie Lynskey's journey, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.

Narrative Structure

  • Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
  • Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Melanie Lynskey's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
  • Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.

Ending Explained: Heavenly Creatures

Ending Breakdown: Directed by Peter Jackson, Heavenly Creatures resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.

The emotional climax centers on character transformation involving Melanie Lynskey, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.

Ending Analysis:

  • Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
  • Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
  • Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.

The final moments of Heavenly Creatures reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.

Who Should Watch Heavenly Creatures?

Worth Watching If You:

  • Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
  • Are a fan of Melanie Lynskey or the director
  • Want a character-driven story with emotional moments

Box Office Collection: Heavenly Creatures

Metric / RegionCollection (Approx)
Production Budget $5.0M
Worldwide Gross $3.0M
Trade Verdict CLEAN HIT

Heavenly Creatures Budget

The estimated production budget for Heavenly Creatures is $5.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.

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Top Cast: Heavenly Creatures

All Cast & Crew →
Melanie Lynskey
Melanie LynskeyPauline Parker
Kate Winslet
Kate WinsletJuliet Hulme
Sarah Peirse
Sarah PeirseHonorah Parker Rieper
Diana Kent
Diana KentHilda Hulme
Clive Merrison
Clive MerrisonDr. Henry Hulme
Simon O'Connor
Simon O'ConnorHerbert Rieper
Jed Brophy
Jed BrophyJohn / Nicholas
Peter Elliott
Peter ElliottBill Perry
Gilbert Goldie
Gilbert GoldieDr. Bennett
Geoffrey Heath
Geoffrey HeathRev. Norris
Ben Skjellerup
Ben SkjellerupJonathan Hulme
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Where to Watch Heavenly Creatures Online?

Streaming Hub

🎟️ Rent on

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🏷️ Buy on

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Heavenly Creatures Parents Guide & Age Rating

1994 Advisory
R

Official Age Rating

Wondering about Heavenly Creatures age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:

Heavenly Creatures is rated R. It is intended for mature audiences only.

⏱️ Runtime & Duration

The total runtime of Heavenly Creatures is 109 minutes (1h 49m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.

Verdict Summary

Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.0/10, and global performance metrics, Heavenly Creatures is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1994 cinematic calendar.

HIT
Official movieMx status for Heavenly Creatures. Rating: 7.0/10

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Heavenly Creatures worth watching?

Heavenly Creatures is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.

Where can I find Heavenly Creatures parents guide and age rating?

The official parents guide for Heavenly Creatures identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.

What is the total runtime of Heavenly Creatures?

The total duration of Heavenly Creatures is 109 minutes, which is approximately 1h 49m long.

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How Heavenly Creatures Compares & Where it Ranks

Critic Reviews for Heavenly Creatures

🛡️

movieMx Verified

This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.

This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.

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Expert Consensus
Live Rating
MOVIEMX
★ 7.0
Heavenly Creatures
<a href="https://moviemx.in/review/heavenly-creatures-1024" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;"><div style="background:#121212;border:1px solid #f5c518;border-radius:12px;padding:15px;width:180px;text-align:center;font-family:sans-serif;box-shadow:0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);"><div style="color:#f5c518;font-size:10px;font-weight:900;letter-spacing:2px;">MOVIEMX</div><div style="color:white;font-size:28px;font-weight:900;margin:8px 0;">★ 7.0</div><div style="color:#888;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;">Heavenly Creatures</div></div></a>

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