Inventing the Abbotts (1997): cast, story & where to watch
1997 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1997, Inventing the Abbotts is a drama and romance film directed by Pat O'Connor, running about 110 minutes. “When you want it all but can't have it, there's only one way to handle life... invent it.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. In the 1950s, brothers Jacey and Doug Holt, who come from the poorer side of their sleepy Midwestern town, vie for the affections of the wealthy, lovely Abbott sisters. Lady-killer Jacey alternates between Eleanor and Alice, wanting simply to break the hearts of rich young women. But sensitive Doug has a real romance with Pamela, which Jacey and the Abbott patriarch, Lloyd, both frown upon.
Who’s in it. Inventing the Abbotts stars Joaquin Phoenix as Doug Holt, Liv Tyler as Pamela Abbott, Jennifer Connelly as Eleanor Abbott and Billy Crudup as Jacey Holt, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Inventing the Abbotts has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $5.9M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Inventing the Abbotts page.
If you liked it. Fans of Inventing the Abbotts tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Inventing the Abbotts (1997)?
- In US, Inventing the Abbotts is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Inventing the Abbotts worth watching?
- Inventing the Abbotts holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Inventing the Abbotts?
- Inventing the Abbotts stars Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly, Billy Crudup and Joanna Going.
- When was Inventing the Abbotts released?
- Inventing the Abbotts was released in 1997, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.