Her (2013)
A Spike Jonze love story.
In the not so distant future, Theodore, a lonely writer, purchases a newly developed operating system designed to meet the user's every need. To Theodore's surprise, a romantic relationship develops between him and his operating system. This unconventional love story blends science fiction and romance in a sweet tale that explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 18 December 2013 |
| Genre | Romance, Science Fiction, Drama |
| Director | Spike Jonze |
| Starring | Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson and Lynn Adrianna |
| Runtime | 126 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.5/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 94% · Metacritic 91/100 · IMDb 8.0/10 · TMDB users 7.8/10 |
| Budget | $23 million |
Where to watch Her
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What kind of watch this is
Spike Jonze directs a 126-minute romance where the love interest lives in an operating system. Joaquin Phoenix plays a lonely writer who falls for an operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson. The film asks if connection requires a physical body, then answers yes, then no, then maybe. It is a quiet, aching look at how technology both bridges and widens the gap between people. The score swells, the city glows orange, and you feel the loneliness of the crowd. It is less a sci-fi spectacle than a character study of a man talking to thin air.
What the critics said
Critics landed on high ground. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 94% approval rating as of March 2024, with an average score of 8.5/10 from October 2021. Metacritic sits at 91/100 as of July 2025. The consensus leans toward praise, though not without friction. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter called it "a probing, inquisitive work of a very high order," yet found the ending more conventional than the rest. Richard Corliss of Time argued Phoenix "shows us what it's like when a mourning heart comes alive." The film earns its warmth, even if the romance feels slightly too neat.
How it did with audiences
It cost $23 million and took $49 million worldwide, a solid return for a film that felt like a whisper in a crowded room. On TMDB, users rate it 7.8 out of 10. IMDb has it at 8.0/10, a weighted average. The numbers are decent, not blockbuster, but they reflect a movie that worked better for people who actually sat with it than for those who just skimmed the trailer.
Awards
Spike Jonze collected 7 awards from 19 nominations. The Academy, the Golden Globes, the Writers Guild, and Critics' Choice all awarded him for the screenplay. He also took home Best Director from the National Board of Review. The film made the National Board's top ten list. A movie about a romance with an operating system seems to have convinced enough voters that the writing was indeed the point.
Where it left its mark
The film’s take on AI–human bonds has outlasted its release date. Sheon Han argued its exploration of complex feelings contrasted with other movies in the genre. Kate Knibbs pointed to its optimistic view of artificial general intelligence. As AI chatbots arrived, Knibbs noted the film “looks even more fantastical than when it debuted.” The title has become shorthand for voice assistant design. In 2024, OpenAI released GPT-4o with a voice named Sky. Observers noted it resembled Scarlett Johansson’s, despite her refusal to license her audio likeness. Sam Altman tweeted the single word “Her” during the lead-up. OpenAI removed the Sky voice a few days after release. The coincidence is either a warning or a compliment.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Her.
Sources
- Her on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q788822 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Her (2013 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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