Adaptation.
“From the creator of Being John Malkovich, comes the story about the creator of Being John Malkovich.”
Charlie Kaufman is a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald. While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean, Kaufman's life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman and Orlean's book become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the other's.
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Cast
39 people
Nicolas Cage
Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman
Known for
The Croods
National Treasure
Meryl Streep
Susan Orlean
Known for
The Devil Wears Prada
The Post
Chris Cooper
John Laroche
Known for
The Bourne Identity
11.22.63
Tilda Swinton
Valerie Thomas
Known for
Doctor Strange
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Jay Tavare
Matthew Osceola
Known for
Into the West
Pathfinder
Litefoot
Russell
Known for
The Indian in the Cupboard
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Roger Willie
Randy
Known for
Windtalkers
Jim Beaver
Ranger Tony
Known for
The Boys
Supernatural
Cara Seymour
Amelia Kavan
Known for
The Knick
American Psycho
Doug Jones
Augustus Margary
Known for
Star Trek: Discovery
Pan's Labyrinth
Gary Farmer
Buster Baxley
Known for
Resident Alien
Dead Man
Peter Jason
Defense Attorney
Known for
Deadwood
They Live
Spike Jonze Director · Charlie Kaufman Screenplay Susan Orlean Author
Worldwide gross $33M · Budget $19M · United States release December 6, 2002
Box office
Budget
$19,000,000
Worldwide gross
$32,800,000
Gross vs. budget
1.7×
Production
Columbia Pictures
Production · Studio
Propaganda Films
Production
Good Machine
Production
Intermedia
Production
Beverly Detroit Studios
Production
Clinica Estetico
Production
Beverly Detroit
Production
Magnet Productions
Production
United States
Produced in
The Orchid Thief
Working title
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Latin
Release dates
United States · December 3, 2002
Premiere · Los Angeles, California
United States · December 6, 2002
Theatrical
United States
June 17, 2004 · Premiere · Nantucket Film Festival
Australia
December 26, 2002 · Theatrical
Austria
April 4, 2003 · Theatrical
October 19, 2009 · Premiere · Vienna International Film Festival
Brazil
February 21, 2003 · Theatrical
Canada
December 6, 2002 · Theatrical
Czechia
July 10, 2003 · Premiere · Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
August 14, 2003 · Theatrical
Egypt
December 10, 2004 · Premiere · Cairo International Film Festival
Estonia
May 30, 2003 · Theatrical
Finland
March 7, 2003 · Theatrical
France
March 27, 2003 · Theatrical
Germany
February 8, 2003 · Premiere · Berlin International Film Festival
December 8, 2003 · Theatrical
Greece
March 7, 2003 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
April 23, 2003 · Premiere · Hong Kong International Film Festival
Hungary
July 31, 2003 · Theatrical
Ireland
February 28, 2003 · Theatrical
Italy
February 28, 2003 · Theatrical
Mexico
February 21, 2003 · Theatrical
Netherlands
March 6, 2003 · Theatrical
June 23, 2006 · TV · Talpa
February 19, 2008 · Physical · DVD
Serbia
March 5, 2003 · Premiere · Belgrade Film Festival
Slovakia
June 20, 2003 · Premiere · Art Film Festival
South Korea
May 8, 2003 · Theatrical
Spain
March 21, 2003 · Theatrical
Sweden
December 31, 2002 · Theatrical
Switzerland
March 26, 2003 · Digital
United Kingdom
February 28, 2003 · Theatrical
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