Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Kinsey

  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
49K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,759
898
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)
Trailer
Play trailer2:37
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance

A look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that sa... Read allA look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that saw science address sexual behavior.A look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that saw science address sexual behavior.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
49K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,759
898
  • Director
    • Bill Condon
  • Writer
    • Bill Condon
  • Stars
    • Liam Neeson
    • Laura Linney
    • Chris O'Donnell
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bill Condon
  • Writer
    • Bill Condon
  • Stars
    • Liam Neeson
    • Laura Linney
    • Chris O'Donnell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 212User reviews
    • 188Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 17 wins & 51 nominations total

    Videos1

    Kinsey
    Trailer 2:37
    Kinsey

    Photos114

    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Timothy Hutton and Chris O'Donnell in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Timothy Hutton, Liam Neeson, Chris O'Donnell, and Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Timothy Hutton, Liam Neeson, Chris O'Donnell, and Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)
    Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Alfred Kinseyas Alfred Kinsey
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Clara McMillenas Clara McMillen
    Chris O'Donnell
    Chris O'Donnell
    • Wardell Pomeroyas Wardell Pomeroy
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • Clyde Martinas Clyde Martin
    Timothy Hutton
    Timothy Hutton
    • Paul Gebhardas Paul Gebhard
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Alfred Seguine Kinseyas Alfred Seguine Kinsey
    Tim Curry
    Tim Curry
    • Thurman Riceas Thurman Rice
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Herman Wellsas Herman Wells
    Dylan Baker
    Dylan Baker
    • Alan Greggas Alan Gregg
    Julianne Nicholson
    Julianne Nicholson
    • Alice Martinas Alice Martin
    William Sadler
    William Sadler
    • Kenneth Braunas Kenneth Braun
    John McMartin
    John McMartin
    • Huntington Hartfordas Huntington Hartford
    Veronica Cartwright
    Veronica Cartwright
    • Sara Kinseyas Sara Kinsey
    Kathleen Chalfant
    Kathleen Chalfant
    • Barbara Merkleas Barbara Merkle
    Heather Goldenhersh
    Heather Goldenhersh
    • Martha Pomeroyas Martha Pomeroy
    Dagmara Dominczyk
    Dagmara Dominczyk
    • Agnes Gebhardas Agnes Gebhard
    Harley Cross
    Harley Cross
    • Young Man in Gay Baras Young Man in Gay Bar
    Susan Blommaert
    Susan Blommaert
    • Staff Secretaryas Staff Secretary
    • Director
      • Bill Condon
    • Writer
      • Bill Condon
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Savages
    7.1
    The Savages
    You Can Count on Me
    7.5
    You Can Count on Me
    Gods and Monsters
    7.4
    Gods and Monsters
    Maria Full of Grace
    7.4
    Maria Full of Grace
    The Big C
    8.1
    The Big C
    Pollock
    7.0
    Pollock
    Little Children
    7.5
    Little Children
    Notes on a Scandal
    7.4
    Notes on a Scandal
    Boys Don't Cry
    7.5
    Boys Don't Cry
    Milk
    7.5
    Milk
    Ray
    7.7
    Ray
    The Grey
    6.8
    The Grey

    Storyline

    Edit
    Called "Prok" as an adult (short for Professor Kinsey), Alfred Kinsey, Jr. (Liam Neeson) has been interested in biology since he was a child growing up in the early twentieth century, despite the criticisms of such being evil nonsense from his overbearing and devoutly Christian father, Professor Alfred Seguine Kinsey (John Lithgow). Prok goes on to become a biology professor at Indiana University, initially focusing on the study of gall wasps. But those studies, in combination with questions from his students, coming to terms with the needs of sex with his own wife, a former student of his named Clara McMillen (Laura Linney) (whom he calls Mac), and what he sees as the gross misinformation on the subject currently within popular belief makes him change his focus to human sexuality. Many of those gross untruths - as he sees them - are that oral sex and masturbation cause a slew of maladies, which are perpetuated by what is presented in the university's hygiene class taught by Professor Thurman Rice (Tim Curry). With the approval of faculty head Herman Wells (Oliver Platt), Prok starts teaching his own wildly popular marriage course, talking about sex in a straightforwardly academic fashion. When he sees that morals don't necessarily mirror sexual behavior, he decides to conduct a massive sex survey with the assistance of students Wardell Pomeroy (Chris O'Donnell), Clyde Martin (Peter Sarsgaard), and Paul Gebhard (Timothy Hutton). He faces the issue of the funding required for the survey and public and political response to this controversial, and oft seen as taboo, subject. But in conducting the survey, he and Mac also face the issue of their own sexuality in relationship to their marriage, and the emotional and cultural aspects behind it, such as the notion of love. —Huggo
    • sexuality
    • character name as title
    • surname as title
    • lgbt plus
    • timeframe 1940s
    • 81 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Let's talk about sex.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for pervasive sexual content, including some graphic images and descriptions
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On the DVD commentary, writer and director Bill Condon revealed that he wanted to include, in a montage, a clip from I Love Lucy (1951), in which a character makes a joking reference to Dr. Alfred Kinsey's research. Condon says that he was unable to use the clip because Lucie Arnaz (the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) denied him the rights, offering very little explanation, aside from claiming that her parents would never allow themselves to be associated with Kinsey.
    • Goofs
      During the credits, the producers thank the "University of Indiana" when it is actually "Indiana University" of which Alfred Kinsey was a part. The university notified director Bill Condon of the mistake. Condon gave his word that it would be taken care of when the film went on general release, but the mistake remains.
    • Quotes

      Alfred Kinsey: Everybody's sin is nobody's sin, and everybody's crime is no crime at all.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of the film (following the main cast credits), a montage featuring Kinsey Institute footage of the mating habits of various animals is accompanied by "Fever" by Little Willie John.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason/Finding Neverland/Kinsey/After the Sunset (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Etudes, Opus 25
      (1832-6)

      Written by Frédéric Chopin

      Performed by Idil Biret

      Courtesy of Naxos of North America, Inc.

    User reviews212

    Review
    Top review
    Delving into the Taboo
    Sexual intercourse was something that was perfunctory for purposes of procreation, and was left intact under those circumstances until a person named Sigmund Freud came along. Freud's rudimentary experimentation with psycho-analytical behavior relevant to sex, as well as other intense emotions, brought on copious mores of conscious thoughts pertinent to the individual's taboo elements of their constitution such as the libido and the id!! By the late 1920's in America, Freud's elementary findings on sexual behavior motivated Alfred Kinsey to initiate research that purported the yearnings of many people nationwide about exposing their intimate desires concerning sex!! The revelation of such proclivities made Kinsey a phenomenon in sexual research after World War II!! Many people were mesmerized and intrigued by the Kinsey Report!!! Alfred Kinsey, a biologist by trade, was determined in his desire to attain a grass roots recognition of the myriad of actions that were predicated on impetuousness!! This movie's basic plot revealed Kinsey's desire for the exposure of the lewd endeavors and double entendre habits which afflicted many "different" people!! Such a depiction of this individual known as Alfred Kinsey sparked a milestone in sexual knowledge to the mainstream American public!!

    Liam Neeson did a tremendous job of acting as the role of Kinsey!! The entire film evoked a candid admission concerning lustful desires. If there were no such thing as desires about sex with so many people, Kinsey's research would not have been considered a breakthrough!! The film also points out that Kinsey's ideological binges with his research were often times halted by a lack of funding!!! Much of Kinsey's findings resonated to hedonistic wishes, much of them also translated to blatant intimacy!! Novice excursions with sexual deviancy made Kinsey and his wife educationally curious!! Attaining knowledge through various experimentation that both Kinsey and his wife engaged in, transcended infidelity and callous fruition, and relegated the two of them to the precarious plight of the ultimate guinea pigs!! These were emotions that were not sanctioned by love, rather, they were motivated by capricious lust!! Intellectual rumination on the motives of socially adverse carnality invoked a plethora of academic findings for Kinsey!! The end result of such research made Kinsey an unmitigated madman for the acquisition of perverted information!!

    I found this movie to be very consciously significant...It was very socially sensitizing, especially in terms of the comprehension of the dogged tenacity Kinsey had to expose the perplexing facts about sex!!! A critical component to unearthing facts about an issue such as sex was merely to talk about the issue of sex!! This film depicts Kinsey's determination to attain knowledge about the historical importance of research and development germane to human sexual behavior which altered the lifestyle patterns of American living!! The cinema accommodated provision to the movie audience for Kinsey's findings that were in fact revolutionary floodgates that opened the formulation of the attitudes people have today!! The introductory dialog to this film is outstanding, and excellent performances by Liam Neeson and Chris O'Donnell make this film worth watching over and over again!! Bottom line, See this movie at least once!!
    helpful•10
    6
    • dataconflossmoor
    • Sep 19, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 7, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • Fox Searchlight
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kinsey: El científico del sexo
    • Filming locations
      • Fordham University - 441 E. Fordham Road. Rose Hill, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Qwerty Films
      • N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,254,979
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $169,038
      • Nov 14, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,050,017
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Luke Macfarlane Inks Exclusive Multi-Picture Deal With Crown Media Family Networks
    Luke Macfarlane Inks Exclusive Multi-Picture Deal With Crown Media Family Networks
    May 4Deadline Film + TV
    Billy Eichner’s Rom-Com ‘Bros’ at Universal to Feature Entirely LGBTQ+ Cast, Luke Macfarlane Set as Co-Lead
    Billy Eichner’s Rom-Com ‘Bros’ at Universal to Feature Entirely LGBTQ+ Cast, Luke Macfarlane Set as Co-Lead
    Sep 23The Wrap

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)
    Top Gap
    What is the French language plot outline for Kinsey (2004)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.