# What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/whats-eating-gilbert-grape-1993/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 81% |
| Critic Score | 90% |
| Audience Score | 89% |
| Metascore | 73/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.8/5 |
| IMDb | 7.7/10 |
| Director | Lasse Hallström |
| Genres | Romance, Drama |
| Runtime | 118 min |

## Quick answer

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) earns a 81% Celluloid Score — Recommended. DiCaprio’s Oscar-nominated Arnie — a breakthrough supporting turn opposite Johnny Depp in small-town Iowa. Metascore 73/100. Directed by Lasse Hallström.

## Critics consensus

DiCaprio’s Oscar-nominated Arnie — a breakthrough supporting turn opposite Johnny Depp in small-town Iowa.

## Synopsis

Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.

## Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Darlene Cates, Laura Harrington, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Kevin Tighe, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover

## Common questions

**Is What's Eating Gilbert Grape worth watching?**
What's Eating Gilbert Grape holds a 81% Celluloid Score. DiCaprio’s Oscar-nominated Arnie — a breakthrough supporting turn opposite Johnny Depp in small-town Iowa.

**What is What's Eating Gilbert Grape about?**
Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.

**Who directed What's Eating Gilbert Grape?**
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) was directed by Lasse Hallström.

**What is the Celluloid Score of What's Eating Gilbert Grape?**
81% — the average of five public sources: critics 90%, audience 89%, Metascore 73/100, Letterboxd 3.8/5, and IMDb 7.7/10.

**Where can I watch What's Eating Gilbert Grape?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the What's Eating Gilbert Grape page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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