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Chris O'Donnell, Drew Barrymore, Matthew Lillard, Robert Nadir, Joan Allen ... see more see more... , Jude Ciccolella , Kevin Dunn , Angela Hall , T.J. Lowther , Elaine Miles , Patrick Ryals , Amy Sakasitz , Sharon Collar , Liev Schreiber

A lonely teenager thinks that he's found love, but it turns out to be more than he bargained for. Matt Leland (Chris O'Donnell) is an intelligent but awkward high school student who is in the market f... read more read more...or a girlfriend but not having much luck finding one. One night, while looking at the stars through his telescope, Matt accidentally trains his vision on Casey Roberts (Drew Barrymore), a high-spirited girl who lives on the other side of the lake near their home. Matt is smitten with her, and he maps out a scheme to meet her. He finds her brash and charming, and she seems just as fond of him. However, Matt doesn't know that Casey is manic depressive and has been in and out of mental institutions for most of her life. Her father Richard (Jude Ciccolella) wants to keep her in an institution, while her mother Margaret (Joan Allen) wants the best for her daughter but isn't sure what that is. Casey, however, wants to be with Matt, and she convinces him that her parents mean to harm her. They run away, planning to go to Mexico, but Matt begins to realize that Casey's mood swings are more serious than he imagined. Set in Seattle, Mad Love features an on-screen appearance by the Washington-based all-female hard rock band 7 Year Bitch; the soundtrack also features music by Nirvana, Luscious Jackson, Los Lobos, Cracker, and Grant Lee Buffalo. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

49% liked it

19,560 ratings

Critics

28% liked it

25 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Antonia Bird

Release Date: May 26, 1995

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DVD Release Date: January 18, 2000

Stats: 507 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (507)


  • June 9, 2009
    Great title, but a pathetic tale of a high school senior drawn like a moth to a flame to manic-depressive Drew Barrymore, whose performance is little more than an annoying twitch.
  • June 26, 2008
    dull and pointless
  • November 30, 2007
    As I watched it the first time, I was ecstatic. As I continue to watch it now and then, I am still captivated enough. Great music, especially with "the waterskiing" scene using Nirvana's Love Buzz". Fantastic song!!
  • September 28, 2011
    Casey Roberts:This is forever isn't?
    Spoiler alert!
    This movie is about a young woman who has a mental illness and falls in love with a guy that goes to her school. What I liked most about this movie was that it shows what real love is. Real love is sometimes letting someone go s... read moreo that he/she may get the help they need. That is what Chris O'Donnell does in this movie. He lets Casey go so she can get better. It was probably hard for him but he loves her so much that he does it. I also liked the soundtrack in this movie-good music.
  • August 28, 2009
    I really have to see this again, but I know that it was a very good movie about a bipoler woman who just wanted to be free. Or at least that was my take on it.
  • June 10, 2009
    found this during my "i love chris o'donnell" phase. i think it's a decent love story, and i really like drew barrymore's work in this one.
  • February 3, 2009
    When i 1st saw this movie it was like .. it hit very close to home! LOVE this movie, and still belive it to be one of my favorite ones
  • January 24, 2009
    this is about how mentally ill people can never have a normal existence or loving relationship cause they will freak out on vacation. i liked it.
  • May 22, 2008
    that was one of the best movies i have ever seen in my life. it is kinda sad but not to bad at all. but a very good movie
  • June 10, 2007
    A not too bad of a film about teenage love. Drew Barrymore as a mentally ill girl who falls for a guy whom both run off, but he realises she needs help. An interesting film with a great story.

Critic Reviews


Emanuel Levy
August 21, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Though well-acted by Chris O'Donnell and Drerw Barrymore, this is yet another version of amour fou and love on the run that makes little sense and fails to reach the heart. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Almost dreadful enough to spark reassessment of Brooke Shields in Endless Love.

Eric Monder
March 1, 2007
Eric Monder, Film Journal International

Despite the old-fashioned ideology, at least Mad Love is good to look at. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

January 18, 2003
Toronto Star

Click to read the article Full Review

October 12, 2002
Houston Chronicle

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September 20, 2002
Chicago Tribune

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September 9, 2002
Boston Globe

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V.A. Musetto
August 31, 2002
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

No review available.

Stephen Holden
August 30, 2002
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Mad Love : Watch Free on TV


Mad Love Trivia


  • In the movie "Mad Love" starring Drew ...What girl band made a cameo appearance in a local seattle bar?  Answer »
  • Movie that included Chris O'Donnell, Matthew Lillard, Drew Barrymore and Joan Allen in the cast. (hint 1995)  Answer »
  • Which movie stars Chris O'Donnel and Drew Barrymore?  Answer »
  • a masked mad man, an opera house, a fire, and a love story for the ages  Answer »

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