Product Details

• Actors: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Ross Malinger, Rita Wilson, Victor Garber
• Directors: Nora Ephron
• Writers: Nora Ephron, David S. Ward, Jeff Arch
• Producers: Delia Ephron, Gary Foster, James W. Skotchdopole, Jane Bartelme
• Format: PAL
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (204 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004CWPA
• For more information about "Sleepless in Seattle" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The director and stars of 1998's You've Got Mail scoreda breakthrough hit with this hugely popular romantic comedy from 1993, about a recently engaged woman (Meg Ryan) who hears the sad story of a grieving widower (Tom Hanks) on the radio and believes that they're destined to be together. She's single in New York, he lives in Seattle with a young son, but the cross-country attraction proves irresistible, and pretty soon Meg's on a westbound flight. What happens from there is ... well, you must have been living in a cave to have let this sweet-hearted comedy slip below your pop-cultural radar. There's little complexity or depth to writer-director Nora Ephron's cheesy tale of a romantic fait accompli, and more than a little contrivance to the subplots that threaten to keep Hanks and Ryan from actually meeting. But the purity of star chemistry here is hard to deny, and this may be the first film to indicate the more serious and sympathetic side of Hanks that is revealed in later roles. With its clever jokes about "chick movies" and repeated homage to the classic weeper An Affair to Remember, this may not be everybody's brand of amorous entertainment, but it's got an old-Hollywood charm that appeals to many a movie fan. --Jeff Shannon

From The New Yorker

A romantic comedy, of sorts. The romance is airy and distant, because the lovers never meet until the final scene, and the comedy is kind of wistful, because it was directed by Nora Ephron. She is still a writer at heart, and it shows-there are scenes here that linger well past their bedtime, all for the sake of a few good lines. Tom Hanks plays Sam, left miserable by the death of his wife, with only his young son, Jonah (Ross Malinger), to console him. The consolation goes a bit far; Jonah rings up a radio talk show to say that his dad needs love (this is almost unwatchable, but grit your teeth and stay with it). Many listeners melt with sympathy, none more so than Annie (Meg Ryan), in Baltimore, shortly to be married and none too happy about it. For the rest of the movie, fate-and Jonah-do their best to bring the couple together, despite the continent that divides them. The result is sweet and moody, and richly photographed by Sven Nykvist, but you can't help feeling shortchanged; Hanks and Ryan have quick wits, and funny faces to match-they should be striking sparks off each other, not mooching around waiting for something to happen. Hanks has a few goofy outbursts, and there is lively backup from Rosie O'Donnell and Rob Reiner as helpful friends, but anyone expecting another "When Harry Met Sally ...'' will be disappointed. At least Harry met Sally. -Anthony Lane
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Magic, November 23, 2001

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleepless in Seattle [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Some people have songs, my husband and I have a movie. We not only met in Seattle, my husband lived next to Lake Union, very close to where this movie was made. He actually saw them filming scenes from the movie.

You could say the roles were a bit reversed, being I was the one getting over a relationship and he was not really looking at the time. Having lived in Seattle for many years, I especially enjoyed seeing scenes from Pike Place Market and West Seattle.

Rosie O'Donnell adds to the wit with lines like: "You want to be in love in a movie." Tom Hanks gives a sensitive performance as Sam who lost the love of his life. He and his son Jonah, live on Lake Union. Annie (Meg Ryan) is caught up with plans for her wedding. She is engaged and not looking for love. Yet, as it so often happens, love does appear when you are not looking.

One night Annie hears a radio show where Jonah has called in to ask how his father could find a new wife. The radio host invites Sam to reveal his heart and Annie literally cries when he says how his wife used to make everything in his life beautiful. She makes a connection and starts fantasizing about a man she has never met.

The songs are masterfully woven into the story and provides a feeling of old fashioned romance, where destiny draws two lovers to one another. There is also a sense of family and how everyone has needs and desires. Jonah especially wants a mother. Annie and Sam don't really know what they want, but they do get what they need. I found that very true to life.

Wit, chemistry, laugh-out-loud humor and romance, romance, romance! Worth watching at least once a year during the holiday season!

Dreamy!

~The Rebecca Review

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sleepless in Seattle, March 26, 2008

By 

Kelly "Reviewer for The Sinfully Sensuous" (Littleton, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

This is a wonderful timeless romantic drama. Annie Reed is heading to see her family on Christmas Eve and is listening to a radio call in show. One of the callers is eight year old Jonah who tells the audience that his dad needs a new wife. After it comes out that Jonah's mom died, and dad Sam is put on the spot to talk to the radio shrink on air, women all over the country fall in love with this man that loved his deceased wife so passionately. Annie is determined to meet Sam because she feels a strong pull toward Sam and Jonah. When they meet, destiny is forged. This well acted film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan closely follows another beloved classic An Affair to Remember. There are some funny moments, but it is the drama that captures the audience. It reiterates the old saying that love conquers all.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My absolute favourite movie @}->---, November 19, 2006

By 

Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

Other than The Breakfast Club, Sleepless in Seattle is my all time favourite movie. I know it's older now, but to me I will always watch it over and over again. I like to watch it a couple of times a year because I always enjoy it and never tire of it.
As everyone probably knows, Tom Hanks and his son move from Chicago to Seattle after Tom's wife dies and they need a new start. Hoping to find a new love for his father, Jonah calls a radio station to speak on a talk show to help his dad out. Their radio call name is Sleepless in Seattle. Listening to the conversation all the way in Washington DC is Meg Ryan who has just announced her engagement to Bill Pullman. She seems to fall in love with Sam (Tom Hanks) instantly as she finishes his sentances and is hooked by his story. Being a writer, she does a story on him and finds herself wanting to get in touch with him. She makes the journey over to Seattle and manages to say Hello to him (before almost getting hit by cars on a busy road). She backs off after thinking that he's in a relationship already and heads back home. All the while through the movie, these events parallel the movie An Affair To Remember, so eventually there is an arranged meeting for Annie and Sam on top of the Empire State Building on Valentines Day (Sam hasn't arranged any of this; Jonah has done all the correspondance without his knowledge). Long story short, you can gauge the rest of the story line. It's fun and enjoyable and yes it's a chick flick but there is nothing wrong with that.
There is some great acting in it by Jonah (Ross Malinger) and the chemistry between Hanks and Ryan is always great to watch (although they don't have many scenes together). I really love this and I don't imagine there being another great love story like this one. Nora Ephron did a great job with the screenplay and I will never get sick of watching this movie. It really is fantastic.