Synopsis
"Citizen Ruth" is the story of Ruth Stoops, a woman who nobody even noticed -- until she got pregnant. Now, everyone wants a piece of her. The film is a comedy about one woman caught in the ultimate tug-of-war: a clash of wild, noisy, ridiculous people that rapidly dissolves into a media circus.
Citizen Ruth (1996) is a 1h 44min drama feature film by Alexander Payne. "Citizen Ruth" is the story of Ruth Stoops, a woman who nobody even noticed -- until she got pregnant. Selected for Los Angeles Film Awards (2025).
Key facts
Cast
Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, M.C. Gainey, Kenneth Mars, David Graf
Original language
English
First release
November 21, 1996 (Greece)
Production companies
Miramax
Setting
Nebraska
Crew
Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Producer
Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad
Cinematography
James Glennon
Editing
Kevin Tent
Music
Rolfe Kent
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Los Angeles Film Awards 2025
- Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2019 generic - Women in Comedy, Loud and Fabulous
- Portland Film Festival 2016
Titles
| Original title | Citizen Ruth | |
| Québec French title | Un sujet capital |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Greece | November 21, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United States | December 13, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Germany | May 15, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Spain | December 1, 1997 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video | Sweden | November 21, 1996 |
Full credits
| Director | Alexander Payne |
| Cast | Laura Dern (Ruth Stoops), Swoosie Kurtz (Diane Siegler), Kurtwood Smith (Norm Stoney), Mary Kay Place (Gail Stoney), Kelly Preston (Rachel), M.C. Gainey (Harlan), Kenneth Mars (Dr. Charlie Rollins), David Graf (Judge Richter), Kathleen Noone (Nurse Pat), Tippi Hedren (Jessica Weiss), Burt Reynolds (Blaine Gibbons), Lance Rome (Ruth's Lover), Jim Kalal (Tony Stoops), Shea Degan (Arresting Officer), Vince Morelli (ER Doctor), Marilyn Tipp (Kathleen), Lois Nemec (Sandy), Tim Vandeberghe (Bail Clerk), Sebastian Anzaldo III (Matthew Stoney), Alicia Witt (Cheryl Stoney), Mick McDonald (Party Dude), Okley Gibbs (Norm's Manager), Roberta Larson (Briana), Pam Carter (Fran), Steve Wheeldon (Kirk), John LaPuzza (Clinic Protestor), Billie Barnhouse-Diekman (Clinic Protestor), Susan Stern (Cindy Lindstrom), Jeffrey L. Goos (News Anchor), James Devney (Officer Iverson), Tim Driscoll (Officer Bundy), Caveh Zahedi (Peter), David Hirsch (Man in Motel Lobby), Gail Erwin (Woman in Motel Lobby), Tony Wike (Anecdote-telling Man), Sherry Josand Fletcher (Helpful Registration Woman), Jim Delmont (Press Conference Reporter), Dennis Grant (Don Mattox), Will Jamieson (Surveillance Guy), Jeremy Sczepaniak (Eric), Delaney Driscoll (Ruth's "Sister"), Robert O'Connell (Biker), Judith Hart (Sarah Schneider), Joan Pirkle (Dr. Cary Milton), Lorie Obradovich (Receptionist), Joan Hennecke (Nurse), Michael Tourek (Guy Hit by Toilet Lid), Katrina Christensen (Ruth's Kid), John Bell (Ruth's Kid), Jeffery Thomas Johnson (Harlan's Biker Friend), Fred Lovelace (Harlan's Biker Friend), Ed Morehouse (Harlan's Biker Friend), Jim Reinken (Harlan's Biker Friend), Wm. J. Billy Bob Muddle III (Harlan's Biker Friend), Diane Ladd (Ruth's Mother (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor |
| Producer | Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad |
| Cinematography | James Glennon |
| Editing | Kevin Tent |
| Music | Rolfe Kent |
| Production design | Jane Ann Stewart |
| Costumes | Tom McKinley |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
