# Georgia Rule > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Georgia_Rule > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Georgia_Rule.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Rule > Source revision: 1356948138 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|2007 film by Garry Marshall}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Georgia Rule | image = Georgia rule.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [Garry Marshall](/source/Garry_Marshall) | screenplay = [Mark Andrus](/source/Mark_Andrus) | producer = {{ubl|David Robinson|[James G. Robinson](/source/Morgan_Creek_Entertainment)}} | starring = {{plainlist| * [Jane Fonda](/source/Jane_Fonda) * [Lindsay Lohan](/source/Lindsay_Lohan) * [Felicity Huffman](/source/Felicity_Huffman) * [Dermot Mulroney](/source/Dermot_Mulroney) * [Cary Elwes](/source/Cary_Elwes) * [Garrett Hedlund](/source/Garrett_Hedlund)}} | cinematography = [Karl Walter Lindenlaub](/source/Karl_Walter_Lindenlaub) | editing = {{ubl|[Bruce Green](/source/Bruce_Green)|Tara Timpone}} | music = [John Debney](/source/John_Debney) | studio = [Morgan Creek Productions](/source/Morgan_Creek_Entertainment) | distributor = [Universal Pictures](/source/Universal_Pictures) | released = {{Film date|2007|05|11}} | runtime = 113 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $20 million{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Georgia-Rule|title=Georgia Rule (2007) - Financial Information|website=The Numbers}} | gross = $25 million }} '''''Georgia Rule''''' is a 2007 American [comedy-drama](/source/Comedy_drama) film directed by [Garry Marshall](/source/Garry_Marshall) and written by [Mark Andrus](/source/Mark_Andrus). It stars [Jane Fonda](/source/Jane_Fonda), [Lindsay Lohan](/source/Lindsay_Lohan) and [Felicity Huffman](/source/Felicity_Huffman). The film follows a rebellious teenager (Lohan) who is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother (Fonda) when her frustrated mother (Huffman) cannot control her unruly behavior. [Dermot Mulroney](/source/Dermot_Mulroney), [Cary Elwes](/source/Cary_Elwes), [Garrett Hedlund](/source/Garrett_Hedlund), [Laurie Metcalf](/source/Laurie_Metcalf), and [Héctor Elizondo](/source/H%C3%A9ctor_Elizondo) also appear in supporting roles. ''Georgia Rule'' was theatrically released in the United States on May 11, 2007, by [Universal Pictures](/source/Universal_Pictures). The production of the film came to media attention when a warning letter from [Morgan Creek Productions](/source/Morgan_Creek_Entertainment) CEO [James G. Robinson](/source/James_G._Robinson) to Lohan was leaked online on [The Smoking Gun](/source/The_Smoking_Gun); in it, Robinson criticized Lohan's heavy partying and lateness on set. ''Georgia Rule'' was widely panned by critics, but the lead cast (Fonda, Lohan and Huffman) was praised for their performances. Having grossed $25 million against a [budget](/source/Production_budget) of $20 million, the film is considered a [box-office bomb](/source/box-office_bomb). ==Plot== Rachel Wilcox is a [promiscuous](/source/promiscuous), heavy-drinking young woman, whose [drug addiction](/source/Substance_abuse) and rebellious ways are starting to spiral out of control. With her repeated negative behavior, she has violated the final rule in her mother Lily's [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) home. With nowhere else to take her, Lily hauls her to the one place she swore she would never return to: her grandmother Georgia's house in [Idaho](/source/Idaho). Georgia Randall lives life by a few definitive rules—God comes first and hard work reigns—and whoever is under her roof must do the same. Saddled with her granddaughter for the summer, she needs great patience to understand her fury. Georgia gets her a receptionist job for Dr. Simon Ward, the local veterinarian, who also treats people. His nephews, Sam and Ethan, are often at Georgia's. As Simon does not show interest in Rachel or other women, she thinks he is gay. However, his sister Paula Richards tells her he is mourning the death of his wife and son, killed in a car accident three years earlier. He refuses to have sex with Rachel even when she tries to seduce him but retains some feelings for her mother Lily, who he once dated. Rachel performs [oral sex](/source/oral_sex) on Harlan Wilson, not yet married and still a virgin because of his [LDS (Mormon) religion](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints). He confesses to his girlfriend, June Smith, who is shocked. Later, a team of LDS girls spy on Harlan and Rachel to make sure he does not have sex again. After chasing them with Harlan's truck, Rachel explains to them that what happened is over and they can go back to having their summer fun. They agree, but tell Rachel to go home, leading her to threaten them by saying if they have anything to do with her and Harlan again, she will find all of their boyfriends and "f*** them stupid". This shocks the girls into stopping their spying and insulting of Rachel. While trying to make a point to Simon about her survival, Rachel bluntly says that her stepfather, Arnold, sexually molested her when she was between the ages of 12 and 14. Seeing the effect of her revelation, Rachel tries to convince him she lied. However, Simon tells Georgia about the abuse, and in turn, Georgia tells Lily, who initially thinks she is lying. Heartbroken, Lily comes to believe her daughter. She begins to drink heavily and asks Arnold for a divorce. When he arrives at her house, Georgia tells him to leave, refusing to let him in the house. She hits him with a baseball bat and finally threatens his new [Ferrari](/source/Ferrari). Rachel sees that Lily cannot accept the truth, so she lies to her and says she wasn't molested. At the motel where Arnold is staying, Rachel tells him that she has a videotape of them having sex when she was 14 and, while seeming not to believe her, decides to back away from the family. She demands 10 million dollars if he does not keep Lily happy and admits to him she lied and told Lily he didn't molest her because she does not want her to be upset anymore. On the way back to San Francisco, when Arnold tells Lily he is giving Rachel his Ferrari, Lily realizes he is guilty. Lily flies into a rage and Arnold finally admits to having molested Rachel, saying that she seduced him, that Lily's [alcoholism](/source/alcoholism) drove him to it, and that Rachel enjoyed it. Arnold drives off and leaves Lily to walk back. Georgia, Simon, Rachel and Harlan catch up with her in Harlan's [pickup truck](/source/pickup_truck), and a tearful Rachel apologizes to her mother for her behavior. Harlan tells Georgia he is in love with Rachel, and plans to marry her when he returns from his two-year mission. ==Cast== {{Cast listing| * [Jane Fonda](/source/Jane_Fonda) as Georgia Randall, Lily's estranged mother and Rachel's rule-abiding grandmother. * [Lindsay Lohan](/source/Lindsay_Lohan) as Rachel Wilcox, a [promiscuous](/source/promiscuous), drug addicted, heavy-drinking young woman, Lily's daughter and Georgia's granddaughter * [Felicity Huffman](/source/Felicity_Huffman) as Lily Wilcox, Georgia's daughter and Rachel's mother who married Arnold * [Dermot Mulroney](/source/Dermot_Mulroney) as Dr. Simon Ward, the local veterinarian and Lily's high-school friend * [Cary Elwes](/source/Cary_Elwes) as Arnold * [Garrett Hedlund](/source/Garrett_Hedlund) as Harlan Wilson * [Laurie Metcalf](/source/Laurie_Metcalf) as Paula Richards * [Héctor Elizondo](/source/H%C3%A9ctor_Elizondo) as Izzy * [Dylan McLaughlin](/source/Dylan_McLaughlin) as Sam * [Zachary Gordon](/source/Zachary_Gordon) as Ethan * Tereza Stanislav as violin teacher * [Fred Applegate](/source/Fred_Applegate_(actor)) as townie #1 * Cynthia Ferrer as townie #2 * [Destiney Moore](/source/Destiney_Sue_Moore) as waitress * [Christine Lakin](/source/Christine_Lakin) as Grace * [Chelse Swain](/source/Chelse_Swain) as June Smith * [Shea Curry](/source/Shea_Curry) as Melody }} ==Production== Ostensibly set in [Idaho](/source/Idaho), per the ending credits and [DVD](/source/DVD-Video) extras, the film was actually shot in [Southern California](/source/Southern_California), and much of the scenery was created with [computer-generated imagery](/source/computer-generated_imagery). The production of ''Georgia Rule'' came to media attention when a warning letter from [Morgan Creek Productions](/source/Morgan_Creek_Entertainment) CEO [James G. Robinson](/source/James_G._Robinson) to [Lindsay Lohan](/source/Lindsay_Lohan) was leaked online on [The Smoking Gun](/source/The_Smoking_Gun); in it, he criticized her heavy partying and lateness on set, calling her "discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional" and comparing her to a "spoiled child".{{Cite web|url=https://www.accessonline.com/articles/lindsay-lohan-the-truth-behind-the-georgia-rule-rumors-59323|title=Lindsay Lohan: The Truth Behind The 'Georgia Rule' Rumors | Access Online|website=Access|date=9 May 2007 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/hollywood-big-blasts-lohan|title=Hollywood Big Blasts Lohan|date=June 12, 2014|website=The Smoking Gun}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-rule-controversy-haunts-lohan/|title="Georgia Rule" Controversy Haunts Lohan|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=9 May 2007 }} ==Reception== ===Critical response=== ''Georgia Rule'' was panned by critics. The film earned a ''Rotten'' rating on [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes), with a score of 19% from 116 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Comedic and dramatic in all the wrong places, ''Georgia Rule'' is a confused [dramedy](/source/Comedy_drama) that wastes the talents of its fine cast."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/georgia_rule|title=Georgia Rule (2007)|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}} The film also had a low rating on [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic) with a score of 25, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/georgia-rule|title=Georgia Rule|via=www.metacritic.com}} Audiences polled by [CinemaScore](/source/CinemaScore) gave the film an average grade of "B-" on an A+ to F scale.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=CinemaScore |language=en-US}} ''Georgia Rule'' was rated the second worst movie of 2007 by [AOL](/source/AOL).{{Cite web|url=http://movies.aol.com/movie-photo/best-movies-of-2007|title=Yahoo|website=movies.aol.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512085120/http://movies.aol.com/movie-photo/best-movies-of-2007 |archive-date=2008-05-12 }} ===Home media=== ''Georgia Rule'' was released on DVD on September 4, 2007. The [Blu-ray](/source/Blu-ray) was released by [Shout! Factory](/source/Shout!_Factory), under their Shout Select label, on July 12, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/georgia-rule?product_id=7844|title=Georgia Rule - Blu-ray - Shout! Factory|website=shoutfactory.com}} ==Awards and nominations== {{more citations needed section|date=October 2025}} The film received two nominations at the [2007 Teen Choice Awards](/source/2007_Teen_Choice_Awards), for "[Choice Movie – Chick Flick](/source/Teen_Choice_Award_for_Choice_Movie_-_Chick_Flick)" and "Choice Actress – Drama" for Lohan's performance. Felicity Huffman received a [Prism Award](/source/Prism_Award) nomination for "Best Performance in a Feature Film", with the movie winning "Best Feature Film". {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !align="left"|Year !align="left"|Ceremony !align="left"|Award !align="left"|Result |- |rowspan="2"|2007 |rowspan="2"|[Teen Choice Awards](/source/2007_Teen_Choice_Awards) |[Choice Movie – Chick Flick](/source/Teen_Choice_Award_for_Choice_Movie_%E2%80%93_Romance) |{{nom}} |- |Choice Movie Actress – Drama: Lindsay Lohan |{{nom}} |- |rowspan="4"|2008 |rowspan="2"|[Prism Awards](/source/Entertainment_Industries_Council) |[Best Feature Film](/source/Prism_Award){{Cite web |title=EIC {{!}} Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. |url=http://www.eiconline.org/resources/mediacenter/pressreleases.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705014023/http://www.eiconline.org/resources/mediacenter/pressreleases.php |archive-date=2008-07-05 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.eiconline.org}} |{{won}} |- |Performance in a Feature Film: Felicity Huffman{{Cite web |title=PRISM Awards >> News & Press |url=http://prismawards.com/about/news_12th_prism_nominees.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930164629/http://prismawards.com/about/news_12th_prism_nominees.asp |archive-date=2008-09-30 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=prismawards.com}} |{{nom}} |- |rowspan="2"|[Young Artist Awards](/source/29th_Young_Artist_Awards){{Cite web |title=29th Annual Young Artist Awards - Nominations / Special Awards |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms29.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706161000/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms29.html |archive-date=2008-07-06 |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.youngartistawards.org}} |Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor – Comedy or Musical: Zachary Gordon |{{won}} |- |Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor – Comedy or Musical: Dylan McLaughlin |{{nom}} |- |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{wikiquote}} * {{IMDb title}} * {{Mojo title|georgiarule|Georgia Rule}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}} * {{Metacritic film}} * [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/movies/11geor.html ''New York Times'' Review] {{Garry Marshall}} Category:2007 American films Category:2007 films Category:2007 comedy-drama films Category:2000s coming-of-age comedy-drama films Category:2007 English-language films Category:American coming-of-age comedy-drama films Category:Films about dysfunctional families Category:Films directed by Garry Marshall Category:Films scored by John Debney Category:Films set in Idaho Category:Films set in San Francisco Category:Films shot in Los Angeles Category:Fiction about Mormonism Category:Morgan Creek Productions films Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships Category:Universal Pictures films Category:English-language comedy-drama films --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Georgia Rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Rule) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Rule?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.