What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Where to watch What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (US)

Checked 23 Oct 2026 · Streaming availability information provided by Streaming Availability API by Movie of the Night

The flop people found on video

What's Eating Gilbert Grape opened at Christmas, made around $9 million in America and didn't earn back its budget. Most people found it later on TV and video. Johnny Depp is Gilbert, stuck in a tiny Iowa town and holding together a family that can't hold itself together. He's the calm center, and everyone around him is where the film comes alive. His mother is played by Darlene Cates, who had never acted before. The filmmakers spotted her on a daytime talk show about people too heavy to leave the house.

DiCaprio's first Oscar nomination

Then there's Leonardo DiCaprio as Arnie, Gilbert's younger brother. He was 19, spent time with disabled kids to prepare, and said a lot of his performance was improvised. It earned him his first Oscar nomination. Depp got top billing, but the film belongs to the three of them. It's a heartbreaking portrait of a young man trapped by family duty, with performances that deserved far more attention than they got.

Cast and crew

Director: Lasse Hallström

Cast: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis