Six Degrees of Separation

88% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 71% Audience Score 10,000+ Ratings Privileged art dealers Flan (Donald Sutherland) and Ouisa (Stockard Channing) are hosting a dinner party when Paul (Will Smith), a blood-soaked young man, arrives on their doorstep. He claims to be a friend of their Ivy League children, and charms his way into the house. But when the couple discover the truth about Paul and his real identity, they kick him out. As the couple trades stories with their friends about Paul, his presence proves surprisingly hard to shake. Read More Read Less

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Six Degrees of Separation

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Critics Consensus

Though it betrays its theatrical roots, Six Degrees of Separation largely succeeds thanks to astute direction and fine performances -- particularly from an against-type Will Smith.

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Critics Reviews

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Six Degrees of Separation | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

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Six Degrees of Separation | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

Daniel Fienberg

Zap2it.com

It walks like a play and talks like a play, but thanks to the gentle direction and the performances from the crack cast -- particularly Channing and a never-better Smith -- it's satisfying as a movie.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 8, 2005

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Six Degrees of Separation | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

Ben Falk

BBC.com

Rated: 4/5

Apr 17, 2001

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Six Degrees of Separation | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

Steve Warren

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Six Degrees of Separation is a bit intellectual for a mass audience, but it's got some very funny moments and is loaded with thought-provoking social satire.

May 9, 2023

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Six Degrees of Separation | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

Jane Freebury

The Canberra Times (Australia)

It was the first major film role for Will Smith, and some would say that despite the star he has become in years since, this early role is still his best.

Aug 17, 2022

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Six Degrees of Separation | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

Steve Persall

Tampa Bay Times

A mystery wrapped inside an enigmatic nation, flawlessly acted and difficult to predict. I'm always impressed when a movie informs about a foreign culture while it entertains, and this one is powerful art in that regard.

Rated: A

Mar 2, 2012

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Audience Reviews

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Gerry M After a few minutes - too queer for me - avoid. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review Mitch C Knowing the high powered cast, I hung in there. The fine acting, occasionally humorous dialog and semi-relevant social commentary fails to overcome the problem. It's a giant bore. Pass. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/20/23 Full Review farah r An unusual film that feels more like a play than a motion picture. Six Degrees of Separation struggles with pacing issues and delivering a clear message but benefits from combing comedy and drama to alleviate the monotony of its narrative. Will Smith takes on a role unlike his usual and gives it his all, raising the question of why his career was spent playing action heroes. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A lot of fun. Smith's star turn is worth watching really for how it lampoons affluent Upper East siders. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm really thrown for a loop with this film. Trying to figure out the characters and how they will evolve over the course of the film. I can't tell if this movie is so bad it is good or so good that its bad. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member I like the portrayal of rich white people in it.Other than that it doesn't really offer much. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Fred Schepisi Director Stockard Channing Ouisa Will Smith Paul Donald Sutherland Flan Bruce Davison Larkin Ian McKellen Geoffrey

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Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation: Official Clip - I Loved That Shirt!