Citizen Ruth
“Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She's gotta have it.”
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Laura Dern, Kurtwood Smith and Alexander Payne reunite for CITIZEN RUTHOfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2026-05-04
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
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
Release History & Theatrical Window
37th Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 13, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 21, 1996
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$285K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.1x
-$2.7M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Screenplay & Story
- Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
- Original Score
- Rolfe Kent
- Original Title
- Citizen Ruth
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Production Budget
- $3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $285K
- Production Studios
- Miramax, Independent Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alexander Payne
Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Rolfe Kent
James Glennon
Kevin Tent
Cathy Konrad, Cary Woods
Department Leadership Roster
Alexander Payne
Director
Alexander Payne
Screenplay
Jim Taylor
Screenplay
Cathy Konrad
Producer
Cary Woods
Producer
James Glennon
Director of Photography
Kevin Tent
Editor
Jane Ann Stewart
Production Design
Tom McKinley
Costume Design
Rolfe Kent
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Citizen Ruth.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Citizen Ruth.
***Dramă***
Comedy Movies (Top Rated From 1960 To Today)
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1990
Alexander Payne
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Frequently Asked Questions About Citizen Ruth
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Citizen Ruth about?
"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.
Who directed Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth was directed by Alexander Payne.
Who stars in Citizen Ruth?
The principal cast of Citizen Ruth includes Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston.
When was Citizen Ruth released and how long is it?
Citizen Ruth was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 44m.
What was the box office and production budget of Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth had a reported production budget of $3M and grossed $285K at the worldwide box office (0.1 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Citizen Ruth?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Citizen Ruth was composed by Rolfe Kent.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).