Garden State (2004)
A young man's melancholy homecoming becomes a whimsical journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance.
Andrew returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral, a journey that reconnects him with old friends. The trip coincides with his decision to stop taking his powerful antidepressants. A chance meeting with Sam—a girl also struggling with various maladies—opens up the possibility of rekindling emotional connections, confronting his psychologist father, and perhaps beginning a new life.
How intense is Garden State?
Garden State has no gore and no real violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch and a late-night trip. The humor runs dry. Rated R.
What Garden State feels like
- Tone
- melancholyintimatewhimsicalearnest
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- dry and witty
- Best for
- Full attentionLate night
Where to stream Garden State
Not on a US subscription service at our last check. Rent or buy may still be an option.
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 15, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Garden State for you?
Is Garden State scary?
No. Garden State is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is Garden State gory or violent?
No gore (0 of 3) and no real violence (0 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.
Is Garden State sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is Garden State OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 0, gore 0, violence 0, each out of 3.
How long is Garden State?
Garden State runs 1h 42m.
Where can I stream Garden State?
Garden State is not on a US subscription service right now (rent or buy may still be an option).
Does Garden State have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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