The Notebook poster

2004·123 min·Released

The Notebook

“Behind every great love is a great story.”

Romance
Drama

An epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to a woman with Alzheimer's. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths.

7.9(12,658 votes)

Popularity21

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Cast & Crew

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling

Noah Calhoun

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams

Allie Hamilton

Gena Rowlands

Gena Rowlands

Older Allie

James Garner

James Garner

Older Noah "Duke"

Joan Allen

Joan Allen

Anne Hamilton

David Thornton

David Thornton

John Hamilton

James Marsden

James Marsden

Lon Hammond

Kevin Connolly

Kevin Connolly

Fin

Sam Shepard

Sam Shepard

Frank Calhoun

Starletta DuPois

Starletta DuPois

Nurse Esther

Ed Grady

Ed Grady

Harry

Jennifer Echols

Jennifer Echols

Nurse Selma

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CinemaSerf

Written on 9/4/2023

A gently touching look at an elderly couple who must deal with present day mental illness told through a retrospective of their not uneventful lives. Rachel McAdams is "Allie", a young girl from a wealthy family who falls for "Noah" (Ryan Gosling) but her mother wants much better for her, so takes her away to their city home and keeps all of his (365) letters. He joins the Army and fights in WWII and, after time, she meets the handsome, wealthy James Marsden ("Lon") but before she marries, she returns to their old stomping ground and... To be fair, the young love/boy from the wrong side of the tracks story elements of the plot are a bit old hat. It's the delicate mechanics of the film that work best - James Garner ("Duke") is reading a story to dementia suffered "Allie" (Gena Rowlands) about the shenanigans of a young couple in the 1940s without us necessarily realising how poignant and apposite his story is. Gradually we become more invested in their lives and as the story starts to knit together, we start to appreciate just how hard it can be for a couple where one has this most cruel of illnesses. Good performances all around, and from Joan Allen as her interfering mother make this an engaging drama with a sharp end!

r96sk

Written on 1/11/2024

Touching! Despite evidently not watching this until today, I've always heard about the sad tag that many associate with <em>'The Notebook'</em> - and I can see why. Given I didn't know anything other than that, I was not anticipating how the film portrays its story - which is effective and rather heartbreaking. I'm not one to get properly emotional to movies, though hit the feels this one does still certainly do. The film features impressive performances from Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, as well as James Garner and Gena Rowlands. In smaller roles, Joan Allen and James Marsden are relatively solid too. If I had to nitpick, which it would very much be, I would've shortened the run time ever so slightly; could've been wrapped up quicker, but no biggie.

Wuchak

Written on 5/4/2025

**_Love story in the 1940s near the coast of South Carolina_** An aged man at a nursing home (James Garner) reads a romantic tale of two young lovers around the WW2 years (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) to a woman with dementia (Gena Rowlands). Sam Shepard plays the young man’s father while James Marsden is on hand as his competitor. "The Notebook” (2004) comes in the tradition of romantic dramas like “Message in a Bottle,” “A River Runs through It” and “Legends of the Fall.” It may not be as good as “River,” but it’s not as contrived as “Message” and arguably on par with “Legends.” There are bits that also bring to mind two movies from 1991, “Paradise” and “The Man in the Moon.” If you appreciate any of these flicks, you’ll probably like this one. Rachel is a highlight, naturally, and you can’t beat the 1940s milieu. The end goes on a little too long, however. It runs 2 hours, 4 minutes, and was shot mostly on location in the greater Charleston area, as well just outside Montreal for the wintery battlefield sequence and Los Angeles for the rocky beach scene. GRADE: B

badelf

Written on 6/26/2026

My wife and I, being of a certain age, find this film to be one of the most poignant and heartwarming love stories ever read, heard, or seen (* Doctor Zhivago notwithstanding). Yes, it's quite predictable, but that doesn't influence the score. If you are younger, all I can say is, may you be blessed with such a love.

Media

Allie and Noah: “It Still Isn’t Over”

Allie and Noah: “It Still Isn’t Over”

Allie & Noah: "A White House With Blue Shutters"

Allie & Noah: "A White House With Blue Shutters"

Noah & Allie Reunite After 7 Years

Noah & Allie Reunite After 7 Years

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Like A Dream

Like A Dream