The Sessions

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The Sessions

R

2012

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

197 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver (Annika Marks) scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Green (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity.

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Critics Consensus

Tender, funny, and touching, The Sessions provides an acting showcase for its talented stars and proves it's possible for Hollywood to produce a grown-up movie about sex.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 7, 2017

C-

The story isn't as provocative as it tries to be, and the contrived romance is just as frustrating to watch unfold.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

Sep 1, 2017

4/5

The Sessions could easily have slipped into schmaltz, but it's an unexpectedly funny delight, thanks in part to sterling work from Helen Hunt and John Hawkes.

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Charlotte Ross

London Evening Standard

Jan 18, 2013

4/5

Satisfaction guaranteed? Pretty much.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 28, 2025

4/5

"The Sessions" shows a heartfelt and honest portrayal what the idea of sexual satisfaction and conquest mean to a person, especially one that can't just go out and perform the way everyone else can.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 21, 2022

2.5/4

Lewin examines the potentially taboo subject of disabled people having intercourse in a matter-of-fact way that breaches the topic by rendering it a non-issue.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 22, 2020

4.0/4.0

It is very seldom that I find virtually everything that I want within the confines of a single film.

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Gareth v

@geewah Aug 13, 2025

The Sessions balances sensitive subject matter with warmth and respect, avoiding cheap sentimentality. While it occasionally leans into a familiar indie drama rhythm, its honesty and emotional depth make it stand out.

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Rosana B

@RosanaBotafogo Feb 16, 2025

Pensando inicialmente ser um drama ficcional retratado de maneira fofinha e engraçadinha, mas qual não foi minha surpresa ao pesquisar e descobrir que é baseado num artigo de 1990 "On Seeing a Sex Surrogate" de Mark O'Brien , um poeta paralisado do pescoço para baixo devido à poliomielite, que contratou uma substituta sexual para perder a virgindade, que relato lindo e triste… Muito emocionante, sensível, relatos necessário, não capacitista, realista e divertido... Inspirador e excitante...

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Jason H

@RT63227314 Aug 27, 2024

Love from a worm's-eye-view of the disabled. Very self-centered to begin with and as you walk through life through that self-centered lens you just realized you're just missing out on all the kinds of "flavors of love" life has to offer.

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Anjum K

@RT90179324 May 17, 2023

Too little was expressed in the means of emotions.

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Cees T

@RT15093300 Apr 11, 2023

Kinda jealous ngl. 7/10 - Good.

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Jan 30, 2023

An empathetically mature, light-hearted grown-up film with a fragile topic that secondarily intrigues behind the star power's praised caliber to find genuine tenderness in their sensitive approach along with comedic amusement being their smartest degree. (B)

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Ben Lewin

Director

John Hawkes

Mark O'Brien

Helen Hunt

Cheryl

William H. Macy

Father Brendan

Moon Bloodgood

Vera

Annika Marks

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Synopsis

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes) maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver (Annika Marks) scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Green (Helen Hunt) to lose his virginity.

Director: Ben Lewin
Producer: Judi Levine, Stephen Nemeth
Screenwriter: Ben Lewin
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Fox Searchlight
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Frank Dialogue|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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