

Inventing the Abbotts
“When you want it all but can't have it, there's only one way to handle life... invent it.”
In the 1950s, brothers Jacey and Doug Holt, who come from the poorer side of their sleepy Midwestern town, vie for the affections of the wealthy, lovely Abbott sisters. Lady-killer Jacey alternates between Eleanor and Alice, wanting simply to break the hearts of rich young women. But sensitive Doug has a real romance with Pamela, which Jacey and the Abbott patriarch, Lloyd, both frown upon.
Where to watch Inventing the Abbotts in United States
Click a service to open Inventing the Abbotts there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Inventing the Abbotts streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | Disney Plus, Hoopla | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Disney Plus | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| France | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Spain | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Japan | — | FOD |
About Inventing the Abbotts
Inventing the Abbotts is a 1997 English-language drama and romance film directed by Pat O'Connor. The cast is led by Joaquin Phoenix, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly. It has a runtime of 1h 50m. Viewers rate it 6.3/10 across 300 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla.
Inventing the Abbotts was produced by Fox 2000 Pictures and Imagine Entertainment and made in United States of America. It was released on April 4, 1997, and carries a R certification. At the box office it grossed around $6 million worldwide.
- Director
- Pat O'Connor
- Writers
- Ken Hixon
- Release date
- April 4, 1997
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Box office
- $6 million
- Production
- Fox 2000 Pictures, Imagine Entertainment
Inventing the Abbotts cast & crew
Inventing the Abbotts was directed by Pat O'Connor and written by Ken Hixon.
The cast features Joaquin Phoenix as Doug Holt, Liv Tyler as Pamela Abbott, Jennifer Connelly as Eleanor Abbott, Billy Crudup as Jacey Holt, Joanna Going as Alice Abbott, and Kathy Baker as Helen Holt.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Michael Kamen, cinematography is by Kenneth MacMillan, and it was produced by Janet Meyers and Ron Howard.
Is Inventing the Abbotts worth watching?
Inventing the Abbotts holds an audience score of 6.3/10 from 263 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 1h 50m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and romance, Inventing the Abbotts is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Inventing the Abbotts
In United States, you can stream Inventing the Abbotts on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and Hoopla, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Inventing the Abbotts

Joaquin Phoenix
Doug Holt

Liv Tyler
Pamela Abbott

Jennifer Connelly
Eleanor Abbott

Billy Crudup
Jacey Holt

Joanna Going
Alice Abbott

Kathy Baker
Helen Holt

Will Patton
Lloyd Abbott

Michael Sutton
Steve

Garrett M. Brown
Webb Crosby

Barbara Williams
Joan Abbott

Alessandro Nivola
Peter Vanlaningham
Nicole M. Vassallo
Giggling Girl #1
Inventing the Abbotts — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Inventing the Abbotts in United States?
Inventing the Abbotts is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Hoopla in United States.
▸Is Inventing the Abbotts on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes — Inventing the Abbotts is currently available on Amazon Prime Video in United States.
▸What language is Inventing the Abbotts in?
Inventing the Abbotts is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Inventing the Abbotts?
Inventing the Abbotts runs 1 hours 50 minutes (110 minutes).
▸What is Inventing the Abbotts rated?
Inventing the Abbotts is rated R. It holds a 6.3/10 audience score from 263 ratings.











