Citizen Ruth_
"Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She's gotta have it."
"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.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Citizen Ruth earned $285K against a $3.0M budget.
Alexander Payne →
Year context
Citizen Ruth was released 30 years ago in 1996.
CAST (20)
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
LR
Lance Rome
Ruth's Lover
JK
Jim Kalal
Tony Stoops
SD
Shea Degan
Arresting Officer
VM
Vince Morelli
ER Doctor
MT
Marilyn Tipp
Kathleen
LN
Lois Nemec
Sandy
TV
Tim Vandeberghe
Bail Clerk
SA
Sebastian Anzaldo III
Matthew Stoney
Alicia Witt
Cheryl Stoney
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$3.0M
Budget
$285K
Revenue
-90%
ROI
FLOP
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
104 min (1h 44m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.6/10 (143 votes)
Popularity
5
Budget
$3,000,000
Box Office
$285,112
Profit
$-2,714,888
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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.
How long is Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth has a runtime of 104 minutes (1h 44m).
Who directed Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth was directed by Alexander Payne.
Who stars in Citizen Ruth?
The cast of Citizen Ruth includes Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston.
How much did Citizen Ruth make at the box office?
Citizen Ruth earned $285,112 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $3,000,000.
What is the rating of Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth has a rating of 6.6 out of 10 based on 143 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (2)
Drama
Comedy
KEYWORDS (4)
judge
drug addiction
extremist
abortion