62nd Academy Awards · 1990
Driving Miss Daisy
Directed by Bruce Beresford
“The funny, touching and totally irresistible story of a working relationship that became a 25-year friendship.”
The story
The story of an old Jewish widow named Daisy Werthan and her relationship with her black chauffeur, Hoke. From an initial mere work relationship grew in 25 years a strong friendship between the two very different characters, in a time when those types of relationships were shunned.
What critics & audiences say
Tomatometer85%Fresh#78 of 98 winnersFamous lines
If you know your letters, you can read. You just don't know you can read.
Mama, cars don't behave. They are behaved upon.
Oh, no, she's all there. Too-much-there is the problem!
Some days, she better than others... but then, who ain't?
Daisy Werthan: Did you have the air-conditioning checked? I told you to have the air-conditioning checked.
Hoke Colburn: I had the air-conditioning checked. I don't know what for. You never allow me to turn it on.
Daisy Werthan: Hush up!
Daisy Werthan: What are you doing?
Hoke Colburn: I'm tryin' to drive you to the store!
Sometimes I think you ain't got the sense God gave a lemon!
Hoke came to see me, not you!
Quotes via Wikiquote
Fun facts
- Driving Miss Daisy was the first Best Picture winner since 1932's Grand Hotel without a Best Director nomination, prompting Oscar host Billy Crystal to call it "the film that apparently directed itself."Wikipedia · Awards and nominations
- Eddie Murphy was the first choice to play Hoke Colburn but turned it down, explaining in 2025: "They actually developed that for me... I was like 'I ain't driving no Miss Daisy.'"Wikipedia · Production
- At age 80, Jessica Tandy became the oldest winner in history of the Academy Award for Best Actress.Wikipedia · Awards and nominations
- Hans Zimmer performed the entire score himself electronically on samplers and synthesizers, without a single live instrument.Wikipedia · Soundtrack
- Morgan Freeman reprised the role of Hoke from the original Off-Broadway production, and the film remains the only movie based on an off-Broadway show to win Best Picture.Wikipedia · Lead
- The film's Best Picture nomination over Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing was controversial; Lee later noted Driving Miss Daisy is "not being taught in film schools all across the world like Do the Right Thing is."Wikipedia · Critical response
- When The Hollywood Reporter polled academy members in 2015 to re-vote past close races, they said they would give this year's Best Picture to My Left Foot instead.Wikipedia · Oscar "test of time" recount
- The film opened in just three theaters, earning $73,745, before going wide weeks later, hitting No. 1 and grossing about $145.8 million worldwide.Wikipedia · Box office
- As of 2025, Driving Miss Daisy is the most recent PG-rated film to win Best Picture; every winner since has been rated PG-13 or R.Wikipedia · Lead
- Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a rare "A+" grade.Wikipedia · Critical response