Inventing the Abbotts is a 1997 rama film and romance film directed by Pat O'Connor, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Crudup, Liv Tyler, and Jennifer Connelly. The screenplay by Ken Hixon is based on a short story by Sue Miller. The original music score is composed by Michael Kamen. The film is marketed with the tagline "When you want it all but can't have it, there's only one way to handle life... invent it." Julie Benz has a small role as a co-ed who gets chatted up by Jacey Holt.