It tells the story of the narrator's struggle to overcome the psychological damage inflicted by his dysfunctional childhood in South Carolina.

The father was a shrimp boat operator and, despite being successful, spent his money on frivolous business pursuits, leaving the family in poverty.

He called the film "an assured and very serious love story that allows neither humor nor romance to get in the way of its deeper and darker subject", adding that "Streisand shows herself as a director who likes emotional stories - but doesn't simplify them, and pays attention to the human quirks and strangeness of her characters".

[10] Variety wrote: "A deeply moving exploration of the tangled emotions of a dysfunctional Southern family, this lovingly crafted (though unevenly scripted) film of Pat Conroy's novel centers on Nick Nolte's performance of a lifetime.

[11] Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader wrote: "The results may seem overripe and dated in spots, but (Streisand) coaxes a fine performance out of Nolte, and the other actors (herself included) acquit themselves honorably".

The site's consensus states: "Although the central romance arguably suffocates the heart of the drama, a moving performance by Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand's deft direction give The Prince of Tides a soulful edge.

At the following year's Oscar ceremonies, host Billy Crystal sang, to the tune of "Don't Rain on My Parade", "Did this film direct itself?

"[18] While the film was a box office hit and raised Streisand's reputation as a director, its numerous changes from the original novel upset some Conroy purists.

In the novel, these flashbacks form the main plot and take up more of the novel than the romance between Streisand's character, Dr. Lowenstein, and Tom Wingo.

[31][32] Another character in the novel – the second Wingo brother, Luke, who appears only in flashbacks onscreen – is vitally important to the novel, and his death is a major plot point.

In fact, the title of the book derives from a poem written by Savannah about Luke and his struggle against the government after the seizure of Colleton.

In the film, The Prince of Tides is the title of a book of poetry written by Savannah and dedicated to Tom.

In a March 7, 1996, Cinemusic conference interview, Barry explained his exodus from the film, stating, "I was asked by Barbra Streisand to do The Prince of Tides – I live in New York, she lives in Los Angeles – and I went and met with her, and she showed me some footage, and she said, 'Why aren't you moving to Los Angeles?'

[34] The theme also appeared in Barry's 1995 score for the 3D IMAX film Across the Sea of Time, retitled "Flight Over New York".

[34] It was well received by critics[35] and garnered Howard his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score, though it lost to Alan Menken's music for Beauty and the Beast.