Adam's Rib

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1 hr. 41 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

96%

27 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A courtroom rivalry finds its way into the household when prosecuting lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) faces off against his wife, Amanda (Katharine Hepburn), who happens to be a defense attorney. Working on opposite sides of a lawsuit where a woman (Judy Holliday) has shot her cheating husband (Tom Ewell), Adam and Amanda are both determined to win the case, and their home becomes the setting for comical showdowns, with neither spouse willing to relent.

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Critics Consensus

Matched by Garson Kanin's witty, sophisticated screenplay, George Cukor, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn are all in top form in the classic comedy Adam's Rib.

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Savannah G

This might be one of my Favorite KH Performances - This is a perfect example of the chemistry between Tracy and Hepburn. Really Strong performances and the topic is really revolutionary at the time. and the balance between the marriage of the couple and really what it means to be married and also the equality that often times does not show up within marriage. the storytelling and the bits of Humor really brought this movie to the forefront - Surprised that KH was not even Nominated for this performance!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

cato

Watched on TMC tonight. Listed as a romcom. It's the opposite. Silly, contrived, poorly acted, typical of movies of that era. Attempted murder isn't funny no matter the rationalization. Skip this one.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

Shadowman4710

As a fan of Tracy and Hepburn, I really wanted to love this movie but I think the most I can manage is mild appreciation. It certainly has its good points. Tracy and Hepburn click very well together (as they usually did) and they have a good supporting cast. The problem is that the silliness of the situation wears very thing, very quickly. It's worth the time for Tracy and Hepburn fans but is probably too dated for anybody else to really enjoy. They did better in other films together.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

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Elzi B

It was absolutely painful to watch. The screaming, fighting, violence, and threatened violence both emotional and physical was a chore to sit through. The ending was implausible but typically Hollywood. The Kip character was a nightmare. That said, the acting was great among the secondary characters, and the Tracey-Hepburn chemistry was intense. I truly wonder what audiences experienced back in the era.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

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Leaburn O

One of the AFI top ten romantic films (somehow). A lighthearted look at a miscarriage of justice that is meant to be some kind of ribald comedy about gender prejudice but misses the target entirely. Not funny or entertaining, it nowadays feels like a drag to watch. Bought this one on DVD as not on the or streaming in the UK.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

Full Review

Mark A

Probably the best Tracy-Hepburn film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/22

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George Cukor

Director

Spencer Tracy

Adam Bonner

Katharine Hepburn

Amanda Bonner

Judy Holliday

Doris Attinger

Tom Ewell

Warren Francis Attinger

David Wayne

Kip Lurie

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Adam's Rib is one of the smartest comedies in years. It is a welcome return to the sophisticated spoofing that Hollywood seemed to have forgotten.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

New Yorker

Katharine Hepburn conveys an extraordinary abundance of spirit.

Jan 14, 2013

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Adam's Rib is a bright comedy success, belting over a succession of sophisticated laughs.

Feb 3, 2009

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It feels as if it's more about how a couple can playfully fight while facing off in a courtroom rather than whether or not women should be treated impartially.

Rated: 4/10

Aug 3, 2020

Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

Thanks to an at times sharp script, solid lead performances, and a scene stealing supporting turn by Judy Holliday, Adam's Rib is an entertaining enough film to warrant a solid review. But one of the great comedies of all time? Not even close.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

George Cukor directs with a light touch and the film leaps from one priceless moment to the next

May 23, 2008

Full Review

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Synopsis

A courtroom rivalry finds its way into the household when prosecuting lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) faces off against his wife, Amanda (Katharine Hepburn), who happens to be a defense attorney. Working on opposite sides of a lawsuit where a woman (Judy Holliday) has shot her cheating husband (Tom Ewell), Adam and Amanda are both determined to win the case, and their home becomes the setting for comical showdowns, with neither spouse willing to relent.

Director: George Cukor
Screenwriter: Ruth Gordon, Garson Kanin
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Criterion Collection, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 1949, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008

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