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Adam's Rib

Play trailer Poster for Adam's Rib 1949 1h 41m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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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Adam's Rib

Adam's Rib

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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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Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press Jul 25, 2019
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. Go to Full Review
Penelope Gilliatt The New Yorker Jan 14, 2013
Katharine Hepburn conveys an extraordinary abundance of spirit. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Feb 3, 2009
Adam's Rib is a bright comedy success, belting over a succession of sophisticated laughs. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 3, 2020
4/10
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. Go to Full Review
Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile May 23, 2008
George Cukor directs with a light touch and the film leaps from one priceless moment to the next Go to Full Review
Film4 Oct 16, 2007
An impeccably crafted and scripted classic. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 1 day ago Adam's Rib = a *4.5* star Movie! See more E S @Einstine Apr 26, 2026 The film says it"s a comedy, but I don't see it. The message is, because of a husband infidelity, a wife is justified in shooting him? What is funny about that? Sad to say but many of our modern problems are because people started to agree with this idea... that violence, if it is done in the name of any mistreatment, percived or real, is justified See more Farah R. @Farah Mar 7, 2026 Tracy and Hepburn portray a modern working couple whose home life is depicted as loving and intimate, emphasizing their enduring love and mutual respect despite their disagreements and professional rivalry. It’s a great film in many respects, featuring stellar acting and a brilliant script. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 3, 2025 Funny in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Savannah G @Sgudino93 Apr 12, 2024 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! See more cato @Gilligan Mar 13, 2024 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. See more Read all reviews
Adam's Rib

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Lawrence Weingarten
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
Runtime
1h 41m
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