The Stepford Wives

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The Stepford Wives

PG

Released Feb 12, 1975

1h 55m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) moves to the quiet town of Stepford with her husband (Peter Masterson) and children. The town seems perfect -- maybe a little too perfect. There's something not quite right with the suburb's women: they're vapid, unfathomably devoted to housework and completely subservient to their husbands. Joanna teams up with another recent transplant, Bobby (Paula Prentiss), to investigate the mystery of Stepford's wives and makes a horrific discovery.

Critics Consensus

The Stepford Wives's inherent satire is ill-served by Bryan Forbes' stately direction, but William Goldman's script excels as a damning critique of a misogynistic society.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

The dialogue is gummy, the situations dimly functional; the movie gives the impression of a patchwork script, and it's blah and becalmed.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Overlong and underdeveloped, this flimsy Bryan Forbes horror story (1975) would probably have made a decent television movie; but on the big screen and stretched to nearly two hours, it sags badly.

Jun 5, 2007

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Derek Adams

Time Out

William Goldman's leisurely script and Forbes' dull direction never quite capture the subtleties of Ira Levin's novel about an idyllic Connecticut commuter village where the housewives are a bunch of domesticated dummies.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It may take a touch too long to reach its stunning climax, but it’s still well worth the wait.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 9, 2023

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Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

As timely and relevant as ever, this slice of feminist paranoia is expertly anchored by two female performances and taunt direction. Logistically there are gaps, but the chilling finale has lost none of its impact.

Rated: 4.5/5

May 2, 2023

Full Review

Amanda Sebestyen

Spare Rib

In trying for a nice liberal up-to-date angle on women within such a very conventional form as the commercial horror movie, I think The Stepford Wives actually broke through into some surprisingly rebellious images.

Sep 22, 2021

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Angel N

I went into this genuinely wanting to like it but I found it both cringy and severely overrated.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

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Robbie T

Some may find this a slow burner. But the film is definitely worth a look. Good acting from the cast.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

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Steve D

Some good ideas but never comes together.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/10/23

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Damian L

It was creepy and good and it how some men treat their wives like possessions

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 55 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/23

Full Review

Ray L

Watched this for the first time the other day and I absolutely loved it! It was so much fun to watch, I went in knowing the plot and outcome and I still thought it was brilliant. From the camera work to the score to the acting I felt everything I was supposed to and fell in love with the characters! I was born in '93 and grew up on a ton of 70's movies so if you're not into "older" movies it will probably come across as cheesy and unbelievable but if you can handle the style of it, it's a must watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/14/22

Full Review

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Bryan Forbes

Director

Katharine Ross

Joanna Eberhart

Paula Prentiss

Bobbie Markowe

Patrick O'Neal

Dale Coba

Peter Masterson

Walter Eberhart

Nanette Newman

Carol Van Sant

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - You're the Best, Frank

1:24

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - Ed Hated Tennis

2:13

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - You Don't Have to Apologize

2:07

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - Easy On Spray Starch

2:09

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - The Supermarket

2:09

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - Ringdings and Scotch

1:36

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - The Replacement

2:12

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - I Thought We Were Friends

2:13

The Stepford Wives: Official Clip - It's Gotten to You Now

1:39

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Synopsis

Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) moves to the quiet town of Stepford with her husband (Peter Masterson) and children. The town seems perfect -- maybe a little too perfect. There's something not quite right with the suburb's women: they're vapid, unfathomably devoted to housework and completely subservient to their husbands. Joanna teams up with another recent transplant, Bobby (Paula Prentiss), to investigate the mystery of Stepford's wives and makes a horrific discovery.

Director: Bryan Forbes
Producer: Edgar J. Scherick
Screenwriter: Ira Levin, William Goldman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Embassy Pictures
Production Co: Palomar Pictures, Fadsin Cinema Associates
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1975, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2018
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Mono