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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

55%

Tomatometer

88 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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David Robinson

Times (UK)

The film is... a very effective fable.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

Paul D. Zimmerman

Newsweek

Director Bryan Forbes photographs the victims of Stepford in the most romantic way.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

Director Bryan Forbes and screenwriter William Goldman have given not only substance but also a stunningly possible shocker ending to Ira Levin's unsatisfying novel.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Something strange is going on in the town of Stepford... And something strange is going on in the movie business, too, when a second-class thriller like The Stepford Wives can parade itself as the natural successor to Rosemary's Baby.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

Janet Maslin

Boston Phoenix

William Goldman's screenplay is a major disappointment.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

Steve Hogner

Austin American-Statesman

It is a loose little thriller that works despite itself.

May 2, 2025

Full Review

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Blu B

A Horror Classic. It's like if someone took Invasion of the Body Snatchers and set it in the backdrop of a movie like The Swimmer with a hint of Rosemary's Baby. Just really well made all around. The direction is excellent, the commentary on feminism and suburbia is first rate, and it's setting is very memorable. This isn't your typical horror movie. 90% of the time the film doesn't even feel like a horror movie but a drama more than anything. It's colorful, perfect, and a dream. There also is a very low on screen body count as well. Katherine Ross is excellent in this as well and the best thing character wise. The one issue this has for 75% of the runtime it's VERY slow and meandering at times. While we're always focused on Ross, the subject matter tends to bounce around quite a bit. Relationships with the other wives, her husband, the investigation into what's happening, it all feels a bit scattered. But it makes up for it with an ability to make ever single meandering scene not just well directed but having a sense of "something isn't right" even though everything is perfect it seems. It's very simliar to Halloween in that sense. Anyone who is a fan of horror movies, any actors in this, unique Sci-Fi flicks, movies that explore feminism or critiques of suburbia ,or the director should give this a try.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

Full Review

Jonathan O

Really effectively eerie and surprisingly dark humor and terrific performance by Katharine Ross.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/06/25

Full Review

jacob c

A well-acted, eerie film with a lot to say about oppressive gender roles.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Steve D

Some good ideas but never comes together.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/10/23

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