The Stepford Wives

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The Stepford Wives

PG

1975

1h 55m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

93 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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Martin Knelman

Globe and Mail

Oct 8

This one has a brilliantly low premise that bound to touch a few nerves.

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David Robinson

The Times (UK)

May 2

The film is... a very effective fable.

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Paul D. Zimmerman

Newsweek

May 2

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

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Aug 31

4/5

Bryan Forbes's thoughtful direction and intelligent script unfold at a measured pace, so the suspenseful mystery can exert a chilling grip before it ultimately appals.

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Frances Taylor

Newark Star-Ledger

Aug 27

"The Stepford Wives" is satisfying entertainment, a movie of a new kind of puzzle that keeps you wondering until almost the last moment.

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Norman Dresser

Toledo Blade

Aug 20

No performer can rise much above the padded script and dull direction of this movie.

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Cees T

Oct 5

Slow start; rushed end. Nice horror comedy if you just turn your brain off. 6.6/10

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Garry A

@heavyg Aug 13

It's a slow grind getting through the first hour. Joanna Eberhart is great in this. The last 20 minutes were shocking, even though I could guess how the movie was going to end.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 10

Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Blu B

May 16

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.

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Jonathan O

May 6

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

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jacob c

Apr 21

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

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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