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Nine 1/2 Weeks

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Nine 1/2 Weeks

R

Released Feb 21, 1986

1h 53m

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Two strangers, Wall Street trader John (Mickey Rourke) and art gallery assistant Elizabeth (Kim Basinger), become involved in a new relationship. What begins as a courtship, though, becomes extremely sexual, as John begins to push for more daring and kinky scenarios, including striptease and bondage. Although their passion is strong, Elizabeth starts to realize that John is not sharing any part of his life besides sex. She must make a decision about what she wants from their relationship.

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Critics Consensus

9 1/2 Weeks' famously steamy sex scenes titillate though the drama unfolding between the beddings is relatively standard for the genre.

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Julie Salamon

Wall Street Journal

The movie that remains is lovely to look at, but spiritless, a listless coquette. It brings to mind the ads for Calvin Klein’s perfume, Obsession.

Aug 11, 2022

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 2/5

Apr 16, 2003

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

A lot of the success of 9 1/2 Weeks is because Rourke and Basinger make the characters and their relationship convincing. Rourke's

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

‘…due a re-appraisal; it’s actually got a fierce female perspective and dares to look at how to resist controlling men in a fairly unflinching way…'

Rated: 3/5

Jan 3, 2023

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Susan Jhirad

Sojourner

The ultimate weakness of the film is the contemptibility of its two leads.

Aug 22, 2019

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

[VIDEO ESSAY] With its tantalizing title suggesting an ideal timeline for a fetishized affair, Adrian Lyne's beautifully stylized adaptation of Elizabeth McNeill's novel is a milestone of mainstream erotic cinema.

Rated: A

May 1, 2012

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Tu T

I really love this movie, both of them are stunning, beautiful and good in their roles. Fantastic music and they convinced me. Nothing seemed fake and forced. The story is real.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Ward J

This film is outstanding in the amount of vulnerability that Kim Bassinger brought to her role. The film also hits the ending correctly when she discovers that the Mickey O'Roark character is sadistic in his pursuit of invulnerability. This film was really worth a second viewing many years after it's first release.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

Jose R

9 1/2 Weeks is an intriguing exploration of amour fou, a passionate and all-consuming love that’s as beautiful as it is dangerous. For its time, the film was remarkably modern, challenging the conventional portrayals of romance by delving into a more intense, sometimes unsettling, relationship dynamic. The cinematography is striking, with each frame carefully crafted to amplify the raw emotions at play. The lighting adds another layer, creating an almost sensual ambiance that mirrors the film's themes of desire and obsession. The soundtrack, featuring a mix of iconic '80s tracks, perfectly complements the atmosphere, underscoring the tension and vulnerability between the two leads. Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke have palpable chemistry, making their relationship feel both magnetic and unpredictable. Basinger’s elegance and Rourke’s intensity create a complex emotional dynamic that keeps the viewer engaged, even as their connection veers into uncomfortable territory. What sets 9 1/2 Weeks apart is its fearless portrayal of love that transcends the traditional. It’s a film that holds up not only for its bold, ahead-of-its-time narrative, but also for its immersive sensory experience, creating a world where passion and power dynamics collide in a beautifully haunting way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

Full Review

David F

This erotic film about a torrid romance has a lot of 80s style in terms of setting, fashion, furniture, music, and design, and the eroticism is a throwback to when movies were not shy about being sexy. In this case not aging well could be seen as a bonus.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/24

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Pete H

Marginally better than Wild Orchid. Don't waste your time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/02/24

Full Review

Ian B

Well shot and directed. Great acting and soundtrack. Unlike a scene from this movie, the audience is not "spoon fed" ; the director leaves room for interpretation of the symbolism and meaning.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/24

Full Review

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Adrian Lyne

Director

Mickey Rourke

John

Kim Basinger

Elizabeth

Margaret Whitton

Molly

David Margulies

Harvey

Christine Baranski

Thea

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Synopsis

Two strangers, Wall Street trader John (Mickey Rourke) and art gallery assistant Elizabeth (Kim Basinger), become involved in a new relationship. What begins as a courtship, though, becomes extremely sexual, as John begins to push for more daring and kinky scenarios, including striptease and bondage. Although their passion is strong, Elizabeth starts to realize that John is not sharing any part of his life besides sex. She must make a decision about what she wants from their relationship.

Director: Adrian Lyne
Producer: Mark Damon, Sidney Kimmel, Zalman King
Screenwriter: Zalman King, Sarah Kernochan
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 13, 2008
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround

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