The First Wives Club

PG

Released Sep 20, 1996

1 hr. 42 min.

Comedy

List

50%

76 Reviews

Tomatometer

68%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Despondent over the marriage of her ex-husband to a younger woman, a middle-aged divorcée plunges to her death from her penthouse. At the woman's funeral, her former college friends (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton) reunite for the first time in nearly 30 years. When the three discover the reason for their friend's suicide, they realize that all of their ex-husbands have taken them for granted -- and deciding it's time for revenge, they make a pact to get back at their exes.

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Critics Consensus

First Wives Club is headlined by a trio of comedic dynamos, but the script lets them down with tepid plotting and a fatal lack of satirical bite.

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Michael C

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! ICONIC MOVIE!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

jackie r

An 90s romp filled with familiar faces, funny dialogue and great plot line. The ending had me smiling endlessly! Would recommend for a relaxing and funny watch!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

lewis s

Shittily camp in the best way

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/23

Full Review

Rob C

It is HYSTERICAL!!!! It's also based on a true story. Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton are SO funny in this movie! The rest of the cast is so amazing including Maggie Smith and Sarah Jessica Parker among many others. It's a great storyline and has some great one liners and very funny moments. I highly recommend it especially if you're going through a rough relationship patch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/28/23

Full Review

Jack S

Goldie owns just about all the laughs in this one, and she has a lot of fun as an alcoholic has-been actress partnering with old college friends (and committing various felonies along the way!) to obtain retribution from their philandering ex-husbands. But unfortunately what little humor there is evaporates as the girls ultimately all get what they wish for in a lengthy, and not particularly funny finale. The ex-husband characters could have perhaps added a little spark if they'd been allowed more input in an edgier script—particularly the always welcome Hedaya who's nevertheless very good here in a small role as Midler's ex.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Michael M

Ever year a must see

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/23

Full Review

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Hugh Wilson

Director

Goldie Hawn

Elise Elliot

Bette Midler

Brenda Cushman

Diane Keaton

Annie Paradis

Maggie Smith

Gunilla Garson Goldberg

Sarah Jessica Parker

Shelly Stewart

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The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Social Climb is On the Rise

2:16

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Battle of the Insults

2:10

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Sprung with Divorce

2:12

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Going Down

2:06

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - The Club Comes to Order

2:11

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Sweet Revenge

1:46

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Hit Me!

0:54

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Youth and Beauty

1:21

The First Wives Club: Official Clip - Elise Liquidates

1:09

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Anthony Puccinelli

Chicago Reader

Nowadays people actually read about the box-office gross of films as if it means something personal to them.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 14, 2022

Full Review

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

In the end, "The First Wives Club" even betrays its own bylaws. Revenge is a dish not served. Did Thelma and Louise make their sacrifice for nothing?

Jan 9, 2019

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Oh, the stories Hawn, Midler and Keaton could tell about men. But we never get to hear them in "The First Wives Clubs." Instead, it's high jinks as they plot revenge, get the money.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 9, 2019

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Celluloid Dreams

An unapologetically star vehicle which satirizes the indignities inflicted on middle-aged women with a punchy script and three terrific lead performances.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 27, 2022

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

Hawn, Midler and Keaton form an impressive selection of seasoned actresses that make this otherwise so-so script... hilarious.

May 16, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...generally feels like it could (and should) be so much better...

Rated: 2/4

Oct 16, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Despondent over the marriage of her ex-husband to a younger woman, a middle-aged divorcée plunges to her death from her penthouse. At the woman's funeral, her former college friends (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton) reunite for the first time in nearly 30 years. When the three discover the reason for their friend's suicide, they realize that all of their ex-husbands have taken them for granted -- and deciding it's time for revenge, they make a pact to get back at their exes.

Director: Hugh Wilson
Executive Producer: Adam Schroeder, Ezra Swerdlow
Screenwriter: Olivia Goldsmith, Robert Harling
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $105.5M
Sound Mix: Surround

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