Rough Magic

Play trailer

Rough Magic

PG-13

1995

1h 44m

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

25%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

In the midst of a dazzling stage show, magician's assistant Myra Shumway (Bridget Fonda) catches the eye of sleazy industrialist Cliff Wyatt (D.W. Moffett). When Wyatt unwittingly kills Shumway's mentor, a master magician, she flees to Mexico. Furious, Wyatt hires private detective Alex Ross (Russell Crowe) to capture the gorgeous witness to his crime. But, after Ross locates Shumway, he finds himself beguiled by her growing prowess as a magician -- and by the potency of her feminine charms.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Maybe the project was so weird it was doomed from the start. Give Rough Magic credit, however, for possessing all the pieces necessary to make two other movies that both might have worked.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Mike Clark

USA Today

Rough going.

Rated: 1/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Bob Satuloff

The Advocate

[It] aspires to be It Happened One Night-meets- Carlos Castaneda. Thanks to the stylish writing and direction, exotic locations, gorgeous visuals, the spirited work of Bridget Fonda as a gifted magician, and Russell Crowe as her romantic foil, it is.

Jun 1, 2022

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 29, 2005

Full Review

Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 2/10

Nov 18, 2002

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jelisije J

Such a weird film about magic and love.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

Full Review

Eli K

Rough Magic is an unusual and a charming film. It's a mix of comedy, magic and noir that turns into outright fantasy. One never knows where the plot is going to turn next and has an all-round happy ending.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/26/24

Full Review

Sue C

Having been to Mexico several times and being a fan of Russell Crowe and Bridget Fonda, naturally I viewed the fantasy romance/crime film ROUGH MAGIC (several times) and I purchased the DVD some years ago. It isn't for everyone, true, but it is ideal for me, full of vintage charm, great performers, romance, beautiful scenery and spine-tingling chants echoing from the deepest heart of Mexico. The title may be off-putting - perhaps ROUGH MAGIC would have drawn more interest if titled MAGIC AND MYSTERY IN MEXICO instead. One of a kind.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/22

Full Review

Lee M

This is a quirky movie that mixes magical fantasy with classic noir. The weirdness is not for everyone but transporting for me. Bridget Fonda's performance as her version of the classic Bacall or Lake with her quick biting wit and scrappy self-sufficiency is totally charming . It's core is about the power that a women has when connected to her true self. With peak 90's Russel Crowe, this movie is still one of my go to's.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/20

Full Review

Frances H

Pleasant character-driven film with a whimsical, magical element to it that compliments the romance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/23/15

Full Review

Audience Member

Even watching this movie in the background, I wasn't all that impressed from what I saw. I'd have to watch it again and pay attention through the entire thing to be sure, but I'm pretty sure my attention span would not last through that particular movie (hence why I was not captivated by it while doing other things). It couldn't hold my attention.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Clare Peploe

Director

Bridget Fonda

Myra Shumway

Russell Crowe

Alex Ross

Jim Broadbent

Doc Ansell

D.W. Moffett

Cliff Wyatt

Paul Rodriguez

Diego

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Count of Monte Cristo

74%

88%

The Count of Monte Cristo

Watchlist

The Mask of Zorro

84%

73%

The Mask of Zorro

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Mask of Zorro

Danzon

67%

74%

Danzon

Watchlist

In God's Hands

0%

80%

In God's Hands

Watchlist

The Flyboys

50%

71%

The Flyboys

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the midst of a dazzling stage show, magician's assistant Myra Shumway (Bridget Fonda) catches the eye of sleazy industrialist Cliff Wyatt (D.W. Moffett). When Wyatt unwittingly kills Shumway's mentor, a master magician, she flees to Mexico. Furious, Wyatt hires private detective Alex Ross (Russell Crowe) to capture the gorgeous witness to his crime. But, after Ross locates Shumway, he finds himself beguiled by her growing prowess as a magician -- and by the potency of her feminine charms.

Director: Clare Peploe
Producer: Laurie Parker, Declan Baldwin
Screenwriter: Robert Mundi, William Brookfield, Clare Peploe
Production Co: Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC), Recorded Picture Company (RPC)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $221.7K
Runtime: 1h 44m