Sleeping With the Enemy

Play trailer

Sleeping With the Enemy

R

Released Feb 8, 1991

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

24%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After faking her death in order to flee from her violent husband, Martin (Patrick Bergin), Laura Burney (Julia Roberts) leaves Cape Cod and moves to Iowa, where she adopts a new identity and starts dating a local teacher, Ben Woodward (Kevin Anderson). Martin, meanwhile, unearths evidence suggesting that she isn't dead, and when her mother confirms this, he tracks her to Iowa. He finds Laura and Ben and confronts them, forcing her to fight for her life once again.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A game Julia Roberts gives it her all, but Sleeping with the Enemy is one stalker thriller that's unlikely to inspire many obsessions of its own.

Read Critics Reviews

Joe Clay

The Times (UK)

A melodramatic showdown...

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Jack Kroll

Newsweek

Sleeping With the Enemy is a flat tire of a movie. Looks good -- white sidewalls, chrome spokes -- but it flaps and clunks and never gets to vroom.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

One of the great cautionary tales in cinema, boasting an excellent performance by Roberts and a satisfying (if protracted) finale.

Rated: 6/10

Jul 21, 2024

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

Sleeping with the Enemy is an extremely over the top 'woman in peril' film that stars Julia Roberts' magnificent locks and Patrick Bergin's exquisite moustache. It's lurid, but this domestic abuse thriller holds up on a rewatch.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 1, 2022

Full Review

Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Roberts evokes sympathy, not just for playing the victim of an unforgivably bad husband, but for becoming the victim of an unforgivably bad movie.

Jan 27, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Brenda R

It's one of the best thrillers I have watched in several decades. It kept me glued to my seat at least the first five to six times watching it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

Full Review

Devra B

I love this movie! What’s up with the low ratings?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/25

Full Review

Janis E

This is such a good movie. It shows an inside look into domestic violence and how bad it can really get when a partner refuses to let go. The actors in this film do such an amazing job portraying these character's and they just pull you in as if you were actually there. If you like the suspense, thriller, & drama genre's, then you should definitely watch this movie. It has all of that and more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Jen O

Great film movie and worthy of a much higher rating

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

Full Review

Ollie W

Feels like a TV movie, only really elevated by Julia Robert’s. The guy she hooks up with is handsome, which makes the love-story element watchable. All the acting is fine but the storyline is just too basic for this movie to be anything above average.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Abi B

Great movie, watched it several times and will watch it several more. Not taking away from Julia as she is an exceptional actress but Patrick Bergin deserves credit too, he have me the chills in this movie. LAURAAAAAAAA

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/10/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Joseph Ruben

Director

Julia Roberts

Sara Waters

Patrick Bergin

Martin Burney

Kevin Anderson

Ben Woodward

Elizabeth Lawrence

Chloe Williams

Kyle Secor

Fleishman

Hear No Evil

20%

35%

Hear No Evil

Watchlist

Eyewitness

73%

40%

Eyewitness

Watchlist

Unlawful Entry

75%

50%

Unlawful Entry

Watchlist

Pretty Poison

100%

71%

Pretty Poison

Watchlist

Chronicle of an Escape

67%

79%

Chronicle of an Escape

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After faking her death in order to flee from her violent husband, Martin (Patrick Bergin), Laura Burney (Julia Roberts) leaves Cape Cod and moves to Iowa, where she adopts a new identity and starts dating a local teacher, Ben Woodward (Kevin Anderson). Martin, meanwhile, unearths evidence suggesting that she isn't dead, and when her mother confirms this, he tracks her to Iowa. He finds Laura and Ben and confronts them, forcing her to fight for her life once again.

Director: Joseph Ruben
Producer: Leonard Goldberg
Screenwriter: Ronald Bass
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.3M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now