Sleeping With the Enemy

R

Released Feb 8, 1991

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

List

22%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Mar 14

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Sleeping With the Enemy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

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

Jeff L

Great old movie and worthy of a higher rating

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

Farah R

Although the premise is predictable, Julia Roberts gives a solid performance that elevates this otherwise formulaic thriller. Sleeping With the Enemy builds enough suspense to keep viewers glued to their seats despite its slow pace and proves entertaining enough for a one-time watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/17/23

Full Review

Jack O

Originally posted in January 2018 For the start of 2018 I would like to show you list of one of a cycle of thrillers made during the early 1990s which were set around husband and wife characters which I've already reviewed. Deceived which is forgettable, Consenting Adults which I didn't like, Presumed Innocent and Sleeping with the Enemy is the film which I'm going to do. Of course, there are some thrillers that I haven't seen and yes, I have seen some of them which I've already reviewed. Sometimes they're been done to death like the stories the filmmakers had put out is the same story they put out so many times. OK, so Sleeping with the Enemy is the story about Laura Burney escapes his abusive husband and start a new life over. And that's it, that is for the fact that I'm not spoiling the film for people who haven't seen it which is what thrillers for. Some of the scenes are chilling and will keep you on the edge of the seat. I actually love the scene where Laura's new boyfriend who is her next door neighbor singing the jet song and the two couple dancing to "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison. I can also remember watching the music video of it on TV with Julia Roberts in it. For thrillers that are recycled goes, this one is underrated. I guess you guys will be entertained by thrillers that will keep you on the edge of the seat that is if you watch them alone. I know I did.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/19/23

Full Review

Michael W

This crime movie was great. Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, Kevin Anderson, and the rest of the cast did a great job in this movie. The plot of the movie was dramatic, thrilling, and tense. It's about getting away to start a new life so you can be happy. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Jessey B

I think this movie is being unfairly panned by the critics. It had good acting, cinematography; with a decent script. The only real criticism could be the finale being slightly quicker than necessary--with perhaps a more exciting chase/fight ensuing being a better fit. However, I think Julia Robert's final line to the police was COLD--like incredibly well delivered. I feel like modern audiences may also feel as if the movie didn't get dark enough in terms of allowing the psycho to commit more heinous actions before the end. We're just so used to cinema depicting brutality at this point that it may feel like his restraint is unrealistic. But, I think there was no real need for it. The guy was already pretty unlikable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/23

Full Review

mark d

jo film nekem tetszett

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/22

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Joseph Ruben

Director

Julia Roberts

Sara Waters

Patrick Bergin

Martin Burney

Kevin Anderson

Ben Woodward

Elizabeth Lawrence

Chloe Williams

Kyle Secor

Fleishman

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

20%

35%

Hear No Evil

75%

41%

Eyewitness

76%

49%

Unlawful Entry

100%

71%

Pretty Poison

67%

79%

Chronicle of an Escape

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Joe Clay

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

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

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

Spousal-abuse thriller has violence and language.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 14, 2017

Full Review

Read all reviews

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: Jeffrey Chernov
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