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Something Wild

Play trailer Poster for Something Wild R Released Nov 7, 1986 1h 53m Mystery & Thriller Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Free-spirited Lulu (Melanie Griffith) sets her sights on uptight banker Charles (Jeff Daniels) for a little bit of fun. Their relationship starts off simple enough with a tryst and some modest adventure, but Lulu wants Charles to pose as her husband at a high school reunion. It seems harmless enough to Charles, but that all changes when Lulu's actual husband, Ray (Ray Liotta), confronts them at the event. Understandably, Ray isn't content to let Charles and Lulu ride off into the sunset.
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Something Wild

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Critics Consensus

Boasting loads of quirky charm, a pair of likable leads, and confident direction from Jonathan Demme, Something Wild navigates its unpredictable tonal twists with room to spare.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael New Yorker Something Wild is rough-edged. It doesn’t have the grace of Demme’s Citizens Band and Melvin and Howard or the heightened simplicity of his Stop Making Sense. It has something else, though -- a freedom that takes off from the genre framework. Sep 13, 2023 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune It's not every day that someone goes Alfred Hitchcock one better, but in ''Something Wild,'' Jonathan Demme has done it. Rated: 4/4 Jun 11, 2020 Full Review William Thomas Empire Magazine As an artefact from a period -- the mid-80s -- that produced almost nothing distinctive, this remains breezy fun. Rated: 4/5 Jun 11, 2020 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 'Something Wild' plays like a screwball Hitchcock film reworked for the freewheeling eighties indie culture. It’s playful and colorful but doesn’t shy away from the darkness at the end of the road. Jun 3, 2022 Full Review Roger Hurlburt South Florida Sun-Sentinel Something Wild is fun, at first. Then it becomes deadly and weird and engrossing. Predictable it is not. Rated: 3/4 Jun 11, 2020 Full Review People Staff People Magazine Buy a ticket to this whirligig of a movie at your own risk. You enter a fun house and exit through a chamber of horrors. But director Jonathan Demme provides a heck of a ride. Jun 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A genuinely heartfelt film that really lives in a realm of its own. It has a classic film, completely setting itself apart from any particular era with its throwback elements (the outfits, the cars, the style). It shifts tones in a believable sense and packs a punch as it gets there. Love, sacrifice, loneliness, and finding qualities within that you didn't knew were there all thanks to a little nudge from love. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review gsm g Good take you back movie, Love the old cars and tracking down filming locations, watched this movie like a play with several acts or like reading a book taking breaks and coming back to finish the movie all the while pondering why Jeff d character would risk his normal life for one like this in the movie. Pause . I have twenty minutes left to finish watching. I saw Sister Carol in Mill valley at a show. I like how music is used in this movie with real musicians including the Freelies Pause. This movie is rich with trivia, locations 80s nostalgia and product placement. This movie makes you think , what would I do, Of course its highly unlikely you could keep up with someone on the run but for the plot it works. This is one of those movies where you count the times you would walk away from a situation but don't or This movie does not drag some movies like st vincent had so many cliches that I have to skip scenes I never felt that way in this movie. Pause,, enjoy! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/15/24 Full Review Mike P Twisty cat and mouse mystery/suspense/comedy is very effective; switching manically back and forth between screwy caper comedy; and dark manic thriller; as a crazy, party-girl Lulu (Melanie Griffith) kidnaps the mousy, nerdy Jeff Daniels; and lesds down a maze of hidden traps and shock twists...As a high school reunion prank starts going way off the track...And we feel like we know where this is going; until the psychopath Ray Liotta enters into the game; and all bets are off..This is one of those movies that will genuinely surprise you; there's a twist in the third act that will knock your socks off. It's sort of What's up Doc; meets Pretty Poison; meets Straw Dogs...and all these leads, Ray Liotta, Jeff Daniels and Melanie Griffith; are terrific; all are at the top of their game here; and it's a pleasure to see all the power plays in this deadly love triangle game play themselves out ..In this deadly Paper, Scissors Rock game...And Jonathon Demme's reliably brilliant and quirky direction are the perfect springboard for this. Overall: Thumbs way up. A forgotten treasure from the 80s... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/11/24 Full Review matthias s Join the electrifying ride as Ray Liotta's menacing mobster character meets his match in the vivacious Melanie Griffith, leading to an unexpected series of events that'll keep you at the edge of your seat. The chemistry between the two stars is sizzling, and their dynamic performances make for an unforgettable experience. But it doesn't stop there – the supporting cast, led by the hilarious Jeff Daniels, adds layers of charm to this wild escapade. "Something Wild" flawlessly blends suspense, comedy, and romance, with a pinch of dangerous allure and is an absolute must-watch for anyone seeking a wild movie night! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/11/23 Full Review C The violence in this movie was excessive for a rom com. There is a hidden message in this movie to beware of people who have past relationships, that don't go away. Dating is not always fun. At times this was a tough watch, and there were not a lot of people too root for. Liotta, Griffith, and Daniels put in solid performances. This was one of the better 80's movies. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/24/23 Full Review Farah R Something Wild is truly a wild ride from start to finish. What starts as a quirky meet-cute and the basic setup of any rom-com ends with a murder and not the typical fairytale ending. Unfortunately, most of the dialogue and humor are cringeworthy, and much of what made it appealing in the 80s lost its charm. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

Something Wild

Something Wild: Official Clip - Charlie Stabs Ray Something Wild: Official Clip - Charlie Stabs Ray 4:09 Something Wild: Official Clip - How's Audrey in Bed? Something Wild: Official Clip - How's Audrey in Bed? 3:10 Something Wild: Official Clip - Virginia is for Lovers Something Wild: Official Clip - Virginia is for Lovers 2:25 Something Wild: Official Clip - Enjoy It While We Can Something Wild: Official Clip - Enjoy It While We Can 1:58 Something Wild: Official Clip - A New Car Something Wild: Official Clip - A New Car 1:15 Something Wild: Official Clip - A Pretty Good Liar Something Wild: Official Clip - A Pretty Good Liar 2:48 Something Wild: Official Clip - Getting a Room Something Wild: Official Clip - Getting a Room 2:29 Something Wild: Official Clip - Never Wanted to Say Goodbye Something Wild: Official Clip - Never Wanted to Say Goodbye 2:14 Something Wild: Official Clip - A Closet Rebel Something Wild: Official Clip - A Closet Rebel 2:24 Something Wild: Official Clip - A Bottle of Scotch Something Wild: Official Clip - A Bottle of Scotch 1:45 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Free-spirited Lulu (Melanie Griffith) sets her sights on uptight banker Charles (Jeff Daniels) for a little bit of fun. Their relationship starts off simple enough with a tryst and some modest adventure, but Lulu wants Charles to pose as her husband at a high school reunion. It seems harmless enough to Charles, but that all changes when Lulu's actual husband, Ray (Ray Liotta), confronts them at the event. Understandably, Ray isn't content to let Charles and Lulu ride off into the sunset.
Director
Jonathan Demme
Producer
Jonathan Demme, Kenneth Utt
Screenwriter
E. Max Frye
Distributor
Orion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
Religiosa Primitiva
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.4M
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Surround
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