The Wife

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2:17

The Wife

R

2018

1h 40m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

234 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Joan and Joe remain complements after nearly 40 years of marriage. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as the great American novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of a great man's wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Joan starts to think about the shared compromises, secrets and betrayals.

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Critics Consensus

The Wife relies on the strength of Glenn Close's performance to drive home the power of its story -- and she proves thoroughly, grippingly up to the task.

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Edward Porter

The Times (UK)

The story is eventually revealed to be a tad far-fetched, but its events make it a page-turner, and Close is not its only first-rate performer.

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

Her name is Joan and his name is Joe, suggesting that the boundaries between them are blurred. It is that blurring this movie explores, with a performance of mingled rage, guilt, passion, and integrity by the magnificent Glenn Close.

Sep 30, 2021

Full Review

Anupama Chopra

Film Companion

The Wife is an insight into long relationships, the way men and women heal and hurt each other. There are moments here that all husbands and wives will recognize. But the biggest reason to see this film is to experience the power of Glenn Close.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 15, 2019

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Regardless of whether you are looking for drama mixed with superb acting, The Wife is simply not the film to scratch that itch. It is a miscalculating, dreadful, and painfully boring way to spend one hundred minutes.

Rated: C-

Aug 7, 2024

Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

The film has its faults, but Glenn Close’s performance ensures that it is also sincere and convincing.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 4, 2024

Full Review

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

With her doubts acting as a juxtaposition to the legitimate chemistry and sense of love between the spouses, her character is fascinating, but Close is what makes the role so astonishing.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

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Bronwyn D

The movie is good, though sad. Glenn Close is FANTASTIC. It was somewhat difficult for me to feel TOO bad for her character, Joan however, since the Charade was HER idea in the first place. But I guess that's what so many women do, for the men they love. He shouldn't have let her, of course, but his ego was more important. Plus his affairs were an Extra Dose of JERK.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

Full Review

Joan P

Brilliant movie. Close portays the caring wife, however knowing its all a great big lie. I could watch this woman play in anything she is just wonderful. Not forgetting the rest of the cast who were equally as good.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/31/24

Full Review

Catherine B

A friend walked back to his PC when I said I wanted to watch this - glad I didn't capitulate and watch something else - his loss. I loved it. A very complex storyline with great dialogue addresses complex questions at many levels with terrific performances generally but yes, Glenn Close's performance is just stunning. Don't let anyone talk you out of watching it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

Anna G

stunning show , i was gripped by it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

Full Review

Liz P

Glen Close is brilliant, just so believable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Derek C

It was a good movie, but not one that left me thinking "Wow...that was one of the better movies I have seen in a while!" Not a three but not up to a four. Very glad that Rotten Tomatoes allows 0.5 ratings - 3.5 fits perfectly.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

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Björn Runge

Director

Glenn Close

Joan Castleman

Jonathan Pryce

Joe Castleman

Christian Slater

Nathaniel Bone

Annie Starke

Young Joan Castleman

Harry Lloyd

Young Joe Castleman

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Synopsis

Joan and Joe remain complements after nearly 40 years of marriage. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as the great American novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm and diplomacy into the private role of a great man's wife. As Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for his acclaimed and prolific body of work, Joan starts to think about the shared compromises, secrets and betrayals.

Director: Björn Runge
Producer: Piers Tempest, Rosalie Swedlin, Meta Louise Foldager, Claudia Bluemhuber, Peter Gustafsson
Screenwriter: Jane Anderson
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Anonymous Content, Meta Film, Silver Reel
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 17, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.6M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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