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The War of the Roses

Play trailer Poster for The War of the Roses R 1989 1h 56m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After 17 years of marriage, Barbara (Kathleen Turner) and Oliver Rose (Michael Douglas) want out. The trouble is, neither one wants to part with their opulent home. So begins a long war between husband and wife, reaching farcical heights that leave much of the house -- not to mention their lives -- in shambles. The couple's children (Sean Astin, Heather Fairfield) watch in horror while lawyer Gavin D'Amato (Danny DeVito) tries his best to stem the bloodshed.
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Critics Consensus

The War of the Roses is a black comedy made even funnier by hanging onto its caustic convictions -- and further distinguished by Danny DeVito's stylish direction.

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Critics Reviews

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Robyn Karney Empire Magazine Wildly funny and deeply disturbing. Rated: 4/5 Feb 11, 2008 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader DeVito's taste for unorthodox camera angles and striking camera movements occasionally verges on overreaching but for the most part admirably serves the action. Rated: 3/4 Feb 11, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Trying to wring yocks from a deranged couple locked in mortal combat over possession of their house is more suited to film noir than black comedy. Feb 11, 2008 Full Review Kristin Battestella InSession Film Turner, Michael Douglas, and director Danny DeVito poke fun at their previous Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile adventures in this dark 1989 divorce comedy. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) There's only a sprinkling of fire in The War of the Roses, and even Kathleen Turner's eyes-glistening-with-revenge performance cannot raise the film above being only incidentally severe. Rated: 2/4 May 9, 2023 Full Review Bruce C. Steele OutWeek There's no foxier, more formidable screen vixen than Kathleen Turner, no better embodiment of self-deluding greed and innate sexism than Michael Douglas. May 20, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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M T This is 80's perfection. Douglass and Turner at their prime. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/25 Full Review Landon J This one was kindof weird. Very unfitting humdrum drama like performances for Douglas and Turner? It felt like neither of them brought their A game. DeVito's rather weird approach of framing this as a 3rd person story felt completely unnecessary. The result is a conclusion that is frankly pointless. Some good scenes I guess but Idk skip this one Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/04/24 Full Review Simen Viig Ø Absolutely brilliant! The story, the cast and the directing. All of it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/16/24 Full Review Rosana B "Um homem não supera a mulher quando se trata de vingança ou amor." Muio divertido, e parece inimaginável e exagerado, mas como auditora fiscal lemos alguns casos de divórcio litigiosos (raro, mas acontece com frequência) tão absurdo quanto, e o mais triste, real apocalíptico… Todos os casais em final de relacionamento deveriam assistir ao filme, divertido, porém emblemático e cheio de nuances passíveis de análise, quase um experimento social.... O casal esta magnífico, química perfeita... Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/14/24 Full Review Stark T Great performances by Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/23 Full Review AB L The script is far more thoughtful than its given credit for (I like the subtle misogyny of Douglas' character) and DeVito keeps the film wonderfully bleak and hilarious. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses (1989) The War of the Roses (1989) The War of the Roses (1989) The War of the Roses (1989) The War of the Roses (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After 17 years of marriage, Barbara (Kathleen Turner) and Oliver Rose (Michael Douglas) want out. The trouble is, neither one wants to part with their opulent home. So begins a long war between husband and wife, reaching farcical heights that leave much of the house -- not to mention their lives -- in shambles. The couple's children (Sean Astin, Heather Fairfield) watch in horror while lawyer Gavin D'Amato (Danny DeVito) tries his best to stem the bloodshed.
Director
Danny DeVito
Producer
James L. Brooks, Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter
Michael Leeson
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox, Gracie Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$84.1M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Surround
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