Wild Things

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Wild Things

R

Released Mar 20, 1998

1h 47m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

64%

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121 Reviews

54%

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50,000+ Ratings

When teen debutante Kelly (Denise Richards) fails to attract the attention of her hunky guidance counselor, Sam (Matt Dillon), she cries rape, igniting a scandal that results in his arrest. Sam appeals to Ken (Bill Murray), a hack personal-injury lawyer who has never handled a case that couldn't be helped by a prop neck brace. Soon, a second victim, Suzie (Neve Campbell), comes forward, and Detective Duquette (Kevin Bacon) discovers that the unfolding case is far from what it seems.

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Critics Consensus

Wild Things is a delightfully salacious, flesh-exposed romp that also requires a high degree of love for trash cinema.

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

...steamy, tawdry, gloriously over-the-top...

Aug 1, 2024

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

McNaughton and cinematographer Jeffrey L. Kimball frequently cut to glimpses of alligators lurking in the Florida swamps, echoing the predatory nature of virtually every main character.

Jun 9, 2023

Full Review

Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Director John McNaughton's grip is a bawdy mix of suspense, sex and silliness, all served up with a huge tongue sticking in his cheek. It's a foamy mix, topped off by highly charged performances.

Feb 2, 2023

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

Fish Jelly Films (YouTube)

A potboiler on class woes, Wild Things is the dark fruit at the end of a neo-noir era in the 1990s, where softcore sensibilities were an acceptable selling point and adult themes embraced.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 27, 2023

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

Older noirs often present that failure of hierarchy as a crisis. But in Wild Things, it’s exhilarating.

Mar 28, 2023

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Trace Thurman

Bloody Disgusting

Lurid, trashy, and shockingly intelligent, Wild Things will surprise you like few films can.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 21, 2023

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Shawn R

Really enjoyed this movie. It's got everything including an all star cast! You shall not be disappointed

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

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kristin h

I really like this movie, cheese and all. They had me at Matt Dillon and Bill Murray. Kevin Bacon is all bonus. Theresa Russell almost ruins it with her soap opera acting style, but then you have Carrie Snodgrass and Neve Campbell to bring it home.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

Jack t

Well, I've had the interest in seeing this movie because there's something interesting that had me hooked when it comes to thrillers like this but now there's something different that you may not expect even when the push comes to shove. In Miami suburb of Blue Bay, a wealthy teen-socialite student Kelly Van Ryan played by Denise Richards, accuses her high school guidance counselor, Sam Lombardo played by Matt Dillon, of raping her, her outcast classmate Suzie Toller played by Neve Campbell, suffers the same trauma. He hires his attorney Kenneth Bowden played by Bill Murray, to defend him at trial. During the trial, he’s suspended by the school, rejected by the town, and he's fighting to get his life back. There are a lot of surprising things that happened in this movie like the twists and turns are one thing that is if you can count how many of them are there, one memorable scene that you didn't expect to happen, Bill Murray is in it, didn't expect to see him in it. The eroticness is something that'll get you engaged even though the film itself was followed by the direct-to-DVD sequels both of which I haven't seen and I didn't know there are sequels to this movie considering that the sequels appeared to be crap although like they always say "The first one is always a superior one." and you don't want direct-to-DVD sequels to exist. Wild Things is a good erotic crime thriller which some people find it to be trashy 'cause the twists are too much but what the hell. Oh, plot twist, plot twist, plot twist.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/03/24

Full Review

Fabrícia F

Perigoso e lascivo, um enredo que prende do início ao fim e surpreende pela genialidade do roteiro e a atuação de seus protagonistas. Apesar de um final morno, vale a pena conferir esse suspense psicológico de tirar o fôlego.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

Full Review

Aaron C

Don't get it, the ending got tedious... Was it him, was it her... I couldn't careless at the end

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/18/24

Full Review

darkart1000 2

the best teen crime stories i ever seen 10 out of 10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/26/24

Full Review

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John McNaughton

Director

Kevin Bacon

Sgt. Ray Duquette

Matt Dillon

Sam Lombardo

Neve Campbell

Suzie Marie Toller

Theresa Russell

Sandra Van Ryan

Denise Richards

Kelly Lanier Van Ryan

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Wild Things: Official Clip - Good Guess!

2:12

Wild Things: Official Clip - First Rule of Sailing

2:11

Wild Things: Official Clip - Three's a Crowd

2:13

Wild Things: Official Clip - Discussing the Case

1:46

Wild Things: Official Clip - I Was Raped

1:19

Wild Things: Official Clip - Seducing Lombardo

2:05

Wild Things: Official Clip - The Pool Scene

1:59

Wild Things: Official Clip - Peeping in People's Windows

2:12

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Synopsis

When teen debutante Kelly (Denise Richards) fails to attract the attention of her hunky guidance counselor, Sam (Matt Dillon), she cries rape, igniting a scandal that results in his arrest. Sam appeals to Ken (Bill Murray), a hack personal-injury lawyer who has never handled a case that couldn't be helped by a prop neck brace. Soon, a second victim, Suzie (Neve Campbell), comes forward, and Detective Duquette (Kevin Bacon) discovers that the unfolding case is far from what it seems.

Director: John McNaughton
Producer: Steven A. Jones, Rodney Liber
Screenwriter: Stephen Peters
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Mandalay Pictures
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Some Violence|Strong Sexuality)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.8M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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