IMDb > Fatal Attraction (1987)
Fatal Attraction
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Fatal Attraction (1987) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 6)
Fatal Attraction (1987) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   20,441 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
James Dearden (screenplay)
James Dearden (short film by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Fatal Attraction on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 September 1987 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story. more
Plot:
A married man's one night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations more
User Comments:
good acting, ok movie more (153 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Douglas ... Dan Gallagher

Glenn Close ... Alex Forrest

Anne Archer ... Beth Gallagher
Ellen Hamilton Latzen ... Ellen Gallagher

Stuart Pankin ... Jimmy
Ellen Foley ... Hildy
Fred Gwynne ... Arthur
Meg Mundy ... Joan Rogerson
Tom Brennan ... Howard Rogerson

Lois Smith ... Martha
Mike Nussbaum ... Bob Drimmer
J.J. Johnston ... O'Rourke
Michael Arkin ... Lieutenant
Sam Coppola ... Fuselli (as Sam J. Coppola)
Eunice Prewitt ... Receptionist
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Affairs of the Heart (USA) (original script title)
Diversion (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby | Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Glenn Close still has the knife she used in the movie hanging in her kitchen. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Before the final scene, there is an outside shot of the Gallager home. It is supposed to be late Fall (Christmas decorations seen while Beth is driving, Ellen practicing for her Thanksgiving play) yet the trees outside the home are all in full bloom. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Beth Gallagher: [to Ellen] You better get going, kiddo. You're gonna be late.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
WHEN I FALL IN LOVE more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
good acting, ok movie, 18 February 2002
Author: JuniorMint from Rochester, NY

When watching this movie, my biggest problem was that I couldn't really sympathize with either one of the main characters, Michael Douglas' Dan, or Glenn Close's Alex. Douglas played a married man who had a weekend-long affair with a business associate, played by Glenn Close. Dan didn't know he was getting involved with a psychopath, but he shouldn't have cheated on his wife in the first place. It's never really clear why he cheats on his wife, other than a selfish attack of lust. Alex was trying to make a point that he couldn't just use her and then go back to his family, but she knew he was married, so she should have known what she was getting into. She seemed so mature and sophisticated in the beginning, and then we never find out why she is so crazy. I lost any bit of sympathy I might have felt for her during the rabbit scene. It's one thing to harass a grown man whom you feel has wronged you, but it's entirely different to take it out on his innocent 6-year old child. The final showdown with Dan's wife in the bathroom is very predictable, right down to the screaming teakettle in the kitchen that masks the screams from upstairs. I do think the ending was a little more than Douglas' character deserved. He didn't really seem sorry for what he did; it took terrible things happening to his family to make him confess to his wife. His family was so lovable and nice, and they definitely didn't deserve to be so poorly treated. Dan was very lucky to have home and family restored to him at the end; he didn't really deserve it. All in all though, this film wasn't a bad thriller. I must admit I was a little tense trying to guess what Alex would do next. I wasn't entirely sure what she was capable of, so it added to the suspense of the film. Close's acting was good; she was a very believable psycho. There was a lot of talent in this film, and everyone turned in good performances. Although it was relatively predictable, if you allow yourself to get swept up by it, it is made exciting by Close's performance. Not a bad film, but not the best thriller ever made.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (153 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Fatal Attraction (1987)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why did Dan cheat on his wife? veiledbyshadow
HE actually disturbed me more... elphaba_daae
OMG! mackiedoodlewilson
Are There Any Books.... trentesker
Written on her window? StrawberryReef
Finding Jonathan Brandis...found him! macgrl_74
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Delirio caldo La coda dello scorpione Lo strano vizio della Signora Wardh I, the Jury La tarantola dal ventre nero
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.