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Something Wild

  • 19861986
  • RR
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
20K
YOUR RATING
Something Wild (1986)
Trailer for Something Wild
Play trailer2:39
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyCrimeRomance
A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-convict husband shows up.A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-convict husband shows up.A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-convict husband shows up.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
20K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jonathan Demme
  • Writer
    • E. Max Frye
  • Stars
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Melanie Griffith
    • George 'Red' Schwartz
  • Director
    • Jonathan Demme
  • Writer
    • E. Max Frye
  • Stars
    • Jeff Daniels
    • Melanie Griffith
    • George 'Red' Schwartz
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 106User reviews
    • 69Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos2

    Something Wild
    Trailer 2:39
    Watch Something Wild
    Something Wild
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Something Wild

    Photos111

    Melanie Griffith in Something Wild (1986)
    Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)
    Ray Liotta and Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)
    Ray Liotta in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith in Something Wild (1986)
    Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith and Ray Liotta in Something Wild (1986)
    Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels in Something Wild (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeff Daniels
    Jeff Daniels
    • Charles Driggs
    Melanie Griffith
    Melanie Griffith
    • Audrey Hankel
    George 'Red' Schwartz
    • Counter Man
    • (as George Schwartz)
    Leib Lensky
    • Frenchy
    Tracey Walter
    Tracey Walter
    • The Country Squire
    Maggie T.
    • Country Squire Bulldog
    Patricia Falkenhain
    • Charlie's Secretary
    Sandy McLeod
    • Graves' Secretary
    Robert Ridgely
    Robert Ridgely
    • Richard Graves
    Buzz Kilman
    • TV Newscaster
    Kenneth Utt
    Kenneth Utt
    • 'Dad'
    Adelle Lutz
    Adelle Lutz
    • 'Rose'
    Charles Napier
    Charles Napier
    • Irate Chef
    Jim Roche
    • Motel Philosopher
    John Sayles
    John Sayles
    • Motorcycle Cop
    John Waters
    John Waters
    • Used Car Guy
    The Texas Kid
    • Hitchhiking Cowboy
    Byron D. Hutcherson
    • Hitchhiking Kid
    • Director
      • Jonathan Demme
    • Writer
      • E. Max Frye
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The two old ladies in the re-sale shop are the mothers of David Byrne and director Jonathan Demme.
    • Goofs
      Beer is purchased in a convenience store in Pennsylvania (a PA Lottery sticker is on the door). Beer cannot be purchased in convenience stores in PA.
    • Quotes

      [a cop is writing her a ticket]

      Audrey 'Lulu' Hankel: I've been admiring your bike.

      Motorcycle Cop: Oh, you interested in motorcycles?

      Audrey 'Lulu' Hankel: No, I just like big things between my legs.

    • Crazy credits
      Dottie 'Sister' Carol East is on screen singing Wild Thing throughout most of the end credits, finishing right before all the music credits appear.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Something Wild/The Mission/Hoosiers/Sky Bandits (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Loco de Amor
      Written by David Byrne, F.A.S.

      Performed by David Byrne with Celia Cruz

      David Byrne appears courtesy of Sire Records / EMI Records Ltd.

      Celia Cruz appears courtesy of Fania Records

    User reviews106

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Entertaining 80s update of the screwball comedy genre
    Rewatching Something Wild recently some 30 years after I first saw it, I was struck by how vividly the craziness of the story stayed in my memory, but also how surprising and unexpected the plot turns were. This is a good sign that that someone took time to craft an excellent plot. In fact, the film makers have lavished tender loving care on every aspect of this film and given it a lot of heart.

    Melanie Griffith does everything but set the screen on fire as she takes Jeff Daniel's humdrum office worker life and turns it upside down. We're then taken on a helter-skelter anything-goes trip where the couple leave the city and the staid conventions of middle class life behind as they plunge into a passionate affair and journey deep into the comforting familiarity of small town America with its motels, folksy shops and and kindly people. Ironically this is where the greatest danger lurks in the shape of old flame Ray Liotta, grinning maniacally and flipping the madcap whimsy into insane violence.

    Every minor character on this trip fills you with good vibes, in sharp contrast to the sinister kind of twist that current-day Hollywood mainstream gives to bit players. The soundtrack, for fans of 80s music, is fantastic - you're bound to hear stuff you haven't heard for ages.

    This film works on many levels: the actors are charming and charismatic, and their parts are well and sympathetically written. It's a loving memoir of a materialistic decade that many thought was money-obsessed but was filled with many hapless characters like this reviewer who lived similar episodes in their own lives: except not so wild!
    helpful•16
    3
    • gedhurst
    • Apr 26, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 7, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cross Cut
    • Filming locations
      • Tallahassee, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Religioso Primitiva
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,362,969
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,825,717
      • Nov 9, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,363,187
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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