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IMDbPro

The War of the Roses

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
53K
YOUR RATING
Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox
Play trailer0:26
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Romance
A married couple tries everything to drive each other out of the house in a vicious divorce battle.A married couple tries everything to drive each other out of the house in a vicious divorce battle.A married couple tries everything to drive each other out of the house in a vicious divorce battle.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
53K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Danny DeVito
  • Writers
    • Warren Adler(novel)
    • Michael Leeson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Kathleen Turner
    • Danny DeVito
Top credits
  • Director
    • Danny DeVito
  • Writers
    • Warren Adler(novel)
    • Michael Leeson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Kathleen Turner
    • Danny DeVito
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 119User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    The War of the Roses
    Trailer 0:26
    The War of the Roses

    Photos104

    Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)
    Michael Douglas, Danny DeVito, and Kathleen Turner in The War of the Roses (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Oliver Rose
    Kathleen Turner
    Kathleen Turner
    • Barbara Rose
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Gavin D'Amato
    Marianne Sägebrecht
    Marianne Sägebrecht
    • Susan
    Sean Astin
    Sean Astin
    • Josh at 17
    Heather Fairfield
    Heather Fairfield
    • Carolyn at 17
    G.D. Spradlin
    G.D. Spradlin
    • Harry Thurmont
    Peter Donat
    Peter Donat
    • Jason Larrabee
    Dan Castellaneta
    Dan Castellaneta
    • Man in Chair
    Gloria Cromwell
    • Mrs. Marshall
    Harlan Arnold
    • Mr. Dell
    Mary Fogarty
    • Mrs. Dell
    Rika Hofmann
    • Elke
    Patricia Allison
    • Maureen
    Peter Brocco
    Peter Brocco
    • Elderly Mourner
    Philip Perlman
    Philip Perlman
    • Bidder at Auction
    Susan Isaacs
    Susan Isaacs
    • Auctioneer's Assistant
    Trenton Teigen
    Trenton Teigen
    • Josh at 10
    • Director
      • Danny DeVito
    • Writers
      • Warren Adler(novel)
      • Michael Leeson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While shooting the scene where Michael Douglas (Oliver Rose) and Kathleen Turner (Barbara Rose) are sitting in the chandelier, director Danny DeVito pretended to break for lunch while the two actors were 30 feet above ground.
    • Goofs
      In the final scene in the chandelier, Barbara goes from being barefoot, to shod, back to barefoot again.
    • Quotes

      Oliver Rose: I think you owe me a solid reason. I worked my ass off for you and the kids to have a nice life and you owe me a reason that makes sense. I want to hear it.

      Barbara Rose: Because. When I watch you eat. When I see you asleep. When I look at you lately, I just want to smash your face in.

    • Crazy credits
      The fanfare in the 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of the movie segues into the opening theme of the movie.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation/Roger & Me/Triumph of the Spirit/Mystery Train/Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Only You (And You Alone)
      Written by Buck Ram and Buck Ram (as Ande Rand)
      Performed by The Platters
      Courtesy of PolyGram Special Projects a division of
      PolyGram Records, Inc.

    User reviews119

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A house divided . . . and then demolished
    There isn't a plethora of funny lines in "The War of the Roses" (it's just not that kind of comedy), but the blistering cynicism about marriage makes them stand out all the same (the stabbing victim in the hospital claimed most of these). If you want to call this a cautionary tale of divorce, I'm just fine with that. Watching these people bitterly drift apart is uncomfortable, and the filmmakers know this because the whole third act is the literal destruction of everything they've labored so long to build. The absurdity is almost a salve.

    It's a comedy, but also dark as hell. The dialogue, on the other hand, that's fantastic.

    7/10
    helpful•6
    1
    • Mr-Fusion
    • Nov 25, 2016

    FAQ9

    • What is "The War of the Roses" about?
    • Is "The War of the Roses" based on a book?
    • Is this the third movie in the 'Romancing the Stone' series?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 8, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • War of the Roses
    • Filming locations
      • Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Gracie Films
      • Regency International Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $26,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $86,888,546
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,488,794
      • Dec 10, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $160,188,546
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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