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The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

Original title: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
  • 19921992
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
43K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,956
36
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
Trailer for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Play trailer1:46
3 Videos
74 Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller

After her humiliated husband kills himself, an embittered pregnant widow loses her child, and embarks on a mission of vengeance against a woman and her family.After her humiliated husband kills himself, an embittered pregnant widow loses her child, and embarks on a mission of vengeance against a woman and her family.After her humiliated husband kills himself, an embittered pregnant widow loses her child, and embarks on a mission of vengeance against a woman and her family.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
43K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,956
36
  • Director
    • Curtis Hanson
  • Writer
    • Amanda Silver
  • Stars
    • Annabella Sciorra
    • Rebecca De Mornay
    • Matt McCoy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Curtis Hanson
  • Writer
    • Amanda Silver
  • Stars
    • Annabella Sciorra
    • Rebecca De Mornay
    • Matt McCoy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 149User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos3

    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
    Trailer 1:46
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:57
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 20th Anniversary Edition
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 0:53
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 20th Anniversary Edition

    Photos74

    Rebecca De Mornay and Annabella Sciorra in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay and Annabella Sciorra in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay and Ernie Hudson in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    Rebecca De Mornay, Annabella Sciorra, and Matt McCoy in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Annabella Sciorra
    Annabella Sciorra
    • Claire Bartelas Claire Bartel
    Rebecca De Mornay
    Rebecca De Mornay
    • Peyton Flandersas Peyton Flanders
    Matt McCoy
    Matt McCoy
    • Michael Bartelas Michael Bartel
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Solomonas Solomon
    Julianne Moore
    Julianne Moore
    • Marlene Cravenas Marlene Craven
    Madeline Zima
    Madeline Zima
    • Emma Bartelas Emma Bartel
    John de Lancie
    John de Lancie
    • Dr. Victor Mottas Dr. Victor Mott
    Kevin Skousen
    • Marty Cravenas Marty Craven
    Mitchell Laurance
    Mitchell Laurance
    • Lawyeras Lawyer
    Justin Zaremby
    • Schoolyard Bullyas Schoolyard Bully
    Eric Melander
    • Baby Joeas Baby Joe
    Jennifer Melander
    • Baby Joeas Baby Joe
    Ashley Melander
    • Baby Joeas Baby Joe
    Cliff Lenz
    • Seattle Today Hostas Seattle Today Host
    Penny LeGate
    • Seattle Today Hostas Seattle Today Host
    Mary Anne Owen
    • Dr. Mott's Nurseas Dr. Mott's Nurse
    Therese Tinling
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    • (as Therese Xavier Tinling)
    Todd Jamieson
    • Surgeonas Surgeon
    • Director
      • Curtis Hanson
    • Writer
      • Amanda Silver
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay) seemed to be the perfect nanny, but secretly she was out to wreck the lives of the family she was supposed to be helping. Before becoming the nanny, Peyton had a miscarriage due to the stress caused by the death of her husband, Dr. Victor Mott (John de Lancie), and blamed it on Claire (the mother, played by Annabella Sciorra),. Claire suspects nothing, having never met Peyton before. —Rob Hartill
    • female psychopath
    • villainess
    • heroine
    • home invasion
    • husband wife relationship
    • 153 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Get rocked January 10th!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for terror, violence, a scene of sexual molestation, and for language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rebecca De Mornay initially auditioned for the role of Claire Bartel and Annabella Sciorra auditioned for the role of Mrs. Mott.
    • Goofs
      The asthma medicine should be taken in another way, with closed lips breathing deeply.
    • Quotes

      Peyton Flanders: Marlene, is everything all right?

      Marlene 'Marl' Craven: No! I need a doctor. KNOW of any, Mrs Mott?

    • Crazy credits
      As the end credits roll, we see the Bartel residence.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Freejack/Until the End of the World/Juice/The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      SEATTLE TODAY THEME
      Written by Dan Dean

      Courtesy of Dan Dean Productions

    User reviews149

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    good psychological thriller marred by a few cliches
    the hand that rocks the cradle was a very gripping psychological thriller, there is hardly any action or violence in the movie till the very end. the suspense and the thrills are at a very psychological level and this is what makes this movie rise above the ordinary, rebecca de mornay as the psychologically imbalanced nanny is terrific. the script was surprisingly good for a large part and the thrills were built up very convincingly.

    there is obviously a lot of situations that defy belief, but with a little suspension of disbelief, they can be accepted. the cast is ordinary, and the performances of the young couple was very amateurish, as also the performance of ernie hudson as the mentally challenged person.

    this movie would have been a lot more thrilling and dark and satisfying if it had not towards the end fallen in a whole deluge of cliches and predictable lame movie ending traps. call me sick, but i think the movie would have been far better with a darker ending.

    on the whole a thrilling 8!
    helpful•18
    10
    • m_madhu
    • May 6, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 10, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
    • Filming locations
      • 2502 37th Ave W, Seattle, Washington, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hollywood Pictures
      • Interscope Communications
      • Nomura Babcock & Brown
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,700,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $88,036,683
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,675,016
      • Jan 12, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $88,036,683
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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