Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Boxing Helena

  • 19931993
  • RR
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,367
821
Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
text os
Play trailer1:41
1 Video
29 Photos
DramaMysteryRomance
A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.A surgeon becomes obsessed with the seductive woman he once was in an affair with. Refusing to accept that she has moved on, he amputates her limbs and holds her captive in his mansion.
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,367
821
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Jennifer Lynch
    • Writers
      • Philippe Caland(story)
      • Jennifer Lynch(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Julian Sands
      • Sherilyn Fenn
      • Bill Paxton
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Jennifer Lynch
    • Writers
      • Philippe Caland(story)
      • Jennifer Lynch(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Julian Sands
      • Sherilyn Fenn
      • Bill Paxton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 133User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 26Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Boxing Helena
    Trailer 1:41
    Boxing Helena

    Photos29

    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Sherilyn Fenn in Boxing Helena (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Julian Sands
    Julian Sands
    • Dr. Nick Cavanaugh
    Sherilyn Fenn
    Sherilyn Fenn
    • Helena
    Bill Paxton
    Bill Paxton
    • Ray O'Malley
    Kurtwood Smith
    Kurtwood Smith
    • Dr. Alan Harrison
    Art Garfunkel
    Art Garfunkel
    • Dr. Lawrence Augustine
    Betsy Clark
    • Anne Garrett
    Nicolette Scorsese
    Nicolette Scorsese
    • Fantasy Lover…
    Meg Register
    • Marion Cavanaugh
    Bryan Smith
    • Russell
    Marla Levine
    • Patricia
    Kim Lentz
    • Nurse Diane
    Lloyd T. Williams
    • Sam the Clerk
    Carl Mazzocone Sr.
    Carl Mazzocone Sr.
    • Pastor
    Erik Shoaff
    • Uncle Charlie
    Lisa Oz
    Lisa Oz
    • Flower Shop Girl
    Ted Manson
    Ted Manson
    • Mailman
    Adele K. Schaeffer
    • Flashback Party Woman #1
    Amy Levin
    • Flashback Party Woman #2
    • Director
      • Jennifer Lynch
    • Writers
      • Philippe Caland(story)
      • Jennifer Lynch(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kim Basinger pulled out of the title role, and was successfully sued for $9 million for violation of a verbal contract. Because of this she forced to declare bankruptcy. The award was overturned on appeal, and the case was settled out of court.
    • Goofs
      Helena's black dress changes specifically when she is walking through the fountain in her undergarments, as it is impossible for the black dress she wears in all other scenes of Nick's party to conceal the particular underclothing.
    • Quotes

      Helena: A woman is something soft; something warm when you feel her. When she's naked. When she's touched. Discovered. You see that things happen inside of her. She opens up. Sometimes a woman is sad. Sometimes she's angry. Helpless. Beautiful. Sometimes she's strong. She's still only that one woman. Talk to her - in deep whispers. Tell her what you're doing, what you see. Move slowly. Tell her you're inside of her. Tell her how it feels. Touch her. Use your tongue. Your breath. When she's about to come, she'll grab for you. But don't let her come. Make her wait. Tease her. Play with her. Make her feel. She may touch herself. She's so sensitive now. You can't be afraid. Take her. Take her.

    • Alternate versions
      "Boxing Helena" was originally rated "NC-17" by the MPAA. The DVD contains 1 minute of sexually explicit footage that had to be cut for the "R" rating. The cut footage in the UNRATED DVD version is as follows:
      • When Nick fantasizes about Helena and Ray having sex we see a shot of most of Helena's butt in her thong underwear; Helena removing Ray's pants where we see part of his bare butt; Ray kissing up Helena's body where we see one of her breasts; and finally one last shot that shows Helena's breasts very briefly.
      • During Nick's sex scene with the fantasy woman while Helena watches, extra footage includes a scene with Nick behind the woman, then a shot of him thrusting into her, followed by several views of the woman's bare breasts.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Blue Chips/Midnight Cowboy/Reality Bites/The Critic/The Scent of Green Papaya (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You
      Performed by Cab Calloway

      Written by Russ Morgan (as R. Morgan), Larry Stock (as L. Stock), James Cavanaugh (as J. Cavanaugh)

      Courtesy of LaserLight Digital

      By Arrangement with Sounds of Film

    User reviews133

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    Loved it!
    I don't understand why people don't appreciate this movie. You have to realize that the beginning of the movie establishes how obsessed the main character is with Helena. She reminds him of his mother. Then he does not just have a "dream" about what happens like some people suggest. He is taking medication and drinks it down with a glass of wine. It is suggested that if he does not take the meds strange things happen to his mind. The hallucination helps him to realize how he needed to stay away from Helena before his obsession made something bad happen. It is established in the movie that he has some serious psychological problems to deal with because of his mother. I also find it amazing how they managed to turn the tables and have Helena realize that no one would ever love her the way he does. The seen where Bill Paxton comes in and is repulsed and Helena begs him to leave is amazingly powerful. I loved Julian Sands and Sherilyn Fenn. They were both perfect. He was pitiful and she was raw. Keep an open mind and watch for the meanings behind what the actors are doing.
    helpful•19
    9
    • rickileigh
    • Jan 13, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 3, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Boxing Hanna
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production company
      • Mainline Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,796,389
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $787,724
      • Sep 6, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,796,389
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Sherilyn Fenn and Julian Sands in Boxing Helena (1993)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to Boxing Helena (1993) in Brazil?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in August
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the gallery
    Back to top

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.