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IMDbPro

Cruel Intentions

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
190K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
850
240
Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions (1999)
Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), two wealthy, manipulative teenage step-siblings from Manhattan's upper-crust, conspire by making a diabolical wager of sexual conquest without consequences. The pawns? The naïve Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair) and the virginal Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon).
Play trailer2:20
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
190K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
850
240
  • Director
    • Roger Kumble
  • Writers
    • Choderlos de Laclos(novel "Les liaisons dangereuses")
    • Roger Kumble(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Ryan Phillippe
    • Reese Witherspoon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roger Kumble
  • Writers
    • Choderlos de Laclos(novel "Les liaisons dangereuses")
    • Roger Kumble(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Ryan Phillippe
    • Reese Witherspoon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 791User reviews
    • 87Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer
    Cruel Intentions
    Trailer 0:31
    Cruel Intentions
    How Joshua Jackson's Co-Stars Fuel "Little Fires Everywhere"
    Full Episode 6:31
    How Joshua Jackson's Co-Stars Fuel "Little Fires Everywhere"
    The Watchlist With 'Fifty Shades Freed' Star Arielle Kebbel
    Video 2:07
    The Watchlist With 'Fifty Shades Freed' Star Arielle Kebbel

    Photos129

    Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions (1999)
    Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions (1999)
    Sebastian & Annette
    Kathryn & Sebastian
    Joshua Jackson as Blaine
    Cecile & Kathryn
    Sebastian & Blaine
    Ryan Phillippe stars as Sebastian Valmont
    Joshua Jackson as Blaine
    Reese Witherspoon stars as Amanda Hargrove
    Selma Blair as Cecile Caldwell
    Sebastian with Cecile & Bunny

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Kathryn Merteuilas Kathryn Merteuil
    Ryan Phillippe
    Ryan Phillippe
    • Sebastian Valmontas Sebastian Valmont
    Reese Witherspoon
    Reese Witherspoon
    • Annette Hargroveas Annette Hargrove
    Selma Blair
    Selma Blair
    • Cecile Caldwellas Cecile Caldwell
    Louise Fletcher
    Louise Fletcher
    • Helen Rosemondas Helen Rosemond
    Joshua Jackson
    Joshua Jackson
    • Blaine Tuttleas Blaine Tuttle
    Eric Mabius
    Eric Mabius
    • Greg McConnellas Greg McConnell
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    • Ronald Cliffordas Ronald Clifford
    Swoosie Kurtz
    Swoosie Kurtz
    • Dr. Greenbaumas Dr. Greenbaum
    Christine Baranski
    Christine Baranski
    • Bunny Caldwellas Bunny Caldwell
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • (as Alaina Reed Hall)
    Deborah Offner
    Deborah Offner
    • Mrs. Michalakas Mrs. Michalak
    Tara Reid
    Tara Reid
    • Marci Greenbaumas Marci Greenbaum
    Herta Ware
    • Mrs. Sugarmanas Mrs. Sugarman
    Hiep Thi Le
    Hiep Thi Le
    • Mai-Leeas Mai-Lee
    Charlie O'Connell
    Charlie O'Connell
    • Court Reynoldsas Court Reynolds
    Fred Norris
    Fred Norris
    • Meter Maidas Meter Maid
    Ginger Williams
    Ginger Williams
    • Clorissaas Clorissa
    • Director
      • Roger Kumble
    • Writers
      • Choderlos de Laclos(novel "Les liaisons dangereuses")
      • Roger Kumble(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For legal reasons, writer and director Roger Kumble had to ask all of the actresses auditioning for Cecile how old they were, because of a sex scene between the character and Sebastian in the movie. "So we were bringing in all of these people", he recalled to Cosmopolitan, "and they were all good, but I remember Selma (Blair) came in and I said, 'How old are you?' And she goes (in Cecile's bratty voice) 'How old are you?' And she was so obnoxious, and I couldn't get it out of my head."
    • Goofs
      Cameraman and crane visible in the front windshield of Sebastian's car while driving with Annette.
    • Quotes

      Sebastian: You amaze me.

      Kathryn: Eat me, Sebastian! It's okay for guys like you and Court to fuck everyone. But when I do it, I get dumped for innocent little twits like Cecile. God forbid, I exude confidence and enjoy sex. Do you think I relish the fact that I have to act like Mary Sunshine 24/7 so I can be considered a lady? I'm the Marcia fucking Brady of the Upper East Side, and sometimes I want to kill myself. So there's your psychoanalysis, Dr. Freud. Now tell me, are you in... or are you out?

    • Alternate versions
      There was a line of dialogue cut from the US version which appears in the UK cut. After Kathryn views the videotape of Cecil and Ronald she comments: 'F*ck her already'
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Deep End of the Ocean/Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels/Cruel Intentions/Analyze This/Wing Commander (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Every You Every Me
      Written by Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, Steve Hewitt (as Steven Hewitt) and Paul Campion

      Performed by Placebo

      Courtesy of Elevator Music Ltd./Virgin Records America Inc.

      Published by Famous Music Corp. and Island Music Ltd./Mukka Music

    User reviews791

    Review
    Top review
    C(R)OOL Intentions
    This film (based on the 1988 hit 'Dangerous Liasons' starring Glenn Close, Michelle Pfieffer and John Malkovich) is a great movie intended for the older teenagers, and stars fine young acting talent.

    Rich kid Kathryn ('Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Sarah Michelle Gellar) bets her equally jaded step-brother Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe; 'I Know What You Did Last Summer', which co-starred Sarah) that he can't seduce good girl, and virgin, Annette (played by Ryan's real-life wife Reese Witherspoon).

    Along the way, Kathryn tries to help sexually-inexperienced Cecile (Selma Blair) get some action in her life, while she starts screwing Cecile's ex-music instructor! Sound weird? It is. It's basically about 2 rich snobs who mess with the lives of those around them, just because their lives get boring.

    This film also stars Joshua Jackson ('The Skulls', 'Urban Legend', TV's 'Dawson's Creek) as Sebastian's gay best friend, who also gets involved in the use or be used storyline. Fellow teen-movie star Tara Reid ('Urban Legend', 'American Pie') also has a small role, as Sebastian's psychiatrists's daughter.

    This film is pretty intense and deals with sex, drugs, seduction and alienation in a brave, way that makes it appealing to all teenagers. Not for the light hearted, more daring than anything like 'She's All That' and 'Never Been Kissed', but it's still good fun!
    helpful•81
    41
    • David, Film Freak
    • Mar 3, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What kind of car did Sebastian drive?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Cruel Inventions
    • Filming locations
      • Indoor Pool, Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Original Film
      • Newmarket Capital Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,773,785
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,020,565
      • Mar 7, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $76,347,426
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

    Related news

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