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Cruel Intentions

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
214K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
848
96
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
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark RomancePsychological DramaSteamy RomanceTeen DramaTeen RomanceDramaRomance

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.

  • Director
    • Roger Kumble
  • Writers
    • Choderlos de Laclos
    • Roger Kumble
  • Stars
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Ryan Phillippe
    • Reese Witherspoon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    214K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    848
    96
    • Director
      • Roger Kumble
    • Writers
      • Choderlos de Laclos
      • Roger Kumble
    • Stars
      • Sarah Michelle Gellar
      • Ryan Phillippe
      • Reese Witherspoon
    • 821User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer
    Cruel Intentions
    Trailer 0:31
    Cruel Intentions
    Cruel Intentions
    Trailer 0:31
    Cruel Intentions
    How Joshua Jackson's Co-Stars Fuel "Little Fires Everywhere"
    Video 6:31
    How Joshua Jackson's Co-Stars Fuel "Little Fires Everywhere"

    Photos228

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Kathryn Merteuil
    Ryan Phillippe
    Ryan Phillippe
    • Sebastian Valmont
    Reese Witherspoon
    Reese Witherspoon
    • Annette Hargrove
    Selma Blair
    Selma Blair
    • Cecile Caldwell
    Louise Fletcher
    Louise Fletcher
    • Helen Rosemond
    Joshua Jackson
    Joshua Jackson
    • Blaine Tuttle
    Eric Mabius
    Eric Mabius
    • Greg McConnell
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    • Ronald Clifford
    Swoosie Kurtz
    Swoosie Kurtz
    • Dr. Greenbaum
    Christine Baranski
    Christine Baranski
    • Bunny Caldwell
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    • Nurse
    • (as Alaina Reed Hall)
    Deborah Offner
    Deborah Offner
    • Mrs. Michalak
    Tara Reid
    Tara Reid
    • Marci Greenbaum
    Herta Ware
    • Mrs. Sugarman
    Hiep Thi Le
    Hiep Thi Le
    • Mai-Lee
    Charlie O'Connell
    Charlie O'Connell
    • Court Reynolds
    Fred Norris
    Fred Norris
    • Meter Maid
    Ginger Williams
    Ginger Williams
    • Clorissa
    • Director
      • Roger Kumble
    • Writers
      • Choderlos de Laclos
      • Roger Kumble
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews821

    6.8213.9K
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    Featured reviews

    Buddy-51

    strong beginning, weak ending

    For exactly two-thirds of its 97 minute running time, "Cruel Intentions" scores as a nasty-minded, wryly satiric and even mildly courageous teen update of "Dangerous Liaisons." But, like so many movies with one eye cocked towards the boxoffice, "Cruel Intentions" loses its nerve and settles ultimately for comfortable, safe and hopelessly dull conventionality. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar portray a wicked pair of step siblings who operate together to prey sexually upon unsuspecting victims, manipulating others to achieve their goals of personal conquest and revenge. It's refreshing to encounter protagonists who make no excuses for their amorality and instead allow themselves to be completely guided by their own self-serving impulses, totally unmindful of the consequences to others. Their schemes are acted out with a callous gleefulness and self-absorbed relish that raises the film to a level of surprisingly sophisticated satire and audacity. But, when Sebastian encounters his ultimate challenge - a midwestern virgin played by Reese Witherspoon, who has publicly declared in a magazine her decision to wait for true love before offering herself to a man - he falls under her charms and suddenly transforms from coldhearted predator to mushheaded romantic. This is the major problem with the film. Sebastian is valid and interesting as a character as long as he stays within the realm of sly manipulator and acerbic scoundrel. When he is called upon to function as a dashing romantic figure, he loses both credibility and uniqueness - and the film itself goes into a freefall tailspin. For, as Sebastian undergoes his sudden conversion, all the sharply satiric wit simply drains out of the film. We're ultimately left with little more than unconvincing melodrama, inappropriately tragic overtures and a silly evildoers-do-not-prosper resolution. What a pity to see yet another in a long line of movies that start out with bright promise, but which finally end up renaging on their initial courageousness, leaving the audience in perpetual frustration.
    7Sandcooler

    Not as mature as "Dangerous Liaisons", but that's sorta its charm

    I find it incredibly peculiar how the same novel (Choderlos de Laclos' "Les liaisons dangereuses", but that won't be on the test) can spawn two separate interpretations that are absolutely nothing alike. "Dangerous Liaisons" was a very stylish, classy, hyper-professional and (maybe as a result) also somewhat slow costume drama, while "Cruel Intentions" shamelessly takes the sleazy road and ends up being really entertaining. It's primarily aimed at teens and piles up Hollywood clichés like it's a contest or something, but despite those hurdles it manages to strike exactly the right dark tone. Sarah Michelle Gellar is really good in the Glenn Close role, technically she only gives her villain one dimension but it's a dimension you love to hate. She has acid running through her veins, in fact the whole movie seems a lot more harsh and direct than "Dangerous Liaisons" was. Do I actually prefer this high schooler remake over the original "Dangerous Liaisons"? Well, secretly yes, but to avoid being burned on a pyre I'll just say they're both excellent movies in their own right. "Cruel Intentions" is just a great watch though.
    7Sergiodave

    A quite clever teen movie

    If you want to introduce classic literature to a teen audience, movies like this are a great way, a good adaptation of a classic, not up there with '10 things I hate about you' or 'Romeo + Juliet' but still good enough to elicit interest in the classics from the audience.
    8BrunoRatesTheMovies

    "You can put it anywhere"

    This came out at the movies when I was 14 and let me tell you, it was the hottest thing to ever be shown at the movies in our lifetime! You could either sneak in or wait for the VHS. What a time. Watching it 23 years later I feel it really holds up. The precursor to Gossip Girl and the like, this really set a tone and I'm all for it.
    David, Film Freak

    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!

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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
      Edited into Cruel Intentions: Deleted Scenes (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

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Cruel Intentions?Powered by Alexa
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Apple TV Store (MENA Official)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Juegos sexuales
    • Filming locations
      • Indoor Pool, Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(Valmont Mansion interiors - swimming pool scenes)
    • 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

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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