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The War of the Roses

1989·Movie
1h 56min·R
76
GreatGoodWatch score

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The War of the Roses fingerprint

Very funny, high energy, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension8
  • Fast Pace6
  • Violence6

Heart

Emotionally reserved

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics9
  • Pathos6
  • Melancholy6

Humor

Plenty of dark humor and cringe comedy

  • Dark Humor10
  • Cringe Humor8
  • Satire & Parody8

World

Family, the mind, and society

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, direction, and storytelling

  • Acting9
  • Direction8
  • Narrative Structure8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture that makes you feel like falling in love all over again. This is not that movie.

Barbara and Oliver Rose live happily as a married couple. When Barbara starts to wonder what life would be like without Oliver and likes what she sees, the two begin a campaign to force each other to leave their house, with their divorce lawyer D'Amato caught in the middle.
Pitch-Black ComedyCorrosive Marital SatireSpiraling HostilityMaterialism & ObsessionPhenomenal Lead PerformancesEscalating ConflictCringe-Inducing TensionUncompromising Cautionary Tale

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The War of the Roses

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The War of the Roses legally?

You can rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The War of the Roses worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76/100 (IMDb 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes 84%, and Metacritic 80). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The War of the Roses rated?

RViolenceStrong languageSexual content

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and sexual content.

How long is The War of the Roses?

1 h 56 min

The War of the Roses runs 1 h 56 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The War of the Roses?

Critics82
Audiences70

Not quite. Critics rate The War of the Roses higher (82) than audiences (70). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The War of the Roses a box office hit?

Budget$26 million
Box office$160 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $26 million to make and earned $160 million worldwide, 6.2 times its budget.

What language is The War of the Roses in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The War of the Roses?

69ARATAUAZBEBGBOBRBZCACHCLCOCR+55

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The War of the Roses in 69 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The War of the Roses use?

Unrequited LoveHappily MarriedOnly Sane ManCharacter DevelopmentComically Missing the PointTable SpaceBookendsOktoberfestHard Truth AesopWham LineDoes This Remind You of Anything?This Is My Sideand 51 more

TV Tropes lists 63 storytelling tropes for The War of the Roses, including Unrequited Love, Happily Married, Only Sane Man.