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Trailer

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

1989Movie2 h 4 minNC-17

CrimeDrama
76
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Letterboxd4.2/5Metacritic627.5Rotten Tomatoes87%88%

A violent, moving crime movie about everyday modern life and society, with standout direction and performances.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · solo watch

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you · you're watching with family

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Not for warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Lust...Murder...Dessert. Bon Appetit!

When churlish mobster Albert Spica acquires an upscale French restaurant in London, he dines there nightly, effectively scaring off the clientele with his bad manners. His wife, Georgina, is especially disgusted by him, and soon begins an affair with regular guest Michael. Despite their best efforts to keep it secret, Spica learns about their trysts, and he plots a terrible revenge.

Feels like

  • Crime Drama
  • Abusive Relationships
  • Social Satire
  • British Cinema
  • Art Film
  • Intense Performances
  • Visually Striking
  • Class Warfare

Cast

21 of 21

Crew

Directed by
Peter Greenaway
Written by
Peter Greenaway
Produced by
Kees Kasander
Music by
Michael Nyman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 13, 1989 · 2 h 4 min · NC-17

Released
October 13, 1989
Runtime
2 h 4 min
Age rating
NC-17
Content
Nudity, Sexual Content, Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
France, United Kingdom, Netherlands
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$8 million
Available in
23 countries

Tropes

The Dog Bites Back, Instant Seduction, High-Class Cannibal +9

  • The Dog Bites Back
  • Instant Seduction
  • High-Class Cannibal
  • Do You Want to Copulate?
  • Advertised Extra
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Evil Cannot Comprehend Good
  • Hair-Trigger Temper
  • Ironic Echo
  • Color Motif
  • Hope Spot
  • Sexual Karma

12 of 78 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover?"

Questions about The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It streams in 4 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76 (IMDb 7.5, Letterboxd 4.2 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 87%, and Metacritic 62).

Will The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly satire (7 of 10) and dark humor (7 of 10).

Will The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

It's more gruesome than scary: grotesque is rated 7 of 10, scares 3.

Was The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$8 million

Yes: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $8 million worldwide, 3.4 times its budget.

What tropes does The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover use?

The Dog Bites BackInstant SeductionHigh-Class CannibalDo You Want to Copulate?Advertised ExtraDomestic AbuseEvil Cannot Comprehend GoodHair-Trigger TemperIronic EchoColor MotifHope SpotSexual Karmaand 66 more

TV Tropes lists 78 tropes for it, including The Dog Bites Back, Instant Seduction, and High-Class Cannibal.