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Mystery drama

Reversal of Fortune (1990): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Reversal of Fortune (1990) movie poster

Reversal of Fortune is a 1990 mystery drama directed by Barbet Schroeder, starring Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $15.4 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Actor in a Leading Role, and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 93 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$15.4M
Oscar won
1
Metascore
93
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Reversal of Fortune (1990) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 51m (111 min)
Director
Barbet Schroeder
Genres
Drama , Mystery
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Reversal of Fortune About?

The premise of Reversal of Fortune without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The puzzling coma of socialite Sunny von Bülow leads to a murder investigation centering on her husband, Claus. Initially convicted, Claus seeks to clear his name, prompting Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz to take on the complex case. Driven by intellectual challenge and a hope to demonstrate his client’s innocence, Dershowitz confronts the legal and media storm surrounding the high-profile trial, grappling with doubts and uncovering hidden truths.

Reversal of Fortune Themes & Keywords

· 34 tags
  • courtroom drama
  • law professor
  • based on true story
  • trial
  • wealth
  • dysfunctional marriage
  • ill woman
  • judicial system
  • attempted murder
  • insulin
  • coma
  • true crime
+22 more
  • based on book
  • yacht
  • teacher student relationship
  • diabetes
  • lawyer
  • defense lawyer
  • suspicion
  • party
  • husband wife relationship
  • adultery
  • man wears eyeglasses
  • villa
  • bed
  • doubt
  • woman in a bed
  • husband
  • rhode island
  • law student
  • backgammon
  • drugs
  • law school
  • courtroom
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Cast & crew

Reversal of Fortune Cast

Glenn Close leads the cast, with Jeremy Irons. Directed by Barbet Schroeder.

Ratings

Reversal of Fortune Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Reversal of Fortune 93 on Metacritic.

Plot

Reversal of Fortune Plot Summary

What happens in Reversal of Fortune from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Sunny von Bülow, Glenn Close, a millionaire heiress and socialite, lies in a hospital bed in a persistent vegetative state after slipping into a coma from diabetic shock on December 21, 1980. A year earlier, she had fallen into a coma on December 26, 1979, but was revived. Her husband Claus von Bülow, Jeremy Irons, is charged with attempted murder by injecting the hypoglycemic Sunny with an overdose of insulin. During the trial, it is revealed that Claus was having an affair with actress Alexandra Isles and stood to gain financially if Sunny had died. He is found guilty on two counts of attempted murder.

Full summary

The whole story of Reversal of Fortune, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Reversal of Fortune Box Office

Reversal of Fortune grossed $15.4 million worldwide.

1990 box office

Worldwide gross

$15.4M

US & Canada
$15.4M
Awards

Reversal of Fortune Awards & Nominations

Reversal of Fortune won 1 Oscar, including Actor in a Leading Role, and 2 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Golden Globes 1991, with 1 win from 4 nominations.

2 wins7 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Reversal of Fortune Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Reversal of Fortune trailer HD
  • Clip Reversal of Fortune (1990) - Everybody Hates You Scene (2/10) | Movieclips
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Reversal of Fortune?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor plays Claus von Bülow, the husband accused of attempting to murder his wife?

Cars

Cars in Reversal of Fortune

4 cars on screen, including the 1985 Lincoln Continental and the Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine W126.

  • 1985 Lincoln Continental in Reversal of Fortune 1985 Lincoln Continental Minor role
  • Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine W126 in Reversal of Fortune Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine W126 Minor role
  • 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera in Reversal of Fortune 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Minor role
  • 1978 Volvo 244 in Reversal of Fortune 1978 Volvo 244 Minor role
Details

Reversal of Fortune Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Le Mystère von Bulow” and “O Reverso da Fortuna”.

Also known as
  • Le Mystère von Bulow
  • O Reverso da Fortuna
  • Druga prawda
  • Apelacja
  • Il mistero von Bulow
  • El secreto von Bülow
  • Le Mystère von Bülow
  • Die Affäre der Sunny von B.
  • El misterio Von Bülow
  • A szerencse forgandó
  • תהפוכות הגורל
  • Το Γύρισμα της Τύχης
+14 more
  • Изнанка судьбы
  • Обрат на съдбата
  • 豪门孽债
  • 행운의 반전
  • Talihin Dönüşü
  • Odmiana losu
  • Frikendt
  • 運命の逆転
  • Reveses da Fortuna
  • Mysteriet von Bülow
  • El misteri Von Bülow
  • ลิขิตเลือด
  • Zvrat štěstěny
  • Преокрет среће

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FAQ

Reversal of Fortune FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Reversal of Fortune, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Reversal of Fortune?

Reversal of Fortune runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

When was Reversal of Fortune released?

Reversal of Fortune was released on October 17, 1990.

Who directed Reversal of Fortune?

Reversal of Fortune was directed by Barbet Schroeder.

More films by Barbet Schroeder

Who is in the cast of Reversal of Fortune?

Reversal of Fortune stars Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons.

How much did Reversal of Fortune make at the box office?

Reversal of Fortune grossed $15.4 million worldwide.

How is Reversal of Fortune rated?

Reversal of Fortune has 93 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.

What awards did Reversal of Fortune win?

Reversal of Fortune won 2 awards from 7 nominations, including Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor) at the Golden Globes 1991.

Does Reversal of Fortune have a post-credit scene?

No. Reversal of Fortune has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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