The War of the Roses (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The War of the Roses is a 1989 comedy thriller starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. It is based on The War of the Roses by Warren Adler. It runs 1 hour 56 minutes and earned $160.2 million worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTA 1991. Critics gave it 80 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 56m (116 min)
- Original language
-
English - Based on
- The War of the Roses by Warren Adler
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The War of the Roses About?
The premise of The War of the Roses without spoilers, adapted from The War of the Roses by Warren Adler. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A once-strong marriage between Barbara and Oliver Rose deteriorates into a destructive and comedic fight for their luxurious home. Their children are caught in the crossfire as the couple’s conflict intensifies. A shrewd lawyer attempts to mediate, but the situation spirals further out of control, revealing the deep-seated resentments and escalating animosity between Barbara and Oliver.
The War of the Roses Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- dysfunctional family
- dysfunctional marriage
- marital argument
- domestic drama
- entirely told in flashback
- nantucket massachusetts
- twin boy twin girl
- wealthy couple
- divorce lawyer
- escalating violence
- footsie under the table
- passive aggressive behavior
+38 more Show fewer
- comedy farce
- tragedy drama
- rough romance
- wife asks her husband for a divorce
- separated but living together
- fatal fall
- disagreement
- suburban life
- falling to death
- married couple
- heterosexual couple
- couple
- house
- social satire
- family relationships
- housekeeper
- materialism
- battle of the sexes
- marriage as hell
- cautionary tale
- morgan plus 4
- gmc jimmy
- revenge
- marital separation
- catering business
- chandelier
- christmas eve
- harvard university
- pet
- ceramic figurine
- estate auction
- chain smoker
- car as a gift
- law firm partner
- former gymnast
- unhappy housewife
- attempted rape
- sex scene
The War of the Roses Cast
Michael Douglas leads the cast, with Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
The War of the Roses Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The War of the Roses 80 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 80 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 69% User score
See on TMDB
The War of the Roses Plot Summary
What happens in The War of the Roses 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
Harvard Law student Oliver Rose, played by Michael Douglas, encounters Barbara, portrayed by Kathleen Turner, when they both vie for the same antique at an auction. Their immediate chemistry quickly blossoms into passion, leading to a relationship that culminates in marriage and the growth of their family, complete with two children and a spacious home in Washington, D.C. As the years roll on, Oliver devotes himself to climbing the corporate ladder and accumulating wealth, while Barbara tirelessly transforms their house into a pristine sanctuary filled with material possessions.
Full summary
The whole story of The War of the Roses, scene by scene
The War of the Roses Box Office
The War of the Roses grossed $160.2 million worldwide. $86.9 million came from the US and Canada and $73.3 million (46%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$160.2M
- US & Canada
- $86.9M
- International
- $73.3M
The War of the Roses Awards & Nominations
The War of the Roses earned 4 award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTA 1991. The 4 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Golden Globes 1990.
4 nominations2 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1991 1 nomination- Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay
-
Golden Globes 1990 3 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actor) – Michael Douglas
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actress) – Kathleen Turner
The War of the Roses Trailers & Videos
11 videos: 1 trailer, 6 teasers, 1 clip, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Teaser TV Spot #1
- Teaser TV Spot #2
- Teaser TV Spot #3
- Teaser TV Spot #4
How Well Do You Know The War of the Roses?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What event brings Oliver and Barbara together at the beginning of the film?
Cars in The War of the Roses
19 cars on screen, including the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 and the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette C4.
-
1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Important role -
1986 Chevrolet Corvette C4 Important role -
1989 GMC Jimmy Important role -
1960 Morgan Plus 4 Important role
The War of the Roses Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “La Guerra de los Rose” and “Der Rosenkrieg - Bis dass der Tod uns scheidet”.
- Also known as
-
- La Guerra de los Rose
- Der Rosenkrieg - Bis dass der Tod uns scheidet
- Війна подружжя Роуз
- La Guerra de los Roses
- 玫瑰战争
- A Guerra das Rosas
- Der Rosen-Krieg
- Der Rosenkrieg
- La Guerre des Rose
- La guerra dei Roses
- Война супругов Роуз
- Den vilda jakten på lyckan
+16 more Show fewer
- Válka Roseových
- Wojna państwa Rose
- A Rózsák háborúja
- Ο Πόλεμος των Ρόουζ
- מלחמת רוז ברוז
- Güllerin Savaşı
- Войната на семейство Роуз
- A Guerra dos Roses
- Războiul familiei Rose
- 장미의 전쟁
- ローズ家の戦争
- Vojna Roseovcov
- Ruusujen sota, როუზების ომი
- Rouzų šeimos karas
- La guerra dels Rose
- Rat Roseovih
Seen The War of the Roses?
Movies Like The War of the Roses
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Roses, War Room and The Family Way.
The War of the Roses FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of The War of the Roses, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The War of the Roses?
The War of the Roses runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).
When was The War of the Roses released?
The War of the Roses was released on December 1, 1989.
Who is in the cast of The War of the Roses?
The War of the Roses stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
How much did The War of the Roses make at the box office?
The War of the Roses grossed $160.2 million worldwide ($86.9 million domestic, $73.3 million international).
How is The War of the Roses rated?
The War of the Roses has 80 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.
Is The War of the Roses based on a book?
Yes. The War of the Roses is adapted from The War of the Roses by Warren Adler.
Was The War of the Roses nominated for any awards?
The War of the Roses received 4 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does The War of the Roses have a post-credit scene?
No. The War of the Roses has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
