Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)
88%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
15 wins & 24 nominations total
In his feature directorial debut, Steven Soderbergh demonstrates a mastery of his craft well beyond his years, pulling together an outstanding cast and an intelligent script for a nuanced, mature film about neurosis and human sexuality
Sex, Lies, and Videotape is like a time capsule of the late 80s and early 90s, complete with big hair, shoulder pads, and a whole lot of secrets. The film explores the complexities of human desire and the lengths we’ll go to keep our true selves hidden. With a talented cast and a directorial style that’s both subtle and provocative, Sex, Lies, and Videotape is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good psychological drama. Plus, who doesn’t love a young James Spader?
Production Company(ies)
Zentropa Entertainments, Film i Väst Zentropa International, Sweden
Distributor
Criterion Collection, Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1989
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 41m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 1989 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 28, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring James Spader, Andie MacDowell, Peter Gallagher, Laura San Giacomo, directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Steven Soderbergh, produced by Bobby Newmyer, John Hardy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by tt stern-enzi, David Stratton, Richard Corliss, Variety Staff, Geoff Andrew, Nell Minow, Rene Jordan, Taylor Baker, Milana Vujkov, Matt Brunson, Jennie Livingston, Margaret Pomeranz, R rating, relationships, sex, marriage, lawyer, therapist, videotape, neurosis, human sexuality, ensemble acting, independent film, middle class
Worldwide gross: $24,742,089
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $60,289,801
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,253
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,574,678
US/Canada gross: $24,741,667
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $60,289,801
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 986
US/Canada opening weekend: $155,982
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $380,093
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,471
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,200,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,924,126
Production budget ranking: 1,982
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,574,642
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $55,791,033
ROI to date (est.): 1,240%
ROI ranking: 97
Andie MacDowell – Ann
Peter Gallagher – John
Laura San Giacomo – Cynthia
Ron Vawter – Therapist
Steven Brill – Barfly
Director(s)
Steven Soderbergh
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Bobby Newmyer, John Hardy
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
15 wins & 24 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (52) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (2)
Such a fascinating film…it shows you what happens if people who start out small get to grow in the industry…
March 16, 2021
tt stern-enzi
WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
TOP CRITIC
I was disappointed. I think it’s been overhyped and I can’t understand why people rave about it the way they do.
February 16, 2018
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
What amazes is that at just 26, Soderbergh displays the three qualities associated with mature filmmakers: a unique authorial voice, a spooky camera assurance, and the easy control of ensemble acting.
December 9, 2011
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This is a sexy, nuanced, beautifully controlled examination of how a quartet of people are defined by their erotic impulses and inhibitions.
October 18, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The actors are superb; working from Soderbergh’s funny, perceptive, immaculately wrought dialogue, they ensure that the film stimulates both intellectually and emotionally.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Still provocative.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Demonstrates that it’s not a lack of money, rather intelligence that makes a memorable film. [Full review in Spanish]
June 15, 2022
Rene Jordan
El Nuevo Herald (Miami)
Episode 8: Sex, Lies and Predator
August 28, 2021 | Rating: 96/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Spader’s truth-fetishist Graham was a harbinger of things to come, as the first of Gen X hit their teens (…) [acquiring] the possibility to interact with the simulacrum.
August 1, 2021
Milana Vujkov
Lola On Film
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of sex, lies, and videotape when it burst onto the scene in 1989.
June 16, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
No one is easily let off of Soderbergh’s directorial hook — not his characters, not the audience, not this reviewer.
May 20, 2020
Jennie Livingston
OutWeek
[It’s] something that is intensely interesting for most of us yuppies.
February 16, 2018
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)…
Plot
John and Ann Mullany, a junior partner at a law firm and a housewife respectively, are a young, upwardly mobile couple, who most would deem to have a perfect life. Ann’s outward perfection belies the fact that she is in therapy, dealing with the stress over worrying about global issues with which she has little to no control. She does not see certain things with which she does have control being problems in her life, namely her sexual repression or her disinterest in sex as an activity, that is until it manifested itself in this stress which in turn is having, what she believes, a negative impact on her marriage. What she is unaware of is that, long before her stress began, John embarked on an affair with her sister, bartender Cynthia Bishop, who she doesn’t admire as being too “loud”. John reconnects with a close friend from college named Graham Dalton, who, to John, appears to have lost his way in life in the years that they have not been in touch. Graham, via the method in which he deals with his emotional and sexual problems – which is also believes is being totally forthright to all concerned – has a profound effect on Cynthia, John and Ann, who in turn, especially Ann, have a profound effect on him.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises James Spader’s performance as the “truth-fetishist” Graham, calling him a “harbinger of things to come” for the Gen X generation.
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