Romancing the Stone (1984)
80%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 4 nominations total
Romancing the Stone reaches back to the classic Saturday morning serials of old with an action-filled adventure enlivened by the sparkling chemistry between its well-matched leads
Romancing the Stone is like a wild ride on a rollercoaster, but instead of screaming in terror, you’re laughing your head off. Michael Douglas is the perfect mix of rugged and charming, and Kathleen Turner is a total badass. The action scenes are heart-pumping, and the comedic moments are pure gold. Sure, the plot might be a little contrived, but who cares when you’re having this much fun? It’s like Indiana Jones meets a romantic comedy, and it totally works. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you forget about your problems and just enjoy the ride, Romancing the Stone is the perfect choice.
Production Company(ies)
Guangxi Film Studio, Beijing New Picture Film
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, Mexico
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1984
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):English, Spanish, French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 1984 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 4, 2003
Genre(s)
Adventure/Action
Keyword(s)
starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Diane Thomas, adventure, action, romance, PG rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Gary Arnold, Peter Travers, Variety Staff, Dave Kehr, Paul Schrodt, John Preston, Rachel Wagner, Tony Black, Grant Watson, Mike Massie, Josh Larsen, starring Jack T Colton, Joan Wilder, Ralph, Ira, Juan, Zolo, produced by Michael Douglas, 20th Century Fox, English, 1h 45m, sound mix, surround, Colombia, jungle, treasure map, gem, pulp-romance novelist, hostage, ransom, treasure hunter, action-filled adventure, chemistry, Saturday morning serials, well-matched leads, adventure enlivened
Worldwide gross: $86,572,238
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $253,511,953
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 578
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 27,645,796
US/Canada gross: $76,572,238
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $224,228,668
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 301
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,105,741
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,951,287
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 791
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29,283,285
Production budget ranking: 1,167
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,769,049
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $208,459,619
ROI to date (est.): 463%
ROI ranking: 278
Kathleen Turner – Joan Wilder
Danny DeVito – Ralph
Zack Norman – Ira
Alfonso Arau – Juan
Manuel Ojeda – Zolo
Director(s)
Robert Zemeckis
Writer(s)
Diane Thomas
Producer(s)
Michael Douglas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 4 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (8)
The set-up in “Romancing the Stone” is poorly contrived to sustain a chase thriller.
January 29, 2019
Gary Arnold
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Turner is terrific, Douglas is fine and the action is slam-bang. Add lots of laughs and it all works out just right.
April 4, 2014
Peter Travers
People Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Turner is like a lot of unwitting screen heroines ahead of her, guaranteed that her drab existence is about to be transformed — probably by a man, preferably handsome and adventurous.
February 6, 2008
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Director Robert Zemeckis displays such dazzling cinematic know-how that it’s genuinely depressing when this 1984 film falls off into the usual self-ridicule.
February 6, 2008
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The message is clear: Love and protection comes with a white face and a big, black gun. His name is Michael Douglas.
September 1, 2006 | Rating: 2/4
Paul Schrodt
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The script is sharp and funny, the direction sure-footed on both the comedy and action fronts, and the whole thing adds up to rather more concerted fun than Indiana Jones’ flab-ridden escapade in the Temple of Doom.
June 24, 2006
John Preston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
the standard for a romantic adventure
April 7, 2022
Rachel Wagner
Hallmarkies Podcast
Romancing the Stone is no searing example of feminist film theory, but it perhaps warrants re-examining in the context of how Zemeckis approaches male and female hero stereotypes.
March 24, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Tony Black
Cultural Conversation
It may be the sub-standard cousin of better adventure movies, but it is still a rollicking good time.
March 10, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Grant Watson
Fiction Machine
Adventure first and foremost, followed by an engaging tale and enough good-natured comedy to ensure that no event appears too sinister or serious.
September 7, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
…a hybrid of Indiana Jones and classic screwball romances.
September 4, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
It disappoints because of the clumsy script. [Full Review in Spanish]
February 11, 2020
Diego Galán
El Pais (Spain)…
Plot
Joan Wilder, a mousy romance novelist, receives a treasure map in the mail from her recently murdered brother-in-law. Meanwhile, her sister Elaine is kidnapped in Colombia and the two criminals responsible demand that she travel to Colombia to exchange the map for her sister. Joan does, and quickly becomes lost in the jungle after being waylayed by Zolo, a vicious and corrupt Colombian cop who will stop at nothing to obtain the map. There, she meets an irreverent soldier-of-fortune named Jack Colton who agrees to bring her back to civilization. Together, they embark upon an adventure that could be straight out of Joan’s novels.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Romancing the Stone.
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