The First Wives Club (1996)
69%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 wins & 8 nominations total
First Wives Club is headlined by a trio of comedic dynamos, but the script lets them down with tepid plotting and a fatal lack of satirical bite
The First Wives Club” is a hilarious and empowering film that will have you cheering for the leading ladies. Sure, it may not be perfect, but who cares when you have Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton teaming up to take down their ex-husbands? The revenge plot is satisfying, the jokes are on point, and the chemistry between the three actresses is undeniable. It’s the ultimate feel-good movie for anyone who’s ever been wronged by a man. So grab some popcorn, gather your girlfriends, and get ready to laugh and cheer your way through this classic ’90s flick.
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Robbins & Appleton Building, 1 Bond Street, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements, some mild language and sensuality
Year of Release
1996
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 42m
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Language(s):English, Italian, French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 1998
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, Maggie Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dan Hedaya, Stockard Channing, Victor Garber, Bronson Pinchot, Elizabeth Berkley, Jennifer Dundas, Eileen Heckart, Philip Bosco, Marcia Gay Harden, Ari Greenberg, Heather Locklear, Ivana Trump, Gloria Steinem, directed by Hugh Wilson, written by Olivia Goldsmith, Robert Harling, produced by Scott Rudin, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anthony Puccinelli, Rita Kempley, Gene Siskel, Adam Mars-Jones, Jay Boyar, Joe Morgenstern, Peter Canavese, Sheila Reid, David Nusair, Kathi Maio, Karl Delossantos, PG, divorce, revenge, ex-husbands, female friendship, suicide, middle-aged women, feminism, satirical, Paramount Pictures
Worldwide gross: $181,489,203
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $346,416,701
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 439
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 37,777,176
US/Canada gross: $105,489,203
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $201,352,042
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 345
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,913,411
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $36,100,888
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 359
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $26,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $49,627,383
Production budget ranking: 802
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $26,724,346
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $270,064,972
ROI to date (est.): 354%
ROI ranking: 392
Bette Midler – Brenda Cushman
Diane Keaton – Annie Paradis
Maggie Smith – Gunilla Garson Goldberg
Sarah Jessica Parker – Shelly Stewart
Dan Hedaya – Morton Cushman
Director(s)
Hugh Wilson
Writer(s)
Olivia Goldsmith, Robert Harling
Producer(s)
Scott Rudin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 wins & 8 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (76) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (38)
Nowadays people actually read about the box-office gross of films as if it means something personal to them.
June 14, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Anthony Puccinelli
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
In the end, “The First Wives Club” even betrays its own bylaws. Revenge is a dish not served. Did Thelma and Louise make their sacrifice for nothing?
January 9, 2019
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Oh, the stories Hawn, Midler and Keaton could tell about men. But we never get to hear them in “The First Wives Clubs.” Instead, it’s high jinks as they plot revenge, get the money.
January 9, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It’s not much more than a variation on Nine to Five, with the object of revenge switched from a single boss to multiple husbands.
January 9, 2019
Adam Mars-Jones
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Although the movie presents itself as a ”hear me roar” feminist statement, its view of humanity – both male and female – is so sour and artificial that the women characters come off almost as badly as the men do.
January 9, 2019 | Rating: 1/4
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Yet the real genius of this saga of sisterhood ascendant is its, um, marriage of revenge fantasy and exuberant spirit.
January 9, 2019
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
An unapologetically star vehicle which satirizes the indignities inflicted on middle-aged women with a punchy script and three terrific lead performances.
June 27, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Canavese
Celluloid Dreams
Hawn, Midler and Keaton form an impressive selection of seasoned actresses that make this otherwise so-so script… hilarious.
May 16, 2022
Sheila Reid
Women in the Life
…generally feels like it could (and should) be so much better…
October 16, 2021 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
First Wives Club is something Hollywood hasn’t produced since 9 to 5 some 16 years ago: a film exhilaratingly woman-positive and funny.
February 26, 2020
Kathi Maio
On the Issues
For better or worse – more better than worse, though -The First Wives Club is peak 1990s feminist cinema.
January 10, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Karl Delossantos
Smash Cut Reviews
Smart and sassy, “The First Wives Club” is funny enough to amuse even the second wives.
January 9, 2019
Stephen Hunter
Baltimore Sun…
Plot
After years of helping their hubbies climb the ladder of success, three wives have been dumped for newer, curvier models. But the trio is determined to turn their pain into gain. They come up with a cleverly devious plan to hit their exes where it really hurts, in the wallet. Sit back and watch the sparks fly as The Wives get mad, get even, and get it all. Justice has seldom been so sweet. Or so much fun.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for The First Wives Club.
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