The War of the Roses
“Once in a lifetime comes a motion picture that makes you feel like falling in love all over again. This is not that movie.”
Synopsis
Barbara and Oliver Rose live happily as a married couple. When Barbara starts to wonder what life would be like without Oliver and likes what she sees, the two begin a campaign to force each other to leave their house, with their divorce lawyer D'Amato caught in the middle.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TV Spot #6
Type: Teaser • Published 2024-02-17
Top Cast
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Michael Douglas
Oliver Rose
Kathleen Turner
Barbara Rose
Danny DeVito
Gavin D'Amato
Marianne Sägebrecht
Susan
Sean Astin
Josh at 17
Heather Fairfield
Carolyn at 17
G.D. Spradlin
Harry Thurmont
Peter Donat
Jason Larrabee
Dan Castellaneta
Man in Chair
Gloria Cromwell
Mrs. Marshall
Harlan Arnold
Mr. Dell
Mary Fogarty
Mrs. Dell
Rika Hofmann
Elke
Patricia Allison
Maureen
Peter Brocco
Elderly Mourner
Philip Perlman
Bidder at Auction
Susan Isaacs
Auctioneer's Assistant
Trenton Teigen
Josh at 10
Release History & Theatrical Window
Camerimage International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 8, 1989
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 18, 2012
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$26M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$160.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
6.16x
+$134.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Danny DeVito
- Screenplay & Story
- Michael J. Leeson
- Original Score
- David Newman
- Original Title
- The War of the Roses
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 56m
- Production Budget
- $26M
- Worldwide Gross
- $160.2M
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox, Gracie Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Danny DeVito
Michael J. Leeson, Warren Adler
David Newman
Stephen H. Burum
Lynzee Klingman
James L. Brooks, Arnon Milchan, Doug Claybourne, Polly Platt
Department Leadership Roster
James L. Brooks
Producer
Arnon Milchan
Producer
Lynzee Klingman
Editor
Stephen H. Burum
Director of Photography
Danny DeVito
Director
David Newman
Original Music Composer
Michael J. Leeson
Screenplay
Ida Random
Production Design
Gloria Gresham
Costume Design
Michael Runyard
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The War of the Roses.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The War of the Roses.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The War of the Roses
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The War of the Roses about?
Barbara and Oliver Rose live happily as a married couple. When Barbara starts to wonder what life would be like without Oliver and likes what she sees, the two begin a campaign to force each other to leave their house, with their divorce lawyer D'Amato caught in the middle.
Who directed The War of the Roses?
The War of the Roses was directed by Danny DeVito.
Who stars in The War of the Roses?
The principal cast of The War of the Roses includes Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Marianne Sägebrecht, Sean Astin.
When was The War of the Roses released and how long is it?
The War of the Roses was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 1h 56m.
What was the box office and production budget of The War of the Roses?
The War of the Roses had a reported production budget of $26M and grossed $160.2M at the worldwide box office (6.16 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The War of the Roses?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The War of the Roses was composed by David Newman.
Is The War of the Roses based on a book or true story?
The War of the Roses is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Warren Adler".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The War of the Roses?
The War of the Roses holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: 14A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).