Stanley & Iris
“Some people need love spelled out for them.”
Synopsis
An illiterate cook at a company cafeteria tries for the attention of a newly widowed woman. As they get to know one another, she discovers his inability to read. When he is fired, she takes on trying to teach him to read in her kitchen each night.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-03-23
Top Cast
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Jane Fonda
Iris King
Robert De Niro
Stanley Cox
Swoosie Kurtz
Sharon
Martha Plimpton
Kelly King
Jamey Sheridan
Joe
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
Leonides Cox
Zohra Lampert
Elaine
Loretta Devine
Bertha
Kathy Kinney
Bernice
Harley Cross
Richard King
Julie Garfield
Belinda
Karen Ludwig
Melissa
Dortha Duckworth
Librarian
Stephen Root
Mr. Hentley
Eddie Jones
Mr. Hagen
Katherine Cortez
Jan
Mary Testa
Joanne
Fred J. Scollay
Mr. Delancey
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 9, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 9, 1990
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$23M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$5.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.25x
-$17.2M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Martin Ritt
- Screenplay & Story
- Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr.
- Original Score
- John Williams
- Original Title
- Stanley & Iris
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Production Budget
- $23M
- Worldwide Gross
- $5.8M
- Production Studios
- Star Partners II, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lantana Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Martin Ritt
Irving Ravetch, Harriet Frank Jr., Pat Barker
John Williams
Donald McAlpine
Sidney Levin
Arlene Sellers, Patrick J. Palmer, Alex Winitsky
Department Leadership Roster
Martin Ritt
Director
Irving Ravetch
Screenplay
Sidney Levin
Editor
Jack Gill
Stunt Coordinator
Harriet Frank Jr.
Screenplay
Theoni V. Aldredge
Costume Design
Donald McAlpine
Director of Photography
Arlene Sellers
Producer
Alex Winitsky
Producer
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Joel Schiller
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Stanley & Iris.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stanley & Iris
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Stanley & Iris about?
An illiterate cook at a company cafeteria tries for the attention of a newly widowed woman. As they get to know one another, she discovers his inability to read. When he is fired, she takes on trying to teach him to read in her kitchen each night.
Who directed Stanley & Iris?
Stanley & Iris was directed by Martin Ritt.
Who stars in Stanley & Iris?
The principal cast of Stanley & Iris includes Jane Fonda, Robert De Niro, Swoosie Kurtz, Martha Plimpton, Jamey Sheridan.
When was Stanley & Iris released and how long is it?
Stanley & Iris was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 1h 44m.
What was the box office and production budget of Stanley & Iris?
Stanley & Iris had a reported production budget of $23M and grossed $5.8M at the worldwide box office (0.25 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Stanley & Iris?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Stanley & Iris was composed by John Williams.
Is Stanley & Iris based on a book or true story?
Stanley & Iris is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Pat Barker".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Stanley & Iris?
Stanley & Iris holds official age classifications: CA: 18A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).