Stella
“She sacrificed her own dreams to make her daughter's dreams come true.”
Synopsis
Barmaid Stella Claire and blueblood Stephen Dallas have very little in common -- except they've fallen in love. When their relationship fails, Stella decides to raise the child they had, Jenny, alone. But Jenny and Stella are far from the perfect mother-daughter pair.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Bette Midler
Stella Claire
John Goodman
Ed Munn
Trini Alvarado
Jenny Claire
Stephen Collins
Stephen Dallas
Marsha Mason
Janice Morrison
Eileen Brennan
Mrs. Wilkerson
Linda Hart
Debbie Whitman
Ben Stiller
Jim Uptegrove
William McNamara
Pat Robbins
John Bell
Bob Morrison
Ashley Peldon
Jenny (age 3)
Alisan Porter
Jenny (age 8)
Kenneth Kimmins
Security Guard
Bob Gerchen
Bartender
Willie Rosario
Dancing Waiter
Rex Robbins
Minister
Ron White
Tony De Banza
Matthew Cowles
Sid
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 2, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
April 8, 2003
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$20.2M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Erman
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Getchell
- Original Score
- John Morris
- Original Title
- Stella
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Worldwide Gross
- $20.2M
- Production Studios
- Touchstone Pictures, The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Erman
Robert Getchell, Olive Higgins Prouty
John Morris
Billy Williams
Jerrold L. Ludwig, Bud Molin
David V. Picker, Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Getchell
Screenplay
John Erman
Director
Samuel Goldwyn Jr.
Producer
John Morris
Original Music Composer
Billy Williams
Director of Photography
Jerrold L. Ludwig
Editor
Bud Molin
Editor
James Hulsey
Production Design
Theadora Van Runkle
Costume Design
Jack Gill
Stunt Coordinator
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 Stella.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Stella.
My Movies
Master List In Progress
MNR
Ben Stiller Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies starring Ben Stiller Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated September 26, 2026.
Golden Globes - Best Non-English Language Film Winners 1949-2025
Golden Globes winners archive (Best Non-English Language Film Winners 1949-2025)
1990
Book Adaptations
More Like Stella
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stella
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Stella about?
Barmaid Stella Claire and blueblood Stephen Dallas have very little in common -- except they've fallen in love. When their relationship fails, Stella decides to raise the child they had, Jenny, alone. But Jenny and Stella are far from the perfect mother-daughter pair.
Who directed Stella?
Stella was directed by John Erman.
Who stars in Stella?
The principal cast of Stella includes Bette Midler, John Goodman, Trini Alvarado, Stephen Collins, Marsha Mason.
When was Stella released and how long is it?
Stella was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 1h 49m.
How much did Stella make at the box office?
Stella grossed $20.2M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for Stella?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Stella was composed by John Morris.
Is Stella based on a book or true story?
Stella is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Olive Higgins Prouty".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Stella?
Stella holds official age classifications: 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.).