SummaryFatal Attraction is a story too terrifying to resist, a crackling, tension-packed thriller hinged on the triangle of a man, a wife and vengeful "other woman." This sexy, chic, scary box-office smash grabs hold early-then tops itself with an unforgettably nerve-jolting finale. [Paramount Pictures]
Directed By:Adrian Lyne
Written By:James Dearden
Fatal Attraction
Metascore
Generally Favorable
67
User score
Generally Favorable
7.5
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
67
81% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
6% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
90
The screws are tightened expertly in this suspenseful meller about a flipped-out femme who makes life hell for the married man who scorns her.
80
Two absolutely riveting performances and a smart reversal of the usual male-female stalker scenario leave behind a nasty taste and an unforgettable cinema experience.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.5
79% Positive
88 Ratings
88 Ratings
20% Mixed
22 Ratings
22 Ratings
1% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Dec 14, 2020
10
Glenn Close and Michael Douglas have an unprecedented chemistry in this exquisitely written thriller, that has become an all time favorite.
Sep 1, 2020
10
Fatal Attraction is a 1987 thriller starring Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer.... Michael Douglas's character named Dan Gallagher meets some bird with blonde hair in a Japanese restaurant. When his wife leaves for a day or two he has an affair with the same lady played by Glenn Close but Dan's (Douglas) wife returns along with her daughter but Alex (Glenn Close) won't let the affair slide so starts making Dan's life a misery even though he's made it abundantly clear he's married and not interested.... She kills the family pet which is a rabbit, pours acid on the family car, sends Dan a tape full of profanities and even attempts to kill Dan's wife at the end in the bathroom and snatches the daughter from school leaving the mother running around frantically trying to find her.... Fatal Attraction in some places makes little sense because if Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) knew he was married and it was wrong then why do it? Secondly did he ring his wife from Alex's apartment or did she phone him and if so wouldn't that be suspicious to begin with dialling from another number? Some parts make no sense but Fatal Attraction is a rollercoaster ride of suspense, betrayal and guilt.... Glenn Close at times is annoying and creepy but the rest of the cast are fairly likeable especially Anne Archer, great film all in all with terrific acting especially from Michael Douglas and Anne Archer, great directing by Adrian Lyne.... Contains scenes of a sexual nature, violence and strong language.
80
Mr. Lyne takes a brilliantly manipulative approach to what might have been a humdrum subject and shapes a soap opera of exceptional power.
75
Lyne indulges in baroque touches-he is fond of open-grate elevators and water, be it rain or from faucets-but mostly he tells the story in well- tailored vignettes that range from horrifying to humorous. [21 Sep 1987, p.5]
70
Passion, obsession, mad love, the violent clash of insider and outsider-all these themes, plus the performances, are rich enough to carry us past that wounded climax, if not to carry the movie past the fatal attractions of the big box-office cliche. [18 Sep 1987, p.1]
60
Mr. Lyne is able to make things look the way they're supposed to look because he trained in the television-commercial world. But he has a hard time getting beneath the gloss. [17 Sep 1987, p.1]
25
Adrian Lyne pulls out more manipulative nonsense than Machiavelli ever thought of. Lyne stops at nothing to provoke artificial sentimental feelings from the audience. Like the movie itself, the audience's reaction is only skin deep. [18 Sep 1987, p.58]
Jul 14, 2014
10
Fatal Attraction is a superb thriller with Douglss and Close. The movie is realistic and terrifiying because of the intense suspense throughout the movie. This is one of the best thrillers from the 80's.
Feb 17, 2014
10
Superbly acted, well directed thriller that had me jumping out of my seat or hiding my eyes. Close and Douglas and Archer are riveting as the lead characters. The film brims with atmosphere and menace. The climax is terrifying and realistic. My favorite film of all time, to be sure. With a lesson for those who cheat: you never know who you might hook up with who has a knife problem.
May 5, 2023
6
Fatal Attraction erotic thriller of the late 80s. Even when reading the description of the film, you imagine the image of the main character in the role of Michael Douglas, and yes he is here. Fatal Attraction was somewhat reminiscent of Basic Instinct, which was released a few years later. In general, the main meaning of the film is very simple and understandable, and after watching Fatal Attraction, there is something to think about. Of course, the likelihood that a fleeting attraction can develop into a literal pursuit of a maniac is unlikely, but still I think no one would like this. The film's alternate ending looks more logical.
Jan 17, 2020
6
I think was a pretty decent movie but it failed to grip me. Maybe because I just watched You on Netflix, but this plot was just whatever to me. It was mildly entertaining, but not a film I want to see over and over again.
May 7, 2012
6
I made a promise to watch more Oscar-nominated performances from Glenn Close after ALBERT NOBBS (2011), the first one is this notoriously famous thriller-drama from the genre hotshot Adrian Lyne. The narrative is straightforward and rather inevitable. First of all, the film never fail to keep the appearance engaging and captivating while bypassing a severe flaw in its avowed mantra, it always takes two persons to exert an immoral affair, but eventually the punishment usually always falls on the woman, even grants a pretext of psychopath, a tacky happy ending does fling an anticlimax and one might find himself stuck in a moot situation, who we should feel more sympathetic? So, the moral support is preferably unstable, the film fulfills an educational motive and emblematizes itself as an immaculate prototype of monogamic conformity and a wake-up call to warn all the horny married-man. However the real gem lies in the sterling cast, which has been against all odds to generate a great deal of fidelity to stimulate the flares of lust, possession and destruction (frilled with a somewhat pretentious family value). Close and Archer both received their Oscar nominations, Lyneâ
Production Company:
- Paramount Pictures
Release Date:Sep 18, 1987
Duration:1 h 59 m
Rating:R
Tagline:On the other side of drinks, dinner and a one night stand, lies a terrifying love story.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 6 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 4 Nominations
BAFTA Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
