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Cruel Intentions

  • 1999
  • R
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
198K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,146
106
Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions (1999)
Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe), two wealthy, manipulative teenage step-siblings from Manhattan's upper-crust, conspire by making a diabolical wager of sexual conquest without consequences. The pawns? The naïve Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair) and the virginal Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon).
Play trailer2:20
3 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaRomance

Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.Two vicious step-siblings of an elite Manhattan prep school make a wager: to deflower the new headmaster's daughter before the start of term.

  • Director
    • Roger Kumble
  • Writers
    • Choderlos de Laclos
    • Roger Kumble
  • Stars
    • Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Ryan Phillippe
    • Reese Witherspoon
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    198K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,146
    106
    • Director
      • Roger Kumble
    • Writers
      • Choderlos de Laclos
      • Roger Kumble
    • Stars
      • Sarah Michelle Gellar
      • Ryan Phillippe
      • Reese Witherspoon
    • 798User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Official Trailer
    Cruel Intentions
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Cruel Intentions
    How Joshua Jackson's Co-Stars Fuel "Little Fires Everywhere"
    Video 6:31
    Watch How Joshua Jackson's Co-Stars Fuel "Little Fires Everywhere"

    Photos146

    Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions (1999)
    Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions (1999)
    Sebastian & Annette
    Kathryn & Sebastian
    Joshua Jackson as Blaine
    Cecile & Kathryn
    Sebastian & Blaine
    Ryan Phillippe stars as Sebastian Valmont
    Joshua Jackson as Blaine
    Reese Witherspoon stars as Amanda Hargrove
    Selma Blair as Cecile Caldwell
    Sebastian with Cecile & Bunny

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    Sarah Michelle Gellar
    • Kathryn Merteuil
    Ryan Phillippe
    Ryan Phillippe
    • Sebastian Valmont
    Reese Witherspoon
    Reese Witherspoon
    • Annette Hargrove
    Selma Blair
    Selma Blair
    • Cecile Caldwell
    Louise Fletcher
    Louise Fletcher
    • Helen Rosemond
    Joshua Jackson
    Joshua Jackson
    • Blaine Tuttle
    Eric Mabius
    Eric Mabius
    • Greg McConnell
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    Sean Patrick Thomas
    • Ronald Clifford
    Swoosie Kurtz
    Swoosie Kurtz
    • Dr. Greenbaum
    Christine Baranski
    Christine Baranski
    • Bunny Caldwell
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    • Nurse
    • (as Alaina Reed Hall)
    Deborah Offner
    Deborah Offner
    • Mrs. Michalak
    Tara Reid
    Tara Reid
    • Marci Greenbaum
    Herta Ware
    • Mrs. Sugarman
    Hiep Thi Le
    Hiep Thi Le
    • Mai-Lee
    Charlie O'Connell
    Charlie O'Connell
    • Court Reynolds
    Fred Norris
    Fred Norris
    • Meter Maid
    Ginger Williams
    Ginger Williams
    • Clorissa
    • Director
      • Roger Kumble
    • Writers
      • Choderlos de Laclos
      • Roger Kumble
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For legal reasons, writer and director Roger Kumble had to ask all of the actresses auditioning for Cecile how old they were, because of a sex scene between the character and Sebastian in the movie. "So we were bringing in all of these people", he recalled to Cosmopolitan, "and they were all good, but I remember Selma (Blair) came in and I said, 'How old are you?' And she goes (in Cecile's bratty voice) 'How old are you?' And she was so obnoxious, and I couldn't get it out of my head."
    • Goofs
      Cameraman and crane visible in the front windshield of Sebastian's car while driving with Annette.
    • Quotes

      Sebastian: You amaze me.

      Kathryn: Eat me, Sebastian! It's okay for guys like you and Court to fuck everyone. But when I do it, I get dumped for innocent little twits like Cecile. God forbid, I exude confidence and enjoy sex. Do you think I relish the fact that I have to act like Mary Sunshine 24/7 so I can be considered a lady? I'm the Marcia fucking Brady of the Upper East Side, and sometimes I want to kill myself. So there's your psychoanalysis, Dr. Freud. Now tell me, are you in... or are you out?

    • Alternate versions
      There was a line of dialogue cut from the US version which appears in the UK cut. After Kathryn views the videotape of Cecil and Ronald she comments: 'F*ck her already'
    • Connections
      Edited into Cruel Intentions: Deleted Scenes (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Every You Every Me
      Written by Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, Steve Hewitt (as Steven Hewitt) and Paul Campion

      Performed by Placebo

      Courtesy of Elevator Music Ltd./Virgin Records America Inc.

      Published by Famous Music Corp. and Island Music Ltd./Mukka Music

    User reviews798

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Wonderfully twisted.
    I have recently seen the movie "Cruel Intentions," and let me say it is one of the best films I've seen in a long while. As a big movie buff, I always see the latest movies on opening night, but I got a chance to see this one months before it will be released. Sarah Michelle Gellar is a stunning actress, and portrays Kathryn extremely well. Her character is evil and cunning, and is delivered with such grace and perfection... Ryan Phillippe is excellent as well, and he portrays Sebastian Valmont with as much talent as the lovely Ms. Gellar. They work very well together, as they did in their last movie together, "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER"

    Reese Witherspoon gives a nice performance as well, and Selma Blair's acting is worthy of as much recognition as Ms. Gellar's.

    Anyway, I should stop ranting about the cast... the story is a great update of "Dangerous Liaisons," with a perfect mix of satire, wit, and drama. Writer Roger Kumble certainly has a sick sense of humor, and I applaud him for that. This is the most beautiful, wicked film since "Wild Things," and though that may not impress some people, oh well. I thought it was incredible.
    helpful•83
    39
    • Candi-5
    • Jan 8, 1999

    Top picks

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    FAQ1

    • What kind of car did Sebastian drive?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Vietnamese
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Cruel Inventions
    • Filming locations
      • Indoor Pool, Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(Valmont Mansion interiors - swimming pool scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Original Film
      • Newmarket Capital Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,773,785
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,020,565
      • Mar 7, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $76,347,426
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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