Fatal Attraction (1987)
A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family.
Details
Budget
$14,000,000
Rating
7/10 (1534 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Paramount Pictures
About Fatal Attraction
The 1987 thriller "Fatal Attraction" explores the consequences of a one-night stand when a married man's brief affair escalates into an intense and dangerous obsession. Set against the backdrop of New York City, the film delves into themes of marriage crisis, sexual obsession, and the psychological impact of a stalker.
The narrative centers on a successful executive who believes he can compartmentalize his actions, only to find his life, and the safety of his family, jeopardized by a woman unwilling to be ignored. The movie gained significant attention for its portrayal of an extramarital affair gone terribly wrong, prompting discussions about infidelity and its repercussions.
Critically, the film garnered a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 67/100 score on Metacritic. Its themes of psychological tension and marital strain resonated with audiences, contributing to its status as a notable film of the late 1980s.
Why you might be searching for Fatal Attraction
People often search for "Fatal Attraction" due to its memorable portrayal of an obsessive female stalker, the "every man's nightmare" scenario, and the dramatic unraveling of a seemingly stable life following a one-night stand. Specific details that drive searches include the intense psychological elements, the 'bunny boiler' trope it popularized, and the film's reputation for being a tense, adult thriller about the dark side of casual encounters.
What reviewers are saying
A reviewer noted that the film, a significant hit in the 1980s, continues to be impactful on revisits, highlighting its cultural importance and unique premise where a man is stalked by an out-of-control woman.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can watch *Fatal Attraction* with a subscription on Paramount+, or rent or buy it on Fandango. It is also available digitally from Paramount Pictures. In some regions, it may be available on fuboTV.
*Fatal Attraction* is not based on a true story. The original screenplay was written by James Dearden as a work of fiction, though he drew inspiration from ancient tales of corrupt marriages.
In the theatrical ending of *Fatal Attraction*, Alex Forrest attacks Dan Gallagher's wife, Beth, with a knife in their home. Dan intervenes, seemingly drowning Alex in a bathtub, but she re-emerges and Beth shoots her dead. This ending was a reshoot; the original ending had Alex commit suicide to frame Dan for her murder, but test audiences disliked it.
*Fatal Attraction* is a well-received thriller, with critics calling it a "sultry, juicy" film that is "hard to look away from." It holds a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 67, indicating "generally favorable reviews," on Metacritic.