Cruel Intentions

Cruel Intentions (1999)

  • 48% of critics liked it
    (77 reviews)

  • 79% of users liked it
    (411,710 ratings)

In an adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) are step-brother and step-sister living in Manhattan. With their absent parents travelling in Europe, the wealthy pair have the family… More

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R,
Directed By
Written By
Roger Kumble
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Mar 5, 1999 Wide
On DVD
Aug 3, 1999
Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

    What's both depressing and impressive about Cruel Intentions is the profound misanthropy of its meaning.

  • B.J. Sigesmund, Newsweek

    You won't be able to resist the film's ribaldry and cynicism. Kids these days!

  • , Time Out

    Lascivious blackmailers and inveterate immoralists, these characters behave despicably, but the movie affects a tone of urbane detachment which puts sex in its proper perspective.

  • Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

    You sometimes have to giggle at this movie the way you do when you catch 4-year-olds playing dress-up in front of Mom's closet.

  • Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

    It is maliciously entertaining, up to a point.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jeff "


    Cruel Intentions is a pretty interesting teen drama comedy. I wasn't sure about wanting to see it, however I finally did, and was surprised. The film has a good enough cast that keeps the material working, and the cast deliver some good performances. The film is both funny and… More

  • Letitia L


    Captured our imaginations when we were teenagers.

  • Bethany M


    Heartbreaking! Exceptional acting from all the cast. One of my all time favourite films!

  • Nadira I


    My friend recommend this movie to me at first and then I decided to check it out. It is not a new movie, but yet there is something very cool about it. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar played the antagonists very well and Reese Witherspoon as Annette is successful in bringing… More

  • Jani H


    "Introduce her to your world of sex, drugs and... what else do you do?" There's something about this movie that makes it a "thumbs up" for me. I've seen it a couple of times on a period of ten years and have enjoyed it on both times. I don't know… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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