Dangerous Liaisons

Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

  • 93% of critics liked it
    (27 reviews)

  • 81% of users liked it
    (44,440 ratings)

Adapted for stage and screen several times over the past century, French author Francois Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liasons Dangeureuses was the basis for this Academy Award-winning Stephen Frears film. The plot is motivated by a cruel wager between the beautiful but debauched Marquise… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
Christopher Hampton
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1988 Wide
Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    This incisive study of sex as an arena for manipulative power games takes too long to catch fire and suffers from a deficient central performance.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    The creepy plot still holds a certain fascination.

  • , Time Out

    A sombre, manipulative affair in which the dà (C)cor is never allowed to usurp our interest.

  • Vincent Canby, New York Times

    Witty, entertaining, if occasionally overripe.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    Director Stephen Frears accelerates entertainingly through Christopher Hampton's wig-and-powder sado-comedy about sexual mind games in 18th-century France.

Read all 14 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

  • Anthony L


    Dangerous Liaisons oozes sex and excess, the depths of human wickedness, lush, seduction, all the good bits basically. It is directed beautifully by Stephen Frears who doesn't stick to a cliched look at this particular period in France but gives the story an element of… More

  • Jennifer D


    I love France in this time.... pretty dresses. I found it very intriguing and seductive. Proves once more Glenn Close is astonishing and that Keanu Reeves actually has had a good role in his life. WOW.

  • Morgan S


    good plot JOHN MALKOVICH is a strange actor... he kept the same face the entire time!!! he never showed emotion evan when he died!

  • Drew S


    This is basically Elizabeth, if Elizabeth were an old slutty manipulatress. I know it's a good movie and technically impressive and all that shit that bodice-rippers always are, but these films always deal with the exact same themes. "lol the hidden strength of a woman"… More

  • xGary X


    Manipulative aristocrats John Malkovich and Glenn Close engage in sexual conquest and gender warfare beneath the outward formality and respectability of 18th century France. Valmont was the part that propelled Malkovich into the big leagues and is the part he was born to play. He… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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Trailers & Clips