Housesitter

Newton Davis leads a tidy, predictable life until a confident stranger occupies his empty house. Gwen Phillips moves in under the pretense that she belongs there, arranging the space, paying bills, and negotiating daily routines as if she were part of his world. Newton remains unaware of the ruse at first, while Gwen keeps up the act with quick wit and a sunny smile, turning a plain home into a stage for their uneasy partnership. The arrangement quickly becomes a dance of clever manipulation, misread signals, and awkward discoveries as neighbors and coworkers pretend not to notice the growing tension. What begins as a practical joke of manners deepens into a flirtation that tests boundaries and trust. Both sides discover there's more at stake than a simple scam.

Directed by Frank Oz, Housesitter arrived in 1992 as a light romantic comedy built around an original screenplay by Mark Stein and Brian Grazer. The film pairs Steve Martin with Goldie Hawn in a mismatched house swap of wit and charm for a wide audience.

The movie grossed about 94.9 million worldwide against a 26 million budget, signaling strong audience appeal and profitability. It performed well in several international markets and helped cement Martin and Hawn as a recognizable on screen duo.

Critical reception was mixed, with praise for the chemistry between Martin and Hawn yet some jokes leaning on familiar tropes. The story toys with deception and trust, using the impostor setup to explore what home means and how a lie can illuminate real feelings.

Housesitter is remembered for pairing Martin and Hawn, a duo associated with a distinct early 90s rom com tone. The premise of a stranger occupying another's space to spark romance still echoes in light hearted capers on TV, highlighting the era's appetite for playful deception that turns into affection.