Moonstruck

Loretta Castorini, a 37-year-old Italian American widow in Brooklyn, has convinced herself that luck never favors her in love. She agrees to marry Johnny, a steady, practical man she does not love, hoping security will ease the ache in her life. Then she meets Johnny's estranged younger brother, Ronny, a passionate and volatile musician whose attraction pulls her in a new direction. Ronny pursues her with bold honesty, even as Johnny travels abroad, and Loretta finds herself torn between a sense of obligation and a growing, forbidden longing. The drama unfolds against a bustling family backdrop where cousins, aunts, and parents weigh in, revealing that romance runs in unexpected places within the Castorini clan.

Directed by Norman Jewison, Moonstruck is adapted from John Patrick Shanley's stage play. The film captures a vivid New York Italian American milieu with witty exchanges, affectionate warmth, and a blend of romance and comedy that defined late 1980s cinema.

Moonstruck grossed about 122.1 million worldwide on a 15 million budget, turning a modest investment into a major hit and helping elevate its cast into enduring stars.

Moonstruck earned multiple Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Original Screenplay for John Patrick Shanley, Best Actress for Cher, and Best Supporting Actress for Olympia Dukakis. The film's warm performances and sharp humor left a lasting critical impression.

Moonstruck left a mark on romantic comedies by merging affectionate family banter with a passionate love story, and it cemented Cher as a versatile screen icon. The dynamic of a lively Italian American household and a fearless heroine became a reference point for later films.