The War of the Roses

Oliver and Barbara Rose appear to have a flawless marriage, the kind that looks polished from the outside. When their envy of a different life starts to gnaw at them, they decide to test the boundaries of their bond by trying to push each other out of the family home. A sharp witted divorce attorney named Gavin D'Amato gets pulled into the escalating chess match, and what began as a polite separation quickly spirals into a relentless contest of demands, sabotage, and petty revenge. The house turns into a stage for egos, lawsuits, and sly one upmanship, as both spouses lean into increasingly drastic moves to claim victory. The performances lend real emotion even as chaos escalates and chaos continues.

Directed by Danny DeVito in 1989, The War of the Roses adapts Warren Adler's sprawling novel with screenplay input from Michael Leeson, blending biting humor with darker themes. It marks DeVito's transition from actor to filmmaker with a controversial edge.

The film was a box office hit, grossing approximately 160.2 million worldwide on a 26 million budget, making it one of the era's more successful dark comedies and helping solidify its stars as major box office draws with lasting appeal.

Over the years the movie became a touchstone for cynical takes on marriage and divorce in popular culture. Its audacious setup and performances by Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are frequently cited in discussions of sharp witted comedies that push boundaries. It remains a reference in social satire discussions today.

Critics applauded the film for its fearless premise and for turning a domestic feud into a darkly funny meditation on possession, vanity, and compromise. The tone suggests that love can survive only if both partners keep their egos in check, even when the sparks fly, and asks what loyalty means.