The Stepford Wives

The stark white walls of Joanna Eberhart’s pristine New York apartment couldn’t contain the storm brewing within. A network executive at the top of her game, Joanna’s world implodes in a spectacular televised breakdown, forcing her and her affable but increasingly emasculated husband, Walter Kresby, to seek refuge in the idyllic Connecticut suburb of Stepford. The manicured lawns and Stepford wives, with their Stepford husbands, are unnervingly perfect. Joanna finds a kindred spirit in Bobbie Markowitz, a sardonic writer also new to town, who shares her unease about the Stepford women and their seemingly Stepford way. Led by the elegant and powerful Claire Wellington, the wives are beacons of domesticity, their only ambition to please their husbands. As Joanna and Bobbie dig deeper, they uncover a chilling secret, a horrifying truth lurking beneath the surface of this seemingly perfect community, threatening to turn them into Stepford wives, a fate worse than death.

Movie Overview

Movie Cast

Storyline

Joanna Eberhart, a high-powered television executive, suffers a very public breakdown after a disastrous reality show launch and decides to move with her husband, Walter Kresby, and their children to the seemingly idyllic suburb of Stepford, Connecticut, hoping for a fresh start. However, Joanna quickly realizes that something is deeply unsettling about the town. The wives are all unnaturally beautiful, impeccably dressed, and obsessively devoted to their homes and husbands, devoid of any ambition or personality. Her suspicions grow after befriending Bobbie Markowitz, a sardonic writer new to town, who also finds the Stepford wives’ behavior bizarre. Together, Joanna and Bobbie begin investigating, uncovering a disturbing conspiracy orchestrated by the town’s Men’s Association, led by the charismatic and chillingly calm Mike Wellington and the seemingly affable Roger Bannister, to replace their wives with robotic, “perfected” versions. Walter, initially dismissive, slowly becomes drawn into the association’s allure, further isolating Joanna. As more unsettling events occur, such as the transformation of their acquaintance Claire Wellington, Joanna and Bobbie race against time to expose the dark secret before they too become victims of Stepford’s sinister quest for domestic bliss, confronting not only the technological horror but also the deep-seated societal pressures driving the men’s desires for control and the terrifying loss of identity in pursuit of an illusion.

Details

“The Stepford Wives” plunges viewers into the unsettlingly perfect world of Stepford, Connecticut, where ambitious television executive Joanna Eberhart, portrayed by Nicole Kidman, seeks refuge after a career implosion. Along with her husband, Walter Kresby played by Matthew Broderick, Joanna hopes for a fresh start, but soon discovers that Stepford is far from ordinary. The town’s women, including the poised and seemingly flawless Claire Wellington, masterfully played by Glenn Close, exude an eerie Stepford-like perfection, dedicating their lives to their husbands and homes. Unlike these compliant women is Bobbie Markowitz, brought to life by Bette Midler, who befriends Joanna and shares her suspicions about the Stepford wives, who seem far too perfect to be real. As Joanna and Bobbie investigate, they uncover a disturbing truth about the Stepford men, led by Claire’s husband Mike Wellington, portrayed by Christopher Walken, and their sinister plan to transform their wives into obedient, robotic versions of their former selves. The film cleverly blends science fiction, comedy, and horror to explore themes of gender roles, conformity, and the dangers of striving for an unattainable ideal, all while posing the unsettling question: what price is too high for perfection?

FAQs

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What is the movie “The Stepford Wives” about?

The film explores what happens when women move to a seemingly perfect town and undergo a disturbing transformation into idealized, submissive versions of themselves.

What genres does “The Stepford Wives” fall into?

It is a blend of Comedy, Science Fiction, and Horror genres.

Who are the main actors in “The Stepford Wives”?

The main cast includes Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, and Christopher Walken.

Who directed “The Stepford Wives”?

Frank Oz directed the movie.

What is the runtime of “The Stepford Wives”?

The movie’s runtime is 93 minutes.

When was “The Stepford Wives” released?

It was released on June 10, 2004.

What is the basic premise of “The Stepford Wives”?

The movie revolves around a town where the wives are unnaturally perfect, and a newcomer tries to uncover the dark secret behind their transformations.

What is the movie’s tagline?

The tagline is: “The wives of Stepford have a secret.”

What are some of the production companies involved in “The Stepford Wives”?

Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, and De Line Pictures were involved in the film’s production.

What is the budget and revenue for “The Stepford Wives”?

The film had a budget of $90,000,000 and grossed $102,000,000.

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