Don’t get mad. Get everything.|Sep. 20, 1996|United States|102 Min.|PG
Genre: Comedy
Description: The First Wives Club is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, adapted from Olivia Goldsmith’s 1992 novel of the same name. The story features Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn as three divorced women who team up to seek revenge on their ex-husbands for leaving them for younger partners. The supporting cast includes Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, and Stephen Collins as the ex-husbands, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Berkley, and Marcia Gay Harden as their new lovers. The film also boasts appearances by Maggie Smith, Bronson Pinchot, Rob Reiner, and others, with cameos from Gloria Steinem, Ed Koch, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Ivana Trump.
Upon its North American release, the movie became an unexpected box-office hit, earning $181,490,000 globally, primarily from its domestic performance. Despite receiving mixed reviews, it gained a cult following, particularly among middle-aged women, and helped rejuvenate the careers of its leading actresses. Composer Marc Shaiman received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Music Score, while Goldie Hawn won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award. Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker were nominated for Satellite Awards for their performances.
The story begins in 1969 at Middlebury College, where four friends—Annie MacDuggan, Elise Eliot, Brenda Morelli, and Cynthia Swann—are graduating. As they take a final commemorative photo, Cynthia makes her friends promise to always support each other throughout their lives. This bond becomes the foundation for their later collaboration as they confront their ex-husbands and navigate their post-divorce lives.
Cast director: Hugh Wilson
Cast actor: Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, Maggie Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dan Hedaya, Stockard Channing, Victor Garber, Stephen Collins, Elizabeth Berkley
Original name: The First Wives Club