Dangerous Liaisons

Dangerous Liaisons
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStephen Frears
Screenplay byChristopher Hampton
Based onLes Liaisons dangereuses
1782 epistolary novel
by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos and Les liaisons dangereuses
1985 play
by Christopher Hampton
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPhilippe Rousselot
Edited byMick Audsley
Music byGeorge Fenton
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • December 21, 1988 (1988-12-21) (United States)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$14 million
Box office$35.3 million

Dangerous Liaisons is a 1988 American period romantic drama film directed by Stephen Frears, from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton based on his 1985 play Les Liaisons Dangereuses, itself adapted from the 1782 French novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. The film depicts schemes of seduction and revenge among aristocrats in 18th century France, and stars Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Swoosie Kurtz, Mildred Natwick, Peter Capaldi and Keanu Reeves.

Dangerous Liaisons was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on December 21, 1988. Grossing $35.3 million against its $14 million budget, the film was a modest box-office success. It was nominated for seven awards at the 61st Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.