The War of the Roses, starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito, was released in December 1989 as an adaptation of Warren Adler’s 1981 novel. Fast-forward to 2025, Jay Roach revived the classic, directing from a screenplay by Tony McNamara, titled The Roses. In the film, fans see Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman lead as Theo and Ivy, who have the perfect life and marriage until things take a turn. Nearly three months after premiering in theaters on August 29, 2025, The Roses is officially making its streaming debut very soon.
The Roses will become available to stream on Hulu starting November 20, 2025, per reports, following its decent theatrical run. The black comedy earned mixed reviews from fans and critics when it was first released. It also grossed only $51 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, while earning an average 65% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads: “The Roses’ blend of broad comedy and dark satire makes for an uneasy marriage, although watching Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch trade barbs is a treat onto itself.”
As a reimagining of The War of the Roses, The Roses follows Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy (Colman), a seemingly perfect California couple with successful careers, great kids, and a loving marriage. But when Theo’s career begins to nosedive as Ivy’s ambitions take off, their ideal life crumbles and the couple’s hidden resentments bubble to the surface. Other stars featured in the satire are Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Belinda Bromilow, Sunita Mani, Ncuti Gatwa, Jamie Demetriou, Zoë Chao, and Kate McKinnon.
‘The War of the Roses’ Performed Better Than Its Successor
Unlike The Roses, The War of the Roses was a box-office success, becoming the thirteenth-highest-grossing film of 1989. The classic hit grossed $87 million in North America and $73 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $160 million against a $26 million production budget. What’s more, the movie, directed by DeVito, boasts a Certified Fresh 84% Tomatometer score based on 45 reviews. Similar to The Roses, The War of the Roses focuses on a wealthy couple, Barbara (Turner) and Oliver Rose (Douglas), with a seemingly perfect marriage that begins to fall apart as material possessions become the center of an outrageous, bitter divorce battle.
The Roses begins streaming on Hulu on November 20. Stick with Collider for further updates.
- Release Date
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August 29, 2025
- Director
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Jay Roach
- Writers
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Warren Adler, Tony McNamara
- Producers
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Jay Roach, Michelle Graham, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Ed Sinclair, Tom Carver
