Mannequin (1987)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
An artist's masterpiece mannequin comes to life, inhabited by the spirit of a woman from Ancient Egypt.
The story
In 1987 Philadelphia, Jonathan Switcher, a struggling artist, creates a masterpiece mannequin that becomes inhabited by the spirit of Emmy Hesire, a woman from Ancient Egypt. Emmy only comes to life when they are unobserved. After Jonathan is hired as a window dresser at a department store, he and Emmy begin to work together on elaborate displays. Their collaboration leads to professional success and a deepening personal connection as they navigate the complexities of their unique relationship while trying to keep her secret from the public.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In Ancient Egypt, Emmy Hesire seeks a way to find love before an arranged marriage and vanishes. In 1987 Philadelphia, artist Jonathan Switcher creates a mannequin that becomes inhabited by Emmy's spirit. Emmy, who has lived for centuries as a muse, can only appear when unobserved. After Jonathan is hired by Claire Timkin to work at Prince & Company, he and Emmy collaborate on successful window displays. Their bond grows as they work together. After a night of romance, they are confronted by rivals who attempt to steal the mannequins. During a frantic chase, Jonathan saves Emmy from a trash compactor, and his proven love causes her to become permanently human. The film ends with Jonathan and Emmy marrying in the store window.
- First release year
- 1987
- Runtime (minutes)
- 90
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Gottlieb
- Writers
- Edward Rugoff · writer; Michael Gottlieb · writer
- Cast and characters
- Andrew McCarthy · Jonathan Switcher; Kim Cattrall · Ema "Emmy" Hesire; Estelle Getty · Claire Timkin; James Spader · Mr. Richards; G. W. Bailey · Captain Felix Maxwell; Meshach Taylor · Hollywood Montrose; Carole Davis · Roxie Shield; Steve Vinovich · B.J. Wert
- Genres
- fantasy; romantic comedy
- Themes
- artistic inspiration; reincarnation; forbidden love
- Tone and mood
- farcical; sentimental
- Setting
- 1987 Philadelphia
- Premise and plot tags
- time travel; supernatural; romance
- Franchise connections
- Mannequin
- Reception
- The film received generally negative critical reviews for its 'ludicrous premise' and 'sentimental tone,' but it has developed a cult following and is considered a romantic comedy cult classic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 20% · scale: percentage · review count: 40; Metacritic · score: 21 · scale: 100 · review count: 13
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Song · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was inspired by the director seeing a mannequin move in a window.; The main title song reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart.; The film was shot in a real department store in Philadelphia.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…