The Roses (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A successful couple's seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel into a bitter feud after a series of escalating conflicts.
The story
In London, an architect named Theo and an aspiring chef named Ivy fall in love and move to Mendocino, California, where they build a life together and raise twin children. Their lives take a turn when a severe storm destroys Theo's architectural project while Ivy's new restaurant thrives. As their roles as breadwinner and stay-at-home parent shift, personal tensions and differing parenting styles begin to create a rift. Despite attempts at reconciliation through trips and counseling, the couple finds themselves increasingly resentful, struggling to navigate the growing distance between them as their mutual frustrations begin to surface.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After years of trying to reconcile, Ivy and Theo's frustrations boil over into a full-blown feud once their children leave for a sports scholarship in Miami. The tension peaks at a housewarming party where Ivy publicly humiliates Theo. Following a moment of clarity, Theo decides they should divorce, leading to a series of escalating tactics to make each other's lives unbearable. This results in Theo being blacklisted from architecture and Ivy's restaurants being closed. During a final confrontation involving a fake allergic reaction and a weapon, the two realize they still love each other. However, as they reconcile, a gas leak caused by a broken stove leads to a catastrophic conclusion as the scene cuts to white.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jay Roach
- Writers
- Tony McNamara · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Benedict Cumberbatch · Theo; Olivia Colman · Ivy; Andy Samberg; Allison Janney; Sunita Mani
- Genres
- satirical black comedy
- Themes
- marriage; resentment; divorce; success
- Tone and mood
- satirical; black comedy
- Setting
- London, England and Mendocino, California.
- Premise and plot tags
- romance; drama; comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- The War of the Roses by Warren Adler (1981 novel) and the 1989 film of the same name.
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $52 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 58 · scale: 100 · review count: 38; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film is a reimagining of the 1989 film of the same name.; The script was inspired by both Warren Adler's novel and the 1989 film.; Filming took place in Devon.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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