Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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75%

Tomatometer

189 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Miles Massey (George Clooney) is an exceptional divorce lawyer who specializes in saving cheating husbands from having to pay expensive settlements. Unchallenged, he wearies of his life -- until he meets the cunning Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones). When Massey's representation of her husband in court denies her any divorce compensation, Marylin vows to get revenge, enlisting the help of an oil baron (Billy Bob Thornton), and the two vie for the advantage in a flirtatious duel of wits.

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Intolerable Cruelty

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Critics Consensus

Though more mainstream than other Coen films, there are still funny oddball touches, and Clooney and Zeta-Jones sizzle like old-time movie stars.

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Critics Reviews

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Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Screwball comedy for older teens and adults.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Here's an anomaly: a comedy about smart people.

Oct 13, 2009

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Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The Coens do an efficient job of stamping their signature grotesquerie on sumptuous Beverly Hills and Las Vegas settings and ladling on gallows humor and malice, sometimes with the verve of early Robert Zemeckis.

Nov 7, 2007

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Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones manage to elevate the Coens' underrated Intolerable Cruelty through their performances and chemistry.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 24, 2023

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Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Just when you think you have a handle on how this story is going to unfold, the Coens toss another massive curveball that throws you for a loop yet again.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 29, 2023

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Intolerable Cruelty | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Whatever Intolerable Cruelty lacks in the Coens' usual visual richness, it is replaced with slick plotting, attractive stars, and riotous humor.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 20, 2022

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Audience Reviews

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Gnr E Adult romantic comedy is awesome i recommend it Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review Aender S It's got its quirky moments but it's by far not as rough around the edges as other films by the Coen brothers.It's like this film has been washed with some kind of fabric softener. Still a decent watch though. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/29/24 Full Review Bill S Absurdly funny courtroom scenes. Billy Bob Thornton was over the top. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/23 Full Review Luke S The idea of this movie is really good and some moments really made me laugh, but the as a whole... it is a MESS. I can't give it over 50% no matter how much others tell me that it is worth it. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/23 Full Review Eric B I can't get enough of this movie. Highly underrated. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review Gareth v Along with "The Labykillers" which followed this movie, the Coen's managed to make two of their worst movies back to back.The jokes are thin, the characters unlikable, just a really disappointing effort. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Intolerable Cruelty

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Cast & Crew

Joel Coen Director George Clooney Miles Massey Catherine Zeta-Jones Marylin Geoffrey Rush Donovan Donaly Cedric the Entertainer Gus Petch Richard Jenkins Freddy Bender

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Intolerable Cruelty

Intolerable Cruelty: Official Clip - The Urge to Wedlock