The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) - Rotten Tomatoes

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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Photos

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

A scene from the film "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."

A scene from the film "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."

A scene from the film "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."

A scene from the film "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."

A scene from the film "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."

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Movie Info

When she was assaulted by her doctor, Claire Bartel (Annabella Sciorra) reported him to the police, and rather than go to prison for his crime, he killed himself. The shock of the accusations and suicide caused the doctor's pregnant wife, Peyton (Rebecca De Mornay), to have a miscarriage. Driven mad with rage, Peyton poses as a nanny for the Bartel family. Her plan: to tear Claire's life apart, seduce her husband (Matt McCoy) and eventually murder the woman she blames for ruining her life.

Rating:

R
Genre:

mystery and thriller
Original Language:

English
Director:

Curtis Hanson
Producer:

David Madden
Writer:

Amanda Silver
Release Date (Streaming):

Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$87.5M
Runtime:

1h 50m
Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Interscope Communications
Sound Mix:

Surround, Stereo

Cast & Crew

Annabella Sciorra
Claire Bartel

Rebecca De Mornay
Peyton Flanders, Mrs. Mott

Matt McCoy
Michael Bartel

Ernie Hudson
Solomon

Julianne Moore
Marlene Craven

Madeline Zima
Emma Bartel

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

All Critics (48) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (18)

This is De Mornay's film and she's a wicked treat, looking daggers at her enemy one moment and then glazing over with sweetness the next.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Michael Upchurch
Seattle Times
The film is unusually gripping.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer
The careful structure of THTRTC guarantees that the movie will generate a fair amount of suspense throughout. But the single-mindedness of the movie is a genuine limitation, and, watching it, you begin to feel spoon-fed.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
With its banal, docile household threatened by an enemy within, the film is like The Stepfather without wit or irony.

July 10, 2013

Michael Sragow
New Yorker
At its best, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a bright, nasty psychological thriller with a joker up its sleeve.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Peter Rainer
Los Angeles Times
Unpretentious and efficient.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Tribune
De Mornay's performance vacillates so wildly between sweet solicitousness and icy murderousness that it draws as many giggles as gasps.

May 30, 2018 | Full Review…

Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Disturbing thriller about a babysitter; cursing, violence.

November 28, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Andrea Beach
Common Sense Media
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is that rare thing, a realistic thriller wise enough not to sell short any of its characters. Just be prepared to become very, very scared when you see it.

July 10, 2013 | Full Review…

Candice Russell
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
This is pure unbridled hokum, of course, but extremely effective until the last 30 minutes, when the plot rapidly self-destructs.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Sue Heal
Radio Times
All of the best parts here go to women -- Sciorra, De Mornay and Julianne Moore in a funny supporting bit as Claire's cynical, suspicious friend.

July 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, though it positions itself as chilling suspense, is not even mildly scary; it's just offensive.

July 10, 2013 | Full Review…

Leah Rozen
People Magazine

View All Critic Reviews (48)

Audience Reviews for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Dec 11, 2020

Annabella Sciorra's performance as a stressed out wife who becomes suspicious of the behavior of her new nanny is the reason to watch this predictable thriller.

Aldo G Super Reviewer
Sep 06, 2012

The smash success of <i>Fatal Attraction</i> ushered in a new era of thrillers starring demented and dangerous women. Among the best followers along with <i>Single White Female</i> is this effectively disturbing "nanny from hell" story.

Doctor S Super Reviewer
Oct 27, 2011

Great suspense and scary scenes. Make sure you choose the nanny wisely

Sylvester K Super Reviewer
Jun 04, 2010

Fucking stupid movie that my local tv channel used to run almost daily.

Tsubaki S Super Reviewer

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The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Quotes

Solomon:	I won't let you hurt them
Solomon:	I won't let you hurt them.

Peyton Flanders:

Don't fuck with me retard.

Marlene:	Poison!
Peyton Flanders:	Excuse me?!

Marlene:	if don't like this movie,then you don't enjoy good suspenseful movies.a lot of movies put you to sleep,not this one,entertaining.
Marlene:	If don't like this movie,then you don't enjoy good suspenseful movies. A lot of movies put you to sleep, not this one, entertaining.

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