Wild Things

Name: Wild Things
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: March 20, 1998
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell

1998

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 136 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 136 Ratings

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Wild Things

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 20, 1998 | Unrated

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell

Summary: A mystery of deceit, sex and greed as unpredictable as a hungry gator, this is the swamp-steamy thriller about two high school students, the guidance counselor they accuse of rape and the detective who knows there's more to the story. (Sony)

Director: John McNaughton

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 108 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Michelle Goldberg

One reason Wild Things works so well is that director John McNaughton sustains a darkly comic tone throughout the film without letting it degenerate into farce. Read full review

Leonard Klady

Not only is it highly unusual, but the picture is chock-full of surprise and unexpected humor to leaven its thriller trappings. Read full review

Barbara Shulgasser

This movie has everything. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

A sleazy, seamy, flashy, steamy, vulgar exploitation thriller that revels in every minute of its own trashiness and delivers some pretty solid -- if prurient -- entertainment before strangling in a one-twist-too-many ending. Read full review

Ruthe Stein

It's amusing in a trashy sort of way. Read full review

Empire Andrew Collins

As double-cross becomes triple-cross becomes quadruple cross, it all gets awfully trying. Read full review

Dallas Observer Jimmy Fowler

Wild Things reaches such dizzying heights of wretched dialogue, creaky contrivances, and panting performances, you're forced to wonder if the filmmakers realized how bad their script was and switched gears into pure camp at some point during the shoot. Read full review

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User Reviews

RogerSmith97

Apr 24, 2011

One Of The Best Films Ever Made! Denise Richards Did A Great A+ Job As Well As The Rest Of The Cast.. The Writing Is Very Good.. There Is Really Noting Negative About This Movie @ All!

8 of 10 users found this helpful82

MattJacks2003

Dec 11, 2018

Wild Things is a movie with a Paramount Legend by the name of Kevin Bacon, you gotta see it!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

gracjanski

Jan 3, 2021

Good entertaining movie with classic elements of a sex thriller, especially Denise Richards was sexy. But in my view there were too many plot twists, that makes the whole story a bit unrealistic. Bill Murray was the best.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Voodoo123

May 26, 2022

Entertaining, sexy, bull murray and a great mystery come together in this drama with an excellent cast and fascinating screenplay. Sadly the abuse of the double cross heist tactics get taken way too far leading to levels of ridiculousness that detract massively from the impact of theEntertaining, sexy, bull murray and a great mystery come together in this drama with an excellent cast and fascinating screenplay. Sadly the abuse of the double cross heist tactics get taken way too far leading to levels of ridiculousness that detract massively from the impact of the interesting if overcooked character work and world building cinematography.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tokyochuchu

Feb 24, 2013

Wild Things is a fun twisty, turny piece of semi-erotic film noir.. It's good but it isn't a masterwork or anything. Bill Murray's inclusion, however, is delightful.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

shiftworker

Nov 30, 2016

Crime. Spoilt rich kid accuses teacher Matt Dillon of rape, but that's the tip of an iceberg. Kevin Bacon investigates through several complexities. Bill Murray enjoys himself as a lawyer. There's a good deal of sex going on and the movie feels a little tacky, like a cheap diner or '80sCrime. Spoilt rich kid accuses teacher Matt Dillon of rape, but that's the tip of an iceberg. Kevin Bacon investigates through several complexities. Bill Murray enjoys himself as a lawyer. There's a good deal of sex going on and the movie feels a little tacky, like a cheap diner or '80s fashion; but somehow it seems appropriate. Watch through the credits for revealing extra scenes.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

For years, people have been talking to me about this smart, sexy thriller, that spawned three sequels. There is also something to be said for mysteries, with twists and turns, that make you think, but a half hour into this thing, it was easy to figure out why none of the stars came back forFor years, people have been talking to me about this smart, sexy thriller, that spawned three sequels. There is also something to be said for mysteries, with twists and turns, that make you think, but a half hour into this thing, it was easy to figure out why none of the stars came back for the sequels. This movie certainly plays up the eye candy angle, with two of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, and at first glance, it seems like it's going to be a pretty good film, but then the twists and turns kick in. Throwing in a twist can make an ordinary film spectacular, but when you do it every five minutes, it just confuses the hell out of the audience, and that's what happened here. By the end of Wild Things, I didn't know what the hell was going on anymore. As for the performances, they range from the brilliant Neve Campbell to the horrid Matt Dillon, and feature a ton of cameos in-between. I wanted to like this movie, there are some very good looking people, who like to take their cloths off, and that does tend to help you focus more, but the question is what are we focusing on? I concluded that there really isn't a reason to watch two hours of pure when you can find all the naked celebrity pictures you could ever want, in five minutes online.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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56	#56 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
9	#9 Most Shared Movie of 1998