Fatal Attraction

Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American psychological thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne and written by James Dearden, based on his 1980 short film Diversion. It follows Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas), a publishing attorney who cheats on his wife Beth (Anne Archer) with a colleague, Alex Forrest (Glenn Close). When Dan ends the affair, Alex begins stalking him and his family. Fatal Attraction was released in the United States on September 18, 1987 by Paramount Pictures. It grossed between $320 million and $344 million worldwide on a $14 million production budget, and was the second highest-grossing film of the year in the United States. It received acclaim, with particular praise for its direction, editing, screenplay, and performances. It received six nominations at the 60th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Lyne, Best Adapted Screenplay for Dearden, Best Actress for Close, and Best Supporting Actress for Archer. Considered a pop culture phenomenon in the years since its release, the film is also credited for triggering the erotic thriller boom of the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. A play based on the film opened in London's West End at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2014. In 2023, a television adaptation was broadcast on Paramount+.