Soapdish
A veteran soap star battles a ruthless rival whose backstage schemes turn melodrama into chaotic reality.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- campy
- irreverent
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an energetic and affectionate soap-opera spoof elevated by a talented ensemble, though some felt its comedy could be tacky or uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot turns on a fictional soap opera, its broadcast-driven storylines, and the backstage tactics used to control its stars.
Montana Moorehead recruits Celeste's former boyfriend and engineers a murderous storyline to force Celeste out of the show.
The film heightens soap-opera murder plots, romantic reversals, ego clashes, and performative backstage behavior for comic effect.
Celeste's on-screen murder storyline produces consequences within a workplace where actors' personal histories and television roles constantly overlap.
Films like Soapdish, and why
The Player
affectionate genre spoof, heightened ensemble performances, and backstage entertainment-industry satire
To Be or Not to Be
show-business comedy built around theatrical egos, deception, and an ensemble of performers
The Producers
campy backstage satire, romantic entanglements, and comic manipulation of melodramatic conventions
The Birdcage
witty ensemble farce about performance, ambition, and exaggerated professional rivalries
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Hoffman
- Release Date
- 1991-05-31
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (276)
Cast
- Sally Field
- Kevin Kline
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Cathy Moriarty
- Teri Hatcher
- Paul Johansson
- Elisabeth Shue
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Arne Nannestad
- Tim Choate
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Soapdish about?
- A veteran soap star battles a ruthless rival whose backstage schemes turn melodrama into chaotic reality.
- What is Soapdish like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Soapdish as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Soapdish violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Soapdish as mild.
- What did critics think of Soapdish?
- Critics generally found the film an energetic and affectionate soap-opera spoof elevated by a talented ensemble, though some felt its comedy could be tacky or uneven.
- Which films are like Soapdish?
- Films with a similar feel include The Player, To Be or Not to Be, The Producers, and The Birdcage.
- How long is Soapdish?
- Soapdish runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Soapdish?
- In United States, Soapdish is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
