Overview
A shipwreck survivor returns home to find her husband has moved on, leading to a comedic love triangle.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- irreverent
- classic movie night
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a lively screwball classic powered by its comic premise and lead performances, despite losing momentum near the end.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ellen's return destabilizes Nick's new marriage to Bianca and drives the film's romantic reversals.
The shipwreck, presumed death, remarriage, and possible bigamy generate the central comic predicament.
Nick investigates Ellen's seven years with fellow survivor Burkett and reacts with escalating jealousy.
The film's honeymoon and domestic confrontations rely on raised eyebrows, awkward explanations, and polished romantic sparring.
Films like My Favorite Wife, and why
The Awful Truth
shared screwball farce, marriage turmoil, rapid-fire romantic confusion, and charismatic lead performances
His Girl Friday
shared comedy of remarriage structure, sophisticated romantic sparring, and witty social farce
The Philadelphia Story
shared screwball energy, mistaken identity, remarriage complications, and escalating domestic confusion
Movie Details
- Director
- Garson Kanin
- Release Date
- 1940-05-17
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (177)
Cast
- Cary Grant
- Irene Dunne
- Randolph Scott
- Gail Patrick
- Ann Shoemaker
- Scotty Beckett
- Mary Lou Harrington
- Donald MacBride
- Hugh O'Connell
- Granville Bates
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- 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 My Favorite Wife about?
- A presumed-dead wife returns to her remarried husband, igniting a polished screwball battle over love, jealousy, and marital identity.
- What is My Favorite Wife like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of My Favorite Wife as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is My Favorite Wife violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in My Favorite Wife.
- What did critics think of My Favorite Wife?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a lively screwball classic powered by its comic premise and lead performances, despite losing momentum near the end.
- Which films are like My Favorite Wife?
- Films with a similar feel include The Awful Truth, His Girl Friday, and The Philadelphia Story.
- How long is My Favorite Wife?
- My Favorite Wife runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch My Favorite Wife?
- In United States, My Favorite Wife streams on YouTube TV.
