Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- paranoid
- oppressive
- late night thriller viewing
- serious drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Julia Roberts's committed performance but found the stalker-thriller formula weakened by clichés, plot holes, and a mechanical script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Laura stages her death, adopts the name Sara Walters, and relocates before Martin discovers that she survived.
Martin's abusive marriage subjects Laura to constant fear and turns the seemingly perfect household into a site of danger.
The Burneys appear to be a successful, happy couple while their private household is governed by Martin's brutality and obsession.
Laura plans an elaborate escape, constructs a new life, and confronts the threat of Martin's pursuit.
Films like Sleeping with the Enemy, and why
Enough
shares domestic abuse, identity escape, and escalating stalker-thriller suspense
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
shares neo-noir suspense, a threatened woman reclaiming agency, and an obsessive male pursuer
Sleeping with the Enemy
shares psychological thriller tension, domestic danger, and a protagonist hiding from a controlling intimate partner
The Crush
shares erotic thriller atmosphere, coercive relationships, and danger concealed beneath respectable domestic appearances
Movie Details
- Director
- Joseph Ruben
- Release Date
- 1991-01-13
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (1279)
Cast
- Julia Roberts
- Patrick Bergin
- Kevin Anderson
- Elizabeth Lawrence
- Kyle Secor
- Tony Abatemarco
- Claudette Nevins
- Marita Geraghty
- Nancy Fish
- Harley Venton
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 Sleeping with the Enemy about?
- A battered wife fakes her death and rebuilds her life under a new identity while her obsessive husband hunts her down.
- What is Sleeping with the Enemy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sleeping with the Enemy as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Sleeping with the Enemy violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Sleeping with the Enemy as moderate.
- What did critics think of Sleeping with the Enemy?
- Critics broadly praised Julia Roberts's committed performance but found the stalker-thriller formula weakened by clichés, plot holes, and a mechanical script.
- Which films are like Sleeping with the Enemy?
- Films with a similar feel include Enough, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Sleeping with the Enemy, and The Crush.
- How long is Sleeping with the Enemy?
- Sleeping with the Enemy runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sleeping with the Enemy?
- In United States, Sleeping with the Enemy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
