Overview
A love story that proves true connection transcends appearances and misunderstandings.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- whimsical
- gentle
- date night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a gentle, whimsical, and unusually sweet romantic comedy elevated by Steve Martin’s comic performance and its distinctive adaptation of Cyrano.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot relocates the Cyrano-style love triangle to a contemporary American firehouse community while retaining concealed authorship and romantic misrecognition.
C.D.’s enormous nose and resulting inferiority complex shape his secrecy, courtship strategy, and emotional conflict with Roxanne.
C.D. writes letters expressing his feelings, allowing Roxanne to fall for the articulate voice behind words she believes come from Chris.
Nelson’s firefighters, mayor, colleagues, and neighbors repeatedly intersect around C.D. and Roxanne’s courtship.
Films like Roxanne, and why
Cyrano de Bergerac
romantic comedy built around concealed identity, witty verbal exchanges, and an underestimated protagonist seeking genuine love
The Philadelphia Story
warm, character-driven romantic comedy pairing self-doubt with mistaken assumptions and an emotionally satisfying courtship
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
playful romantic comedy centered on deception, social awkwardness, and escalating misunderstandings
Movie Details
- Director
- Fred Schepisi
- Release Date
- 1987-06-19
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (720)
Cast
- Steve Martin
- Daryl Hannah
- Rick Rossovich
- Shelley Duvall
- John Kapelos
- Fred Willard
- Max Alexander
- Michael J. Pollard
- Steve Mittleman
- Damon Wayans
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 Roxanne about?
- A witty fire chief hides behind another man’s face and his own eloquence while pursuing the astronomer who may learn to love him as he is.
- What is Roxanne like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Roxanne as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Roxanne violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Roxanne.
- What did critics think of Roxanne?
- Critics broadly found the film a gentle, whimsical, and unusually sweet romantic comedy elevated by Steve Martin’s comic performance and its distinctive adaptation of Cyrano.
- Which films are like Roxanne?
- Films with a similar feel include Cyrano de Bergerac, The Philadelphia Story, and The Truth About Cats & Dogs.
- How long is Roxanne?
- Roxanne runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Roxanne?
- In United States, Roxanne is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
