Where Can You Watch the Original ‘War of the Roses’?

The Roses, a remake of the 1989 dark comedy classic The War of the Roses, is hitting theaters on August 29, 2025, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman taking on the roles of a feuding married couple made famous by Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. If you’d like to catch up on the original before the remake, you’ll be able to — but it’ll cost ya.

What was the original War of the Roses about?

The War of the Roses was Dany DeVito’s second directing effort, after 1987’s Throw Momma From the Train. In Roses, he reteamed with Turner and Douglas, who he had costarred with in 1984’s Romancing the Stone and the 1985 sequel, Jewel of the Nile.

In the film, Oliver (Douglas) and Barbara (Turner) meet cute at an auction, and embark on a passionate romance. Eventually, he becomes a successful lawyer, and she, a full-time mother and homemaker. But when their children graduate from high school and Oliver has a heart attack, Barbara realizes that she no longer cares for him, and asks for a divorce.

The couple begin to fight over their house, which Barbara has perfectly curated over their decades together; Oliver wants to sell it, Barbara wants possession of it. Their fight turns into a series of mean-spirited pranks, which begin to destroy the grand home, and scare off their friends and employees. The pair’s inability to compromise eventually (and very dramatically) leads to their undoing.

The film was a hit, earning $160 million on a $26 million budget; it also earned Golden Globe nominations for both its leads and for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.

Where can you watch War of the Roses?

20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection

Unfortunately, The War of the Roses isn’t currently streaming for free anywhere — but you can rent it or buy it for a few bucks on Amazon, Apple+ TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home and YouTube.