John Stark Mac the Movie Guy May 23, 2026 84/100

I have nostalgia problems. cruel Intentions leaned harder into manipulation, sex, and cruelty. A very delicious guilty pleasure 25 years later, Roger Kumble’s sexy thriller can still put it wherever it wants.

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Sharai Bohannon A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast Mar 8, 2026 4/5

'Cruel Intentions' isn't perfect, but she's still fun and formative for teen audiences in a way that films today are not. We need more of this for today's youth.

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Simon Gallagher Screen Rant Nov 19, 2024 8/10

A steamy, provocative teen drama with improbably high stakes that you really shouldn't watch with your parents. Or your kids. Or your step brother.

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Jul 21, 2024 C+

Rings false and cynical.

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Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Aug 8, 2023 5/10

Though it’s utterly devoid of upright morals and wholesome characters, there’s something amusing about how dastardly and conniving the two leads can be.

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Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jul 20, 2023 3/5

The result is not completely satisfactory, but it entraps you with its temerity to see just how far it will go. [Full review in Spanish]

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Sep 2, 2022 C-

A slick and rancid update of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, not nearly trashy enough to be more than mildly amusing.

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Alix Turner Ready Steady Cut Feb 10, 2021 3.5/5

A black comedy of manners (or romantic comedy/drama) relocated from 1780s France to 1990s USA, directed by Roger Kumble.

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Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Apr 13, 2020 3.5/5

Gellar's hambone Machiavellian turn is so utterly fearless and showy that there really isn't a single scene of the film that she's in that isn't completely delightful.

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EJ Moreno Flickering Myth Apr 13, 2019

With a sharp script and even sharper acting, it's a pleasure to watch this sexy game of chess unfold.

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Kristy Puchko Pajiba Mar 27, 2019

20 years later, you can see the charm that made Witherspoon a star, appreciate Blair's comedic splendor, and recognize that Phillippe was handsome and is also in this movie.

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Andrew Gruttadaro The Ringer Mar 26, 2019

Cruel Intentions is a crass, shocking, somehow delightful film that takes the teen movie of the late '90s and turns the sex, deceit, and offensiveness to 11.

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Lauren Veneziani WBAL-TV (Baltimore) Mar 25, 2019 5/5

Cruel Intentions is a 90s cult classic with impeccable performances by all of its leads and a film that has been talked about since it first debuted in 1999.

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Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Mar 22, 2019

An erotic, raunchy, and deliriously campy drama...

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Mar 21, 2019

Cruel Intentions is a stretch for all concerned, including the targeted audience, one that pays off handsomely--and works for older moviegoers as well.

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Andrew Sarris Observer Mar 21, 2019

At this infantile level of appraisal, I suspect that Ms. Gellar and Mr. Phillippe may have a harder time next summer than last.

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CSM Staff Christian Science Monitor Mar 21, 2019 .5/4

The cruelest intentions of this film are aimed at its audience, who gets only lame comedy and unconvincing drama as it wallows in its sordid subject matter.

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Richard Schickel TIME Magazine Mar 21, 2019

Our fascination with this tale has always derived from its cool portrayal of utter amorality, which Kumble and his cast nicely energize with their heedless, youthful intensity.

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Rod Dreher New York Post Mar 21, 2019

The misbegotten Cruel Intentions serves up great glittering gobs of cheap, without the thrills.

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Film4 Staff Film4 Mar 21, 2019

Director and writer Roger Kumble serves up a delicious feast of piquant evil one-liners which are delivered superbly by Geller, on great form, and the suave Phillippe.

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