The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

66% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 61% Audience Score 25,000+ Ratings When she was assaulted by her doctor, Claire Bartel (Annabella Sciorra) reported him to the police, and rather than go to prison for his crime, he killed himself. The shock of the accusations and suicide caused the doctor's pregnant wife, Peyton (Rebecca De Mornay), to have a miscarriage. Driven mad with rage, Peyton poses as a nanny for the Bartel family. Her plan: to tear Claire's life apart, seduce her husband (Matt McCoy) and eventually murder the woman she blames for ruining her life. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Fandango at Home Prime Video

Rent The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Thanks largely to Rebecca De Mornay's delightfully villainous turn in the central role, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is an entertaining -- albeit rather silly -- domestic thriller.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (53) Critics Reviews
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Henry Sheehan Chicago Reader Hanson doesn’t take any plot shortcuts either. We know right from the start who Peyton is and what she’s up to. The film even plays fair with our sympathies... Rated: 3/4 May 26, 2022 Full Review The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Michael Upchurch Seattle Times This is De Mornay's film and she's a wicked treat, looking daggers at her enemy one moment and then glazing over with sweetness the next. Rated: 3/4 Jul 10, 2013 Full Review The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Carrie Rickey Philadelphia Inquirer The film is unusually gripping. Rated: 2.5/4 Jul 10, 2013 Full Review The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Terry Francis Southern Voice (Atlanta) De Mornay is a pleasure to watch here: frozen-eyed and still, she has the poise of a tiger haunched in tall grasses and eyeing its prey. Rated: 3.5/4 May 9, 2023 Full Review The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Quentin Crisp Christopher Street No one who comes to the house ever recognizes the domestic helper as the dead physician’s wife, but once you have swallowed this improbability, you become completely enthralled by the ingenuity of the story, by its suspense, and by its terrifying climax. Apr 6, 2022 Full Review The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network While certain elements (such as the depiction of people with disabilities) has aged poorly, the consideration of women and motherhood still resonates. This is 100 De Mornay's show and Peyton is a hugely compelling, and surprisingly sympathetic, villain Rated: 3.5/5 Mar 9, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Audience Member Over 30 years old I remember watching it a few years back This is one of the most terrifying performances by Rebecca de Mornay But you see where the seeds are planted in terms of her insane, obsessiveness to take another persons family I forgot Julianne Moore was in this but she's killed off quick This was also Madeline Zima's first movie I like Ernie Hudson too and this inspired countless lifetime and LMN movies of the same ilk Amazing it made over $140 million Definitely made parents afraid to hire nannies for their kids It's pretty scary too Harvey Weinstein actually assaulted Annabella Sciorra in real life it almost ruined her career It is a shame director Curtis Hanson passed away too young I didn't know this was based on a poem by William Ross Wallace Still a good home thriller Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/11/24 Full Review Brian Y A movie about what happens when you hire Hillary Clinton as your nanny. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/28/23 Full Review Ellie B Really tense and exciting. Horrible to think of your home being invaded in this way Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/23/23 Full Review Tony M Very good movie. Well worth seeing if you haven't. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Rebecca de Mornay and the whole cast did an outstanding job and that’s good thriller. Yes I highly recommend it James Welch, Henderson Arkansas August 14, 2023 Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/15/23 Full Review Jack O The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is an psychological thriller about a psychopathic nanny named Peyton who wants to kill Claire and mainly steal her family. In the beginning Claire has been sexually molested by the doctor named Dr. Mott and when the news is on about what happened, Dr. Mott commit suicide. Now Peyton swears vengeance after losing her baby and the chill is on. Ernie Hudson is in this as Soloman, many of people knew in Ghostbusters, even Julianne Moore. The film is directed by Curtis Hanson who sadly passed away. This film gave me chills when something is about to happen and you can feel it when you're about to watch it. You can certainly feel the creepiness through the whole film when the villain is plotting something devious. Yeah, it's an enjoyable film just for the creepiness and the chills. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Curtis Hanson Director Annabella Sciorra Claire Bartel Rebecca De Mornay Peyton Flanders Matt McCoy Michael Bartel Ernie Hudson Solomon Julianne Moore Marlene Craven
Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

29% 31% Consenting Adults 38% 43% Guilty as Sin 22% 60% Sleeping With the Enemy 33% 72% Whispers in the Dark 13% 39% The Rich Man's Wife Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Photos

View All The Hand That Rocks the Cradle photos

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When she was assaulted by her doctor, Claire Bartel (Annabella Sciorra) reported him to the police, and rather than go to prison for his crime, he killed himself. The shock of the accusations and suicide caused the doctor's pregnant wife, Peyton (Rebecca De Mornay), to have a miscarriage. Driven mad with rage, Peyton poses as a nanny for the Bartel family. Her plan: to tear Claire's life apart, seduce her husband (Matt McCoy) and eventually murder the woman she blames for ruining her life.

Director
Curtis Hanson

Producer
David Madden

Screenwriter
Amanda Silver

Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures

Production Co
Hollywood Pictures, Interscope Communications

Rating
R

Genre
Mystery & Thriller

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 10, 1992, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$87.5M

Runtime
1h 50m

Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
Most Popular at Home Now
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 5679

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.