The First Wives Club

The First Wives Club
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Hugh Wilson
Screenplay by	Robert Harling
Based on	The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith
Produced by	Scott Rudin
Starring	Bette Midler Goldie Hawn Diane Keaton Maggie Smith Dan Hedaya Bronson Pinchot Marcia Gay Harden
Cinematography	Donald Thorin
Edited by	John Bloom
Music by	Marc Shaiman
Production company	Scott Rudin Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	September 20, 1996 (1996-09-20) (United States)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$26 million[1]
Box office	$181 million[1]

The First Wives Club is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Olivia Goldsmith. The film stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton as three divorcées who seek retribution on their ex-husbands for having left them for younger women. The supporting cast comprises Stockard Channing as Cynthia; Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, and Stephen Collins as the three leads' ex-husbands; and Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Berkley, and Marcia Gay Harden as their respective lovers. Supporting roles are played by Maggie Smith, Bronson Pinchot, Rob Reiner, Eileen Heckart, Philip Bosco, and Timothy Olyphant in his feature film debut; cameo appearances include Gloria Steinem, Ed Koch, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Ivana Trump.

The film became a surprise box-office success following its North American release, eventually grossing $181 million worldwide, mostly from its domestic run, despite receiving mixed reviews.^[1] It developed a cult following particularly among middle-aged women,^[2] and as the actresses' highest-grossing project of the decade, it helped revitalize their careers in film and television. Composer Marc Shaiman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Music Score,^[3] while Hawn was awarded a Blockbuster Entertainment Award and both Midler and Parker received Satellite Award nominations for their portrayals.^[3]