Cruel Intentions (1999)
In the game of seduction, there is only one rule: Never fall in love.
Slaking a thirst for dangerous games, Kathryn challenges her stepbrother, Sebastian, to deflower their headmaster's daughter before the summer ends. If he succeeds, the prize is the chance to bed Kathryn. But if he loses, Kathryn will claim his most prized possession.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 5 March 1999 |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Director | Roger Kumble |
| Starring | Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon |
| Runtime | 97 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 5.3/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 53% · Metacritic 56/100 · TMDB users 6.8/10 |
Where to watch Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is streaming on Netflix ($19.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Hulu ($21.49 a month) and Tubi. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Netflix is $19.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 28 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent or buy Cruel Intentions on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Cruel Intentions in 10 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Andorra | Max |
| Bermuda | Netflix about |
| Canada | Netflix $18.99 CAD, Tubi |
| Gibraltar | Netflix about |
| Guernsey | Netflix |
| Ireland | Netflix €11.99, Prime Video €6.99 |
| Portugal | Filmin |
| Spain | Prime Video €4.99, Filmin, Max €10.99 |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Netflix |
| United Kingdom | Netflix £13.99 GBP, Tubi |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Cruel Intentions is a 97-minute drama-romance where two upper-class teens bet on seducing a teacher’s daughter. The stakes are high, the manners are impeccable, and the consequences are genuinely painful. It treats teenage cruelty with the seriousness of a chess match, yet the characters are so sharp they cut themselves. The film runs tight and mean, relying on dialogue that snaps rather than drags. It is a study in how easily affection turns into a weapon when the players have nothing better to do. The ending leaves a mark that lingers long after the credits roll.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 53% as of 2024, a number that suggests the film divides people. Metacritic lands on 56 out of 100 as of 2025, which it files under mixed or average. The critics consensus calls it darkly comic but uneven, a verdict that feels fair. Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars, noting it was "smart and merciless". Charles Taylor called it "an honestly corrupt entertaining picture". Not everyone loved the stunt.
What came next for the cast
Sarah Michelle Gellar traded slasher victims for mystery mascots. Ryan Phillippe drifted from submarine drama to war epic. Reese Witherspoon jumped from psychological horror to legal comedy. Selma Blair moved from coming-of-age dramedies to supernatural action. The credits do not claim the film caused these shifts. They just list what followed.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Cruel Intentions.
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Sources
- Cruel Intentions on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q64151 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Cruel Intentions” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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