Pre-Booking

The Roses
15

1h 45m

•

very strong language, strong sex references, threat, drug misuse

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites. THE ROSES is a reimagining of the 1989 classic film The War of the Roses, based on the novel by Warren Adler.

Cast: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon, Belinda Bromilow, Hala Finley, Delaney Quinn, Wells Rappaport, Ollie Robinson

Director(s): Jay Roach

Showing at

Today

Tomorrow

7 days

Select a venue to see showtimes

The Roses + Live Introduction

Join us at Everyman at The Whiteley on Friday, 29th September for The Roses, with a very special surprise live introduction.

Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing...

Save a Sofa

What you need to know...

Get ready for a hilariously hostile home war in 'The Roses', a dark comedy from director Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Bombshell), and a bold remake of the 1989 cult classic The War of the Roses. Swapping out Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner for an equally electric duo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman lead this outrageous battle-of-the-exes comedy with biting wit and emotional chaos.

Ivy (Colman) and Theo (Cumberbatch) seem to have it all: a beautiful home, a loving marriage, and a picture-perfect family life. But when Theo unexpectedly loses his job and takes on the role of stay-at-home dad, the balance of power shifts. Ivy’s career begins to soar while Theo struggles with his new identity, sparking resentment, insecurity, and a spiral into jealousy.

When Theo decides to file for divorce, the couple enters into a domestic war where neither is willing to give up the house. What begins as passive-aggressive jabs quickly escalates into a laugh-out-loud campaign of sabotage and one-upmanship, with each spouse determined to make the other’s life a living hell—all under one roof.

The Roses leans into the absurdity of its premise with style and savagery. The trailer teases everything from collapsing ceilings to psychological mind games, and thanks to the talents of Colman and Cumberbatch, sharing the screen for the first time, the emotional and comedic beats hit hard. Colman’s explosive comedic range (seen in The Favourite and Wicked Little Letters) pairs perfectly with Cumberbatch’s simmering intensity, creating a clash that’s both wildly funny and painfully relatable.

The film also boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Andy Samberg, Allison Janney, Ncuti Gatwa, Kate McKinnon, Sunita Mani, and Jamie Demetriou. Each brings their own chaotic charm to the ensemble, with Janney playing Ivy’s ruthless divorce advisor and McKinnon stealing scenes in her trademark eccentric style.

A modern twist on a dark classic, The Roses is a sharply written, visually stylish comedy about pride, pettiness, and the cost of refusing to back down.

Did you know?

This marks the first time Colman and Cumberbatch have appeared on screen together. The original War of the Roses was directed by Danny DeVito and starred Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

See this if you liked...

The Favourite (2018), Marriage Story (2019), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)