Romancing the Stone

Comedy | English, Spanish with English subtitles | 106 minutes

Info

Joan Wilder, a successful novelist, is handed a letter by her neighbor that contains a map from Eduardo, Joan’s brother-in-law. The map indicates the location of a precious stone. Joan receives a call from her frantic sister Elaine. She has been kidnapped by Ralph, an antiquities smuggler. Ralph will release Elaine if Joan goes to the Colombian coastal city of Cartagena with the map. It is Elaine’s ransom. Upon arrival in Colombia, Joan meets Colonel Zolo who is aware of the map. He tricks Joan to board a bus heading to the country’s interior and not Cartagena. The bus crashes and is inoperable. As the passengers walk away, Joan is menaced by Zolo and fortunately is rescued by Jack T. Colton, an exotic bird smuggler. Joan promises Jack $375 if he can get her out of the jungle. Back in Cartagena, Joan gives the map to Ralph and Elaine is freed. But Zolo and his men continue to pursue Joan and Jack, thinking Joan still has the map. The question is whether Joan, Jack, and Elaine will manage to escape back to the U.S.

Cast

Kathleen Turner (Joan Wilder) / Michael Douglas (Jack T. Colton) / Manuel Ojeda (Colonel Zolo) / Danny DeVito (Ralph)

Why Stream This Film?

Entertainment Weekly listed Romancing the Stone as one of the films that made 1984 one of the best years for Hollywood films.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 86
Metacritic Score: 63

Accolades

Academy Awards: Nominated, Best Film Editing (Donn Cambern, Frank Morriss)
Golden Globe Awards: Winner, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Kathleen Turner); Winner Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Writers Guild of America: Nominated, Best Screenplay (Diane Thomas)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Winner, Best Actress (Kathleen Turner)

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