Annabella Sciorra,
Rebecca De Mornay,
Matt McCoy,
Ernie Hudson,
Julianne Moore
... see more 
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is director Curtis Hanson's suburban horror story of a demented nanny bent on revenge for past wrongs. Peyton (Rebecca De Mornay) was once a happily married woman, but w... read more
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Release Date: January 10, 1992
DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001
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Stats: 1,478 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (1,478)
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November 24, 2010The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. That is very true in this nail-biting, on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller. Excellent acting by Rebecca De Mornay, and Annabella Sciorra who I had not heard of until I watched this movie. Absolutely a great movie! Yo... read more
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June 4, 2010Fucking stupid movie that my local tv channel used to run almost daily.
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December 3, 2008Excellent thriller about a nanny who is out to get revenge on a family who ruined her family. Rebecca is very scarey,
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February 4, 2007A creepy little movie. I liked it but there wasn't anything happy going on in the whole thing.
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November 20, 2006The Nanny from Hell! De Mornay is superb as the virginal-looking incarnation of evil, rightfully getting her big break after years of second-string roles.
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December 31, 2009The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a very well made psychological thriller that will make you think twice about hiring a nanny for your kids. Rebecca De Mornay's is an over the edge psycho who wants to get revenge on one family because of a miscarriage she suffered over the fact ... read more
Critic Reviews
April 14, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety
April 14, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Curtis Hanson's direction and Amanda Silver's screenplay are both models of no-flab craft and intelligence, and all the actors (who also include Ernie Hudson and Julianne Moore) are believable from th... Full Review
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Hanson creates the occasionally effective shock effect to satisfy those who want to squeal in mock fright. More often the devices he uses are such tired tricks... to create the illusion of suspense th... Full Review
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Cradle is the kind of cheap thrill you hate yourself for responding to. But director Curtis Hanson and a terrific cast provide enough scary fun to make Cradle the first fright-night hit of '92.
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
This anti-feminist parable is both a labor and a pain. Full Review
April 14, 2008
Film4
De Mornay seems to have found her true vocation playing the nanny from hell, but while the ensuing thrills may well be enjoyed by many, anyone with offspring of their own would be wise to stay away. Full Review
April 14, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide
This jovially sinister, middle-class morality tale-cum-horror show is predictable, implausible and fiendishly entertaining. Full Review
February 6, 2007
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers
Scary premise of mad sitter vs mother and child...effective.
October 10, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Touted as Fatal Attraction for the 1990s, this well-directed thrille (by Curtis Hanson) also features a blonde sociopath, except that the terror in of the family in this yarn is from within. Full Review
February 9, 2006
Time Out
As the film progresses, malicious schemes and loony excesses are combined, with Hanson's self-conscious direction rendering one particularly sensational murder even more implausible. Full Review
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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
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