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Clue (film)

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Clue
Image
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJonathan Lynn
Screenplay byJonathan Lynn
Story by
Based on
Cluedo
by Anthony E. Pratt
Produced byDebra Hill
Starring
CinematographyVictor J. Kemper
Edited by
Music byJohn Morris
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • December 13, 1985 (1985-12-13)
Running time
86–96 minutes[a]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million
Box office$14.6 million

Clue is a 1985 American comedy mystery film directed and written by Jonathan Lynn, who developed the story with John Landis. Based on the board game Cluedo (also known as Clue), the film stars Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren. Set in 1954, the plot follows six strangers who gather at a secluded mansion where a series of murders unfolds, forcing the group to determine the identity of the killer among them.

Released on December 13, 1985, Clue featured an unusual theatrical presentation, with each screening depicting one of three different endings, revealing an alternative solution to the plot's mystery. Clue received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $14.6 million against a $15 million budget. Over time, the film developed a cult following and an improved critical reception based on the ensemble cast performances. This bolstered reputation inspired the live adaptation Clue: On Stage as well as anniversary theatrical re-releases.

Plot

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In 1954, six strangers are invited to a secluded New England mansion. They are greeted by the butler Wadsworth and the maid Yvette. Each is assigned a pseudonym to maintain confidentiality: "Colonel Mustard", "Mrs. White", "Mrs. Peacock", "Mr. Green", "Professor Plum", and "Miss Scarlet". During dinner, they discover that they all have ties to the United States government, and are joined by a seventh guest, Mr. Boddy.

Wadsworth reveals that Boddy is responsible for blackmailing each guest by threatening to expose their un-American activities, such as murder, corruption, adultery, and homosexuality, and tells the guests that the police will soon arrive to arrest Boddy. Boddy proposes that the guests kill Wadsworth to avoid their secrets being revealed, and presents each with a weapon—a candlestick, rope, lead pipe, wrench, revolver, and dagger—before turning out the lights. After a gunshot rings out, Boddy is found apparently dead. Wadsworth confesses that Boddy had also blackmailed him over his wife's association with socialists. After she took her own life, he assembled the guests to convince them to testify against Boddy.

Suspecting the cook killed Boddy, the guests search for her and find her stabbed to death in the kitchen. Returning to the study, they discover Boddy is missing and conclude he is still alive, only to find him bludgeoned to death with the candlestick in the hallway. Wadsworth locks the weapons in a cupboard, but before he can dispose of the key, a stranded motorist arrives.

The group splits into pairs to search the mansion, but someone burns the blackmail evidence, unlocks the cupboard, and kills the motorist. Mustard and Scarlet discover a secret passage leading to the lounge, where they find the motorist's body. Their cries for help prompt Yvette to free them by shooting the locked door with the revolver. The group deduces that the murderer pickpocketed the cupboard key from Wadsworth.

A police officer investigating the motorist's abandoned car arrives to make a telephone call. After successfully distracting the officer and concealing the bodies, the group resumes its search, but someone cuts the electricity. In the darkness, Yvette, the officer, and an arriving singing telegram girl are murdered.

After restoring the power, Wadsworth gathers the guests and reconstructs the night's events, explaining that the victims were informants connected to each guest. Three endings are then presented.

In the first, Yvette is revealed to have murdered the cook and Boddy on Scarlet's behalf, while Scarlet killed the remaining victims, intending to replace Boddy as the group's blackmailer. In the second ending, Peacock is revealed to have committed all the murders to protect her secrets. In both endings, the police arrive to arrest the perpetrator, and Wadsworth is exposed as an undercover FBI agent.

The third ending reveals the truth: Peacock stabbed the cook (her former employee), Plum bludgeoned Boddy, Mustard killed the motorist (his former driver), White strangled Yvette (who had sex with her husband), Scarlet murdered the police officer (whom she was bribing), and Wadsworth shot the singing telegram girl (with whom Plum had an affair). Wadsworth then reveals that he is the real Boddy and that the man killed earlier was his butler. He orchestrated the murders to eliminate his informants and evidence of his crimes, but intends to continue blackmailing the guests. However, Green draws his own revolver and kills Wadsworth, revealing himself to be an undercover FBI agent. The police arrive and arrest the guests, while Green, who was believed to be homosexual, announces that he is going home to sleep with his wife.

Cast

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Image
Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren), Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull), Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn), Mr. Green (Michael McKean), Wadsworth (Tim Curry), Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), and Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan)

Additionally, Howard Hesseman makes an uncredited appearance as the Chief of Police.

Production

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Development

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Producer Debra Hill initially acquired the rights to adapt the game Clue from Parker Brothers and intended to distribute through Universal Pictures.[2] As early as 1981, Hill mentioned plans to adapt the game into a movie, with P. D. James reported to be writing the screenplay with multiple endings.[3]

Screenplay

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John Landis, who had initially been set to direct, would go onto to work with Jonathan Lynn on the story for the film. Landis is credited for coming up with the multiple endings for the film. Playwright Tom Stoppard was initially approached to write the screenplay and worked on it for a year before giving up and returning all of the money he had already been paid. Landis then asked writer and composer Stephen Sondheim and actor Anthony Perkins to write the screenplay, both of whom asked for too much money. The script was ultimately finished by Lynn, who was invited to direct as a result.[4][2]

Scrapped fourth ending

A fourth ending was written for the film; according to Lynn, "It really wasn't very good. I looked at it, and I thought, 'No, no, no, we've got to get rid of that.'"[5] In it, Wadsworth committed all the murders and reveals he poisoned the champagne, leaving no witnesses when the six guests soon die. The police officers arrive and capture Wadsworth, but he breaks free and steals a police car only to be ultimately thwarted when three police dogs lunge from the back seat.[6] Tim Curry suggested the ending was never released due to the reveal being considered "too obvious."[7]

Casting

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Carrie Fisher was originally cast to portray Miss Scarlet but withdrew to enter treatment for drug and alcohol addiction; she was replaced with Lesley Ann Warren, who was originally cast to play Mrs. White, who was then played by Madeline Kahn.[8][9] Jonathan Lynn's first choice for Wadsworth was Leonard Rossiter but he died before filming commenced.[10] The second choice was Rowan Atkinson but it was decided that he was not sufficiently well known at the time, so Tim Curry was cast.[10] The entire cast received the same salary and billing, despite their different levels of notability at the time.[2]

Filming

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Clue was filmed on sound stages 17 and 18 at the Paramount Pictures film studios in Hollywood.[11] The set design is credited to Les Gobruegge, Gene Nollmanwas, and William B. Majorand, with set decoration by Thomas L. Roysden.[12][better source needed] To decorate the interior sets, authentic 18th- and 19th-century furnishings were rented from private collectors, including the estate of Theodore Roosevelt.[13] After completion, the set was bought by the producers of Dynasty, who used it as the fictional Carlton Hotel.[14]

All interior scenes were filmed at the Paramount lot, except the ballroom scene. The ballroom and two driveway exteriors, including the front gate and retaining wall, were filmed on location at a mansion in South Pasadena, California. The driveway and fountain were recreated on the Paramount lot and used for most shots, including the guests' arrivals. Exterior shots of the South Pasadena mansion were enhanced with matte paintings to make the house appear much larger; these were executed by matte artist Syd Dutton in consultation with Albert Whitlock.[citation needed] The mansion was destroyed in a fire on October 5, 2005 [15] but has since been rebuilt. The original front gate and retaining wall as seen in the movie were preserved and still stand alongside the new house.

Jonathan Lynn screened His Girl Friday for the cast as inspiration for how to deliver their lines.[2] Madeline Kahn improvised her monologue about "flames".[4]

Release

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The film was released theatrically on December 13, 1985. Each theater received one of the three endings, and some theaters announced which ending the viewer would see.[16]

To mark the film's 40th anniversary, a three-day theatrical exhibition in August 2025 screened a different ending each day.[17][18]

Novelizations

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The novelization based on the screenplay is by Michael McDowell. Landis, Lynn and Ann Matthews wrote the youth adaptation Clue: The Storybook. Both adaptations were published in 1985, and feature a fourth ending cut from the film:[6] in a variation on the-butler-did-it trope, Wadsworth explains how he killed Boddy and the other victims, then reveals to the guests that they've all been poisoned, leaving no witnesses to his perfect crime. As Wadsworth proceeds to disable the phones, the police chief (having previously posed as an evangelist) returns with a squad of officers who disarm Wadsworth. He nonetheless manages to escape and attempts to get away in a police car, only to crash after Dobermanns attack from the back seat.[19][20]

Home media

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The film was released to home video for both VHS and Betamax videocassette formats in the United States and Canada on August 20, 1986, and to other countries on February 11, 1991.[11] It was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2000,[21] and on Blu-ray by Paramount Home Media Distribution on August 7, 2012.[22] Shout! Factory released a 4K UHD Blu-ray collector's edition of Clue on December 12, 2023, including new interviews with director Jonathan Lynn and production manager Jeffrey Chernov.[23]

Home video, television broadcast and digital streaming releases include all three endings shown sequentially, with two characterized as possible endings and the third being the accurate account. DVD and Blu-ray versions offer viewers the option to watch a single ending (chosen randomly) or the "home entertainment version" with all three endings stitched together.[24]

Soundtrack

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La-La Land Records released the John Morris score as a limited-edition CD soundtrack in February 2011.[25] For the film's 30th anniversary in 2015, Mondo issued a limited-edition 180-gram vinyl pressed on six different character-themed color variants.[26] A vinyl reissue from Enjoy The Ride Records followed in 2022.

Reception

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Critical response

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The film initially received mixed reviews. Janet Maslin of The New York Times panned it, writing that the beginning "is the only part of the film that is remotely engaging. After that, it begins to drag".[27] Similarly, Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, writing, "Clue offers a few big laughs early on followed by a lot of characters running around on a treadmill to nowhere."[28] Siskel particularly criticized the decision to release the film to theaters with three separate endings, calling it a "gimmick" that would distract audiences from the rest of the film, and concluding, "Clue is a movie that needs three different middles rather than three different endings."[28]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, writing that it has a "promising" cast but the "screenplay is so very, very thin that [the actors] spend most of their time looking frustrated, as if they'd just been cut off right before they were about to say something interesting".[16] On Siskel & Ebert & the Movies, both agreed that the "A" ending was the best while the "C" ending was the worst.[29]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 73% based on 40 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "A robust ensemble of game actors elevate Clue above its schematic source material, but this farce's reliance on novelty over organic wit makes its entertainment value a roll of the dice."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 41 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[30]

Box office

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Clue has grossed $14.6 million in North America, just short of its $15 million budget.[31]

Remake

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Previous plans for a remake or reboot have languished for years. Initially Gore Verbinski was developing a new Clue film in 2009,[32] which was dropped by Universal Studios in 2011.[33] Hasbro Studios moved the project to 20th Century Fox by August 2016, envisioned as a "worldwide mystery" with action-adventure elements, potentially establishing a franchise with international appeal.[34] Ryan Reynolds optioned a three-year first-look deal in January 2018, planning to star in the remake with a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.[35] Jason Bateman was briefly attached to the film in September 2019,[36] followed by James Bobin attached as director in February 2020,[37] with Oren Uziel hired to rewrite the script in August 2022.[38] Hasbro Entertainment sought new rights arrangements for Clue in 2024,[39] and established deals with TriStar Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for new screen adaptations of the board game.[40][41] Screenwriter Shay Hatten has been in talks for the new film script.[42]

Stage adaptations

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The screenplay was adapted from film to stage in 2017 by the original screenwriter Jonathan Lynn.[4][43] Clue: On Stage premiered in 2017 at Bucks County Playhouse, adapted by Hunter Foster with additional material by Eric Price. It was directed by Foster and starred Sally Struthers and Erin Dilly.[44] A revised adaptation by Sandy Rustin, incorporating material from Foster and Price, was first performed in 2020. Rustin's adaptation was described as "a welcome throwback to an era of physical comedy".[45] The stage adaptations have been performed widely.[46]

A national tour of the mystery-comedy play launched in 2024, directed by Casey Hushion.[47][48]

In other media

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The 2013 Psych season 7 episode "100 Clues" features Clue stars Martin Mull, Christopher Lloyd and Lesley Ann Warren as suspects in a series of murders at a mansion. The episode, in addition to many jokes and themes in homage to the film, includes multiple endings in which the audience (separately for East and West Coast viewership) decides who is the real killer. The episode was dedicated to the memory of Madeline Kahn.[49][50]

Warren guest starred on "Charlie's Angel", a 2019 episode of Mull's sitcom The Cool Kids as Kathleen, a love interest for his character Charlie. Her role announcement in November 2018 was initially touted by the press as a Clue reunion, though only Mull and Warren appear.[51] The two also appeared in episodes of Community as the parents of character Britta Perry.

References

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Runtime varies based on the version of the film: 87 minutes with ending A or B; 86 minutes with ending C; 96 minutes with all three endings.[1]

Citations

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  1. ↑ Clue (Blu-ray back cover). Paramount Home Entertainment. 2012 [1983].
  2. 1 2 3 4 Farber, Stephen (August 25, 1985). "OFF THE BOARD, ONTO THE SCREEN FOR CLUE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ Freedman, Richard (October 30, 1981). "Double Bill: Tonight's 'Halloween' horrorthon based on writer's teen memories". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Vary, Adam B. (December 10, 2015). "Something Terrible Has Happened Here: The Crazy Story of How 'Clue' Went from Forgotten Flop to Cult Triumph". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024. That a high-concept, fast-talking farce based on a board game was a box office bomb in 1985 is no huge mystery. But figuring out how it became an enduring favorite is a Hollywood whodunit for the ages. (The prime suspect: you, in the living room, with the remote control.)
  5. ↑ Farr, Nick (March 13, 2012). "Abnormal Interviews: My Cousin Vinny Director Jonathan Lynn". Abnormal Use. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Matthews, Landis & Lynn 1985, pp. 57–59.
  7. ↑ The Academy (February 5, 2026). Tim Curry Breaks Down His Most Iconic Roles. Retrieved July 3, 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "Bad Movies We Love: Clue". Movieline. December 14, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  9. ↑ "An oral history of 'Clue,' the classic whodunnit". Entertainment Weekly.
  10. 1 2 Jackson, Matthew (April 1, 2016). "13 Mysterious Facts About Clue". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Hatch, John (November 7, 2023). "What Do You Mean, Murder?" Clue and the Making of a Cult Classic. Fayetteville Mafia Press. ISBN 978-1949024609.
  12. ↑ "Full cast and crew for Clue (1985)". IMDb. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Clue (1985) Movie Filming Locations". The 80s Movies Rewind. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  14. ↑ Smith, Nathan (December 22, 2025). "5 Design Secrets from the Set of Clue". Architectural Digest. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Photos from Filming Location – 2003". The Art of Murder. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (December 12, 1985). "Clue". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2014 – via RogerEbert.com.
  17. ↑ Plale, Mathew (August 19, 2025). "Clue being re-released in theaters for 40th anniversary – with surprise ending at each showing!". JoBlo.
  18. ↑ Warren, Peter (August 20, 2025). "Classic 1985 movie 'Clue' returns to theaters to celebrate 40th anniversary". Houston Chronicle.
  19. ↑ McDowell, Michael (1985). Paramount Pictures Presents Clue. New York: Fawcett Gold Medal. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-4491-3049-0.
  20. ↑ Matthews, Landis & Lynn 1985, p. 61.
  21. 1 2 "Clue Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. December 13, 1985. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  22. ↑ Katz, Josh (January 18, 2012). "Paramount Teases Four Upcoming Blu-ray Releases". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Clue Collector's Edition". Shout! Factory. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Clue Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Clue: The Movie: Limited Edition". La-La Land Records. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Clue: The Movie – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack LP". Mondo. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  27. ↑ Maslin, Janet (December 13, 1985). "Screen: 'Clue,' from Game to Film". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  28. 1 2 Siskel, Gene (December 13, 1985). "Did The Butler Do It? Clue Offers 3 Answers". Chicago Tribune. p. A. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  29. ↑ Siskel, Gene; Ebert, Roger (December 1985). "At the Movies with Siskel & Ebert". Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2018 – via YouTube. The best ending...is "A"...stay away from the worst which is "C".
  30. ↑ "Clue Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Clue (1985)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  32. ↑ Fleming, Michael (February 24, 2009). "Gore Verbinski to develop 'Clue'". Variety. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  33. ↑ Rich, Katey (August 3, 2011). "Clue Movie Dropped By Universal, But Hasbro Is Still Making It On Their Own". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  34. ↑ Lyons, Josh (August 16, 2016). "20th Century Fox Gets A "Clue" And Will Produce Classic Board Game Remake With Hasbro (EXCLUSIVE)". The Tracking Board. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  35. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 22, 2018). "Ryan Reynolds Signs First-Look Deal at Fox With 'Clue' Movie in the Works". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  36. ↑ Welk, Brian (September 25, 2019). "Jason Bateman in Talks to Direct and Star in 'Clue' Reboot With Ryan Reynolds". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  37. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (February 10, 2020). "James Bobin In Talks To Direct 'Clue' Movie At 20th Century". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  38. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 23, 2022). "Oren Uziel Stepping In To Write Ryan Reynolds 'Clue' Movie At 20th Century Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  39. ↑ Bolt, Neil (February 19, 2024). "Hasbro Shopping Rights to a New Clue Movie". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  40. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (April 23, 2024). "Clue Film and TV Rights Land at Sony". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  41. ↑ Otterson, Joe (April 23, 2024). "'Clue' Film, TV Adaptations in the Works Under New Deal Between Hasbro and Sony". Variety. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  42. ↑ Outlaw, Kofi (September 18, 2024). "Clue Movie Reboot Gets Major Update With the Perfect Director". ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  43. ↑ Cox, Gordon (October 11, 2016). "'Clue' on Stage: Play by Movie's Writer-Director to Bow in 2017 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  44. ↑ ""Clue: On Stage" Premieres at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope May 2". New Hope Free Press. 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  45. ↑ Ramírez, Juan A. (February 8, 2022). "'Clue' Review: A Whodunit That Looks a Lot Like a Board Game". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  46. ↑ Weinert-Kendt, Rob (September 23, 2022). "'Clyde's' Is Most-Produced Play, and Lynn Nottage Most-Produced Playwright, of 2022-23 Season". American Theater.
  47. ↑ Cullwell-Block, Logan. "Clue Will Embark on National Tour in 2024". Playbill.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  48. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (April 9, 2024). "CLUE North American Tour". Broadway World. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  49. ↑ McFarland, Kevin (May 28, 2013). "Psych: "100 Clues"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  50. ↑ Ng, Philiana (March 13, 2013). "'Psych' Viewers to Pick Ending for 100th Episode in Real Time". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
  51. ↑ Swift, Andy (November 9, 2018). "The Cool Kids Staging Clue Reunion With Lesley Ann Warren, Martin Mull". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.

Bibliography

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