The Fabulous Baker Boys

"For 31 years it's been just the Fabulous Baker Boys... but times change."

1989 1h 54m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 384

ComedyDramaMusicRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The lives of two struggling musicians, who happen to be brothers, inevitably change when they team up with a beautiful, up-and-coming singer.

“For 31 years it's been just the Fabulous Baker Boys... but times change.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Michelle Pfeiffer
Susie Diamond
Jeff Bridges
Jack Baker
Beau Bridges
Frank Baker
Ellie Raab
Nina
Jennifer Tilly
Monica Moran
Xander Berkeley
Lloyd
Terri Treas
Girl in Bed
Dakin Matthews
Charlie

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Steve Kloves
Writers: Steve Kloves
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Steve Kloves, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor William Steinkamp shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Michelle Pfeiffer and Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "For 31 years it's been just the Fabulous Baker Boys... but times change.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0097322 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Steve Kloves directs. Michael Ballhaus behind the camera. Dave Grusin scores. William Steinkamp cuts. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

137 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Steve Kloves, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor William Steinkamp shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Michelle Pfeiffer and Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "For 31 years it's been just the Fabulous Baker Boys... but times change.".
7IMDB entry: tt0097322 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 16 themes, including "success", "liquor", "aspiring singer", "singer".

The technical file

Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus
Original score: Dave Grusin
Editing: William Steinkamp
Production design: Jeffrey Townsend
Costume design: Lisa Jensen
Makeup / hair: Ronnie Specter
Stunt coordinator: Jon Conrad Pochron
Runtime: 114 min · 1h 54m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $13,000,000
Box office: $18,428,904
Return: 142% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Steve Kloves

Flesh and Bone
1993 · ★ 6.0

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2025-01-29
★ 6/10
Brothers "Jack" (Jeff Bridges) and "Frank" (Beau Bridges) eek out a living playing to audiences of largely disinterested punters in generic jazz cafés and clubs, telling the same jokes and positively exuding mediocrity. The latter man is the grown up of the pair, married with kids and he has what passes for the business head between them. The former is more of a loose cannon attached only to his brother and his dog. Their doldrums seem set to consign them to the musical dustbin until they encounter the sparky "Susie" (Michelle Pfeiffer) on their search for a singer. She doesn't exactly look the part, but she has has a voice to die for and suddenly - after a seriously ropey start - their act starts to track a little better. Are things finally on the up? Thus far the film showcases some classy numbers peppered with the odd pithy one-liner and just about enough style to get it by. Now we have our little triumvirate, though, the romantic clutter starts to get in the way; the standard dysfunctional family soap suds start to froth and I just found the whole thing started to drag. Pfeiffer is the star of the show, and her versions of "More Than You Know" and "My Funny Valentine" are impressive, but the joke had worn far too thin for me by this point and I'd lost interest. It's a grand looking film at it's best, but sadly Steve Kloves couldn't quite steer it away from the tedious and fractious sibling stuff that I found increasingly predictable and dull.
kevin20192025-04-25
★ 8/10
"The Fabulous Baker Boys" is a directionless meander through the flawed lives of the central characters Jack and Frank and it is occasioned by their decision to freshen up their cheesy and jaded cocktail lounge act by introducing a sultry female singer. The film effortlessly captures the quiet desperation of the eternally small time careers of the Baker boys as they monotonously tour around a ceaseless succession of out of the way second rate venues. They are trapped in such places and like so many of us they have gradually convinced themselves they are doing well in a tough business which offers few rewards, but all they are really doing is lying to themselves that they are more than they are and will ever be because sometimes it is easier to live a lie instead of facing up to the truth and admitting life has passed you by.