Movie Profile: STEPMOM (1998)
| Attribute | Details |
| Title | Stepmom |
| Release Date | December 25, 1998 |
| Director | Chris Columbus |
| Writers | Gigi Levangie, Jessie Nelson, Steven Rogers, Karen Leigh Hopkins, Ronald Bass |
| Genre | Drama, Comedy |
| Runtime | 125 minutes |
| Box Office | $159.7 million worldwide |
| Distributor | TriStar Pictures / Sony Pictures |
| Lead Cast |
• Julia Roberts (Isabel Kelly) • Susan Sarandon (Jackie Harrison) • Ed Harris (Luke Harrison) • Jena Malone (Anna Harrison) • Liam Aiken (Ben Harrison) |
Trailer
Plot Overview
Luke Harrison (Ed Harris) is a divorced attorney who moves in with his younger girlfriend, Isabel Kelly (Julia Roberts), a successful fashion photographer. Luke’s two children—twelve-year-old Anna (Jena Malone) and seven-year-old Ben (Liam Aiken)—openly resent Isabel, viewing her as an unwelcome intruder replacing their home life.
Luke’s ex-wife, Jackie Harrison (Susan Sarandon), is an organized, devoted full-time mother who encourages her children’s cold attitude toward Isabel. Tensions between Jackie and Isabel constantly escalate over parenting styles, career demands, and boundaries.
However, the family’s dynamic shifts when Jackie receives a devastating diagnosis: she has terminal cancer. Realizing that Isabel will inevitably become the primary maternal figure in her children’s lives after she is gone, Jackie must set aside her resentment to mentor Isabel, while Isabel learns what it truly takes to be a selfless parent.
Key Themes & Legacy
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Blended Families & Compassion: The film explores the friction and adjustment involved in divorce, co-parenting, and step-parenting.
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Critically Acclaimed Chemistry: Susan Sarandon earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (Drama) for her emotional portrayal of Jackie.
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Memorable Soundtrack: Features a famous scene set to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s iconic song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, along with an acoustic score by John Williams.