Scandal (1989): cast, story & where to watch
1989 · Film · ★ 5.9
Released in 1989, Scandal is a drama, romance and history film directed by Michael Caton-Jones, running about 115 minutes. “The story that seduced the world is now the most controversial film of the year.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. An English bon-vivant osteopath is enchanted with a young exotic dancer and invites her to live with him. He serves as friend and mentor, and through his contacts and parties she and her friend meet and date members of the Conservative Party. Eventually a scandal occurs when her affair with the Minister of War goes public, threatening their lifestyles and their freedom.
Who’s in it. Scandal stars John Hurt as Stephen Ward, Joanne Whalley as Christine Keeler, Bridget Fonda as Mandy Rice-Davies and Ian McKellen as John Profumo, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, Scandal has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $8.8M at the box office.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from BFI Player. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Scandal page.
If you liked it. Fans of Scandal tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Scandal (1989)?
- In GB, Scandal is available to rent or buy from BFI Player. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Scandal worth watching?
- Scandal holds an audience score of 5.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, romance and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Scandal?
- Scandal stars John Hurt, Joanne Whalley, Bridget Fonda, Ian McKellen and Jeroen Krabbé.
- When was Scandal released?
- Scandal was released in 1989, with a runtime of about 115 minutes.