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Boxing Helena

Play trailer Poster for Boxing Helena R 1993 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
17% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 35% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A rich surgeon (Julian Sands) operates on the object of his obsession, his grotesquely disfigured aloof neighbor (Sherilyn Fenn).
Boxing Helena

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A disturbing concept marred by graceless execution, Boxing Helena is a psychosexual drama that proves more tedious than provocative.

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Critics Reviews

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Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel May 30, 2019
Both the beauty and her beastly pursuer remain too blankly generic for the implications of the movie's main metaphor to come through vividly. Go to Full Review Dolores Barclay Associated Press Jun 12, 2018
'Boxing Helena'' is a bad film - with terrible acting, cliched dialogue, a silly script, pedestrian camera work and inferior direction. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Feb 8, 2008
It's probably just as well that last-minute dropouts Kim Basinger or Madonna didn't take the title role, as the presence of a star lurking powerlessly on the little platform no doubt would have been distracting and more laughable than it [is] now. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network Oct 10, 2025
2.5/5
More sleepy than sensational, Jennifer Lynch's feature directorial debut was unfairly decried as misogynistic torture porn, which is bizarre considering it's so obviously framed as a sick fantasy from the POV of its disturbed male protagonist Go to Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street Apr 6, 2022
I am probably prevented by some unwritten law from divulging the end of Boxing Helena. I can only say that, instead of adding an extra twist to this bizarre tale, it deprives it of what little point it had. Go to Full Review Vanessa Letts The Spectator Jul 25, 2018
Instead of the grotesque sexual humiliation of Kim Basinger we were all hoping for, we get schoolgirl surrealism. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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R T @RT69237263 Jul 16, 2026 Bizarre and somewhat expected. See more John S. @bowtiejohn1 Dec 7, 2025 I kept watching to try and see one decent scene, but it never came. See more Sandra F @RT24239036 Dec 1, 2024 I'm going against the grain here but looking past whatever passé efforts you may find.. it's one that you have to see, if for no other reason than 1. To say that you have 2. To say 'nope.. not a relationship I'd want thank you very much!' I'll stick with.. love it! See more RyanBurnsPW @RT11532341 Aug 13, 2023 Films like this, in spite of the pedigree of Jennifer Lynch's name, need to be appreciated with an open-mind towards all levels of class art. It smashes together soft-core indulgences, hokey music, and obvious characters emblematic of sexy asshole Bill Paxton and aristocratic doctor Julian Sands with shrewd commentaries on loving relationships and via its uses of slow motion, dream-or-memory passages, and careful, languid dread that eventually sparks into aspirational passion between a captive and her captor. The ending is a whip, but by that moment, all that needed to be said has made its impression. See more May 2, 2022 This movie was unbearable. 🙄 See more Mar 12, 2022 i looooved it. yes, really. as cool as twin peaks See more Read all reviews
Boxing Helena

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Cast & Crew

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Jennifer Chambers Lynch

Director

Julian Sands

Dr. Nick Cavanaugh

Sherilyn Fenn

Helena

Bill Paxton

Ray O'Malley

Kurtwood Smith

Dr. Alan Harrison

Betsy Clark

Anne Garrett

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Boxing Helena

Boxing Helena (1993) Boxing Helena (1993) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A rich surgeon (Julian Sands) operates on the object of his obsession, his grotesquely disfigured aloof neighbor (Sherilyn Fenn).
Director
Jennifer Chambers Lynch
Producer
Carl Mazzocone, Philippe Caland
Screenwriter
Jennifer Chambers Lynch
Production Co
Mainline Pictures Inc.
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Surround
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