The Superwife (1996)

A sharp German comedy about a cheated-on housewife who accidentally triggers her own divorce while trying to buy a house.

The Superwife - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Das Superweib
  • Release Year: 1996
  • Directed by: Sönke Wortmann
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Comedy
  • Runtime: 1h 26m
  • Original Language: German
  • Spoken Languages: German
  • Release Date (Theatrical): March 6, 1996 (Germany - 12), March 7, 1996 (United States)
  • Alternative Titles: A Super Esposa (PT), A szupernő (HU)
  • Production Companies: Constantin Film
  • Production Countries: Germany

The Superwife - Plot

Franziska is a romantically inclined housewife with two children and a husband who spends most of his time traveling around the world and working as a director. However, he cheats on her with his actresses. Franziska goes to see the lawyer Enno Winkel about buying a house, but he prefers to handle divorces. And without realizing it, she suddenly inadvertently initiates her own divorce...

The Superwife - Trailer

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The Superwife - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Sönke Wortmann

Main Cast

  • Veronica Ferres
  • Til Schweiger
  • Joachim Król
  • Liselotte Pulver
  • Thomas Heinze
  • Richy Müller
  • Maren Kroymann
  • Esther Schweins
  • Armin Rohde
  • Heiner Lauterbach

Writers

  • Gundula Leni Ohngemach

Producers

  • Martin Moszkowicz
  • Bernd Eichinger

The Superwife - FAQs

What is The Superwife about?

The Superwife follows Franziska, a devoted housewife whose globe-trotting director husband is cheating on her with his actresses. When she visits divorce lawyer Enno Winkel to discuss buying a house, she unwittingly sets her own divorce in motion — a sharp, funny look at marriage, betrayal, and unexpected liberation.

Does Franziska end up divorcing her husband?

Without giving too much away, Franziska stumbles into the divorce process almost by accident after consulting lawyer Enno Winkel. What starts as a routine visit spirals into a chain of comic events that forces her to confront her marriage and reclaim her own identity.

Who are the main actors in The Superwife?

The film stars Veronica Ferres as the endearing Franziska and Til Schweiger as Hajo Heiermann. Joachim Król plays divorce lawyer Dr. Enno Winkel, with strong supporting turns from Liselotte Pulver, Thomas Heinze, Heiner Lauterbach, and Maren Kroymann rounding out the ensemble.

Is The Superwife based on a book or true story?

The Superwife is based on the bestselling German novel Das Superweib by Hera Lind, published in 1994. The book was a massive commercial hit in Germany, and the film adaptation capitalised on that popularity, becoming one of the top-grossing German comedies of the mid-1990s.

Who directed The Superwife?

The film was directed by Sönke Wortmann, one of Germany's most commercially successful filmmakers of the 1990s. Wortmann was already known for crowd-pleasing comedies before this project and went on to direct the acclaimed football drama The Miracle of Bern (2003).

Was The Superwife a box office success in Germany?

Yes, The Superwife was a genuine phenomenon at the German box office. Released in March 1996, it drew millions of viewers and became one of the highest-grossing German films of that year, riding the wave of popularity from Hera Lind's bestselling source novel.

What are some movies similar to The Superwife?

If you enjoyed The Superwife, you might also like She-Devil (1989), The War of the Roses (1989), or Heartburn (1986) — all sharp comedies about marriage unravelling. For lighter fare, Liar Liar (1997) and HouseSitter (1992) offer a similar blend of domestic chaos and laughs.

When and where was The Superwife released?

The Superwife premiered in Germany on March 6, 1996, and received a US release the following day on March 7, 1996. The film was produced by Constantin Film, one of Germany's leading production companies, with Bernd Eichinger among the producers.

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