Movies are amazing – they entertain, they’re artistic, and they can even have a big influence on our culture and the types of stories we tell. This is especially true for science fiction. Sci-fi often explores technology, the future, and what it means to be human, and it’s done more than just provide entertainment. It’s actually inspired scientific advancements and introduced ideas that stick with us long after we’ve seen the film. Fifty-one years ago today, one particularly famous movie did all of that, offering a thoughtful look at the human condition and coining a new term that’s become central to the sci-fi world.
The 1975 film The Stepford Wives is based on Ira Levin’s novel of the same name. It tells the story of Joanna (played by Katharine Ross), who moves from New York City to the town of Stepford, Connecticut, with her husband and children. Once there, Joanna begins to notice that all the women in Stepford are strangely beautiful, flawlessly domestic, and completely devoted to their husbands. As the story progresses, she uncovers a terrifying secret: the women have been replaced by incredibly realistic robots controlled by their husbands, and she realizes she’s in danger of being next.
The Stepford Wives Is a Chilling Satire, But It’s Impacted Our Culture and Lexicon Beyond the Film
When The Stepford Wives was released 51 years ago, it wasn’t a huge success at the box office. Critics were divided, and the film only earned about $4 million. Despite this, and even though some people thought it unfairly copied ideas from the women’s movement, the movie had a lasting cultural impact. It’s most remembered for creating the phrase ‘Stepford Wife,’ which has become a common way to describe a certain type of woman.
I recently revisited The Stepford Wives, and it’s fascinating how the film’s central idea has become so ingrained in our culture. Now, we often use the term ‘Stepford Wife’ to describe someone who appears completely controlled or brainwashed – usually by their husband – and it all stems from this movie. When Joanna moves to Stepford, she immediately notices something unsettling about the women there. They’re eerily devoted to housework, lack any real passions or interests, and are almost frighteningly submissive to their husbands. It’s not just their obedience, though; there’s something deeply off about their behavior, like her neighbor Carol, who displays this really creepy, repetitive pattern after a small car accident. It’s genuinely chilling.
It’s tempting to dismiss the strange behavior in Stepford as just the way some of the women are, but the true horror sets in when Joanna’s friend Bobbie, a woman with her own personality and passions, suddenly becomes like the other Stepford wives – empty and obedient. The change is so shocking, from a lively, independent woman to a vacant, compliant one, that the only way to describe it is as becoming a “Stepford Wife.” This term is still used today to describe anyone who seems to have lost their own interests and ability to think for themselves, and it now applies to people of all genders, not just women. Originally associated with wives who appeared robotic and controlled, the term now describes anyone who seems brainwashed and lacks a life or passions outside of their relationship.
“Stepford” Has Now Become a Trope Explored By Recent Films, Too
The idea of “Stepford,” representing artificial perfection and control, has become a common theme in science fiction. The recent film Companion directly references The Stepford Wives, revealing a robot character, Iris, controlled by her boyfriend. Though Iris’s story differs from the wives in the original film, Companion’s opening scene echoes the ending of the 1975 movie. The theme also appears in 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling, which explores forced domesticity in a way that feels heavily influenced by The Stepford Wives. This demonstrates the lasting impact of the film, continuing to spark conversation and inspire new works over 50 years after its release.
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2026-02-13 06:10