A Perfect Murder

A Perfect Murder
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Andrew Davis
Written by	Patrick Smith Kelly
Based on	Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knott
Produced by	Arnold Kopelson Anne Kopelson Peter MacGregor-Scott Christopher Mankiewicz
Starring	Michael Douglas Gwyneth Paltrow Viggo Mortensen David Suchet
Cinematography	Dariusz Wolski
Edited by	Dov Hoenig Dennis Virkler
Music by	James Newton Howard
Production company	Kopelson Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	June 5, 1998 (1998-06-05)
Running time	107 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Languages	English Arabic
Budget	$60 million
Box office	$128 million

A Perfect Murder is a 1998 American crime thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and written by Patrick Smith Kelly. Loosely based on Frederick Knott’s 1952 stage play Dial M for Murder, the film stars Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow as a wealthy Manhattan couple whose marriage becomes entangled in deception, infidelity, and a murder plot. Viggo Mortensen co-stars as the wife's lover, whose secret affair is exploited in a deadly scheme by her husband.

Set in contemporary New York City, the film reimagines the premise of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 adaptation, altering character names and significantly revising the plot while retaining core elements of suspense and psychological manipulation. The supporting cast includes David Suchet, Sarita Choudhury, and Michael P. Moran.

Released theatrically in June 1998, A Perfect Murder received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its performances and production design but criticized its predictability. Despite this, the film emerged as a moderate commercial success, grossing over $128 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million.