You probably don't remember it. Or maybe you do, and it’s tucked away in that dusty corner of your brain labeled "weird 90s rentals." We're talking about The Opposite Sex movie—specifically the 1993 flick officially titled The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them. It’s a mouthful. It’s also a strange time capsule of a movie that tried to decode the "battle of the sexes" before the internet changed everything about how we date.
Courtney Cox and Kevin Pollak lead the charge here. This isn't the slick, high-gloss Friends version of Cox either; this is pre-Central Perk, 1993 grit. Honestly, seeing them together is a trip. The chemistry is... specific. It's the kind of movie that feels like it was written by someone who had just finished reading a "Mars vs. Venus" guidebook and decided to turn it into a ninety-minute social experiment.
Most people confuse this with a dozen other movies. There was the 2014 rom-com with Mena Suvari, and then there's the 1956 musical remake of The Women. But when people search for the real essence of The Opposite Sex movie, they’re usually looking for that bizarre mix of 90s cynicism and earnest romantic advice that the 1993 version provides. It's not a masterpiece. It's not a disaster. It's just a very loud echo of a conversation we aren't really having anymore.
The Plot That Tried to Do Too Much
So, what actually happens? David (Pollak) and Carrie (Cox) meet. They're different. Like, really different. He’s a bit of a neurotic mess, and she’s trying to navigate a world that feels increasingly rigged against her. The movie uses a mockumentary-style framing device where they talk directly to the camera, breaking the fourth wall before it was cool (or overused).
They argue about everything. Sandwiches. Sex. Exes. The movie tries to be an instructional manual. It's divided into chapters, which, looking back, feels a bit pretentious for a movie that features a gag about a "condom-mat." But that was the vibe.
The 90s were obsessed with the idea that men and women were basically different species. You see it in the writing. The script leans heavily on these tropes—men are sloppy and commitment-phobic; women are organized and looking for "the one." It’s dated. Extremely dated. But there’s a raw honesty in the performances that almost saves it. Kevin Pollak is doing his best "everyman" bit, and Courtney Cox proves she was a comedic powerhouse long before she moved into Monica Geller’s apartment.
Why The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them Failed at the Box Office
Let's be real: the movie tanked. Critics weren't kind. Roger Ebert famously gave it a lukewarm reception, basically saying it felt like a sitcom stretched thin.
He wasn't entirely wrong.
The problem with The Opposite Sex movie wasn't the acting. It was the timing. 1993 was a massive year for cinema. You had Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, and The Fugitive. People weren't exactly lining up to see a low-budget indie talk about the nuances of dating in New York. It felt small. It felt like something you’d catch on HBO at 2:00 AM while eating cold pizza.
- The budget was shoestring.
- The marketing was confused—was it a documentary? A rom-com? A satire?
- Distribution was limited.
- The title was too long for a marquee.
Also, the tone is all over the place. One minute it’s a slapstick comedy, and the next it’s a philosophical meditation on loneliness. Audiences didn't know whether to laugh or take notes. In a decade defined by the "slacker" culture of Clerks and the high-concept gloss of Sleepless in Seattle, this movie sat awkwardly in the middle.
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The Courtney Cox Factor
If you’re watching The Opposite Sex movie today, you’re probably doing it for Courtney Cox. It’s fascinating to see her here. She’s playing Carrie with a certain edge that she eventually smoothed out for network television.
There’s a specific scene where she’s breaking down the frustrations of the dating scene that feels remarkably modern. If you squint, you can see the blueprint for the "prestige" dramedies we see on Netflix today. She has this way of delivering a line—dry, slightly exhausted, but hopeful—that carries the whole film.
Kevin Pollak, meanwhile, is the perfect foil. He’s fast-talking and neurotic. If you liked him in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you’ll see the seeds of that performance here. They play off each other with a frantic energy that keeps the movie from completely stalling out.
Breaking Down the 1993 Dating Philosophy
We have to talk about the "advice" in the film. It's a goldmine of bad takes and "of-its-time" wisdom. The movie suggests that the secret to a successful relationship is basically lower expectations.
Seriously.
It posits that if men and women just accepted that they’re never going to understand each other, they’d be much happier. It’s a cynical take. But in the early 90s, cynicism was the currency. We were post-80s excess and pre-2000s optimism. Everything was "fine," but also kind of "whatever."
The movie focuses heavily on the "first night" and the "first fight." It treats these milestones like tactical military maneuvers. There’s a scene involving a diaphragm that is both cringey and strangely brave for 1993. It didn't shy away from the messiness of biology and logistics, which most rom-coms usually ignore in favor of rain-soaked kisses.
Comparisons: The 2014 Version vs. The 1993 Original
People get these mixed up all the time. The 2014 movie The Opposite Sex is a completely different beast.
- The 2014 Version: Stars Mena Suvari and Geoff Stults. It’s more of a traditional "bet" movie. You know the trope—man makes a bet he can't fall in love, then he does. It’s slicker, funnier in a broad sense, but has way less soul than the '93 version.
- The 1993 Version: It’s grubbier. It’s more interested in the psychological friction between two people trying to share a bathroom.
If you want a polished Hollywood product, go with the 2014 one. If you want a weird, experimental look at gender dynamics from a time when people still used landlines to ask for dates, the '93 The Opposite Sex movie is your winner.
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The Cinematography of 90s New York
One thing the movie gets absolutely right is the atmosphere. New York in 1993 looked different. It was darker, noisier, and less "Disney-fied." The director, Matthew Meshekoff, captured that specific grit. The apartments look like real apartments—small, cluttered, and slightly depressing.
The lighting is naturalistic. It doesn't have that orange-and-teal filter that plagues modern movies. When they're walking down the street, you can almost smell the exhaust and the street food. This adds a layer of realism to the "he said/she said" dialogue. It makes the stakes feel higher because these feel like real people living in a real, exhausting city.
Why This Movie Still Matters (Sort Of)
You might wonder why anyone should care about a forgotten 93-minute comedy from three decades ago.
The truth? Because it’s an artifact.
It shows us exactly what we used to think was "normal" in relationships. It highlights how much our language around gender has evolved. Watching The Opposite Sex movie in 2026 is like looking at a map of a city that has since been completely rebuilt. The streets are in the same place, but all the buildings are different.
It’s also a reminder that some things never change. The anxiety of meeting someone new, the fear of rejection, and the sheer absurdity of trying to merge two lives into one—that’s universal. Pollak and Cox nail that feeling of "I like you, but you’re also driving me insane."
Common Misconceptions About the Film
Wait, isn't there a musical?
Yes. People often confuse this with The Opposite Sex (1956), which was a musical remake of The Women. That movie is a Technicolor fever dream with June Allyson and Joan Collins. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Courtney Cox movie.
There's also the 1998 film The Opposite of Sex starring Christina Ricci. That’s a dark comedy/drama and is arguably a much better film. If you’re looking for a sharp, biting critique of sex and family, go watch the Ricci movie. But if you’re looking for the specific "How to Live with Them" guidebook vibe, you’re looking for the 1993 Pollak/Cox collaboration.
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Technical Details for the Film Nerds
- Director: Matthew Meshekoff
- Writer: Steven Segaller
- Runtime: 86 minutes (brief and punchy)
- Release Date: March 26, 1993
- Original Title: The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them
The soundtrack is also a weirdly specific trip. It features a lot of that light, jazzy-pop that defined early 90s adult contemporary. It’s the kind of music you’d hear in a dentist’s waiting room, but in the context of the movie, it somehow works to heighten the suburban-meets-urban tension.
How to Watch It Today
Finding The Opposite Sex movie isn't as easy as hitting "play" on Netflix. It’s rarely on the major streaming platforms. You might find it on some of the "deep cut" streamers like Tubi or Pluto TV if you’re lucky.
Honestly? You might have to track down a physical copy. There are DVDs floating around on eBay, and if you’re really feeling nostalgic, you can probably find a VHS copy at a thrift store. Watching it on tape actually feels like the "correct" way to experience it. The tracking errors and the slight hiss of the audio just add to the 1993 aesthetic.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Movie Night
If you're actually going to sit down and watch this, here’s how to do it right:
- Watch it as a double feature: Pair it with The Opposite of Sex (1998) to see how much the portrayal of relationships changed in just five years.
- Look for the Friends-isms: Try to spot the moments where Courtney Cox uses the physical comedy beats she would later perfect as Monica Geller.
- Check the backgrounds: The street scenes in 1993 New York are a treasure trove for anyone who misses the pre-internet era. Look at the posters, the cars, and the clothes.
- Don't take the advice: Seriously. The "lessons" in the movie are mostly terrible. Treat it as a "what not to do" guide.
The reality is that The Opposite Sex movie is a minor footnote in cinema history, but it’s a fascinating one. It’s a bridge between the old-school romantic comedies of the 80s and the more cynical, realistic portrayals of the late 90s. It’s messy, it’s dated, and it’s occasionally very funny. If you’re a fan of Courtney Cox or just a student of 90s pop culture, it’s worth the 86 minutes.
Just don't expect it to actually teach you how to live with the opposite sex. You’re on your own for that one.
Your Next Steps for Exploring 90s Cinema
To get the most out of your nostalgia trip, start by looking up the "Miramax Era" of the early 90s. This movie was part of a wave of independent films trying to find their voice before the genre became dominated by big-budget formulas. You can also research the career of Kevin Pollak, who remains one of the most underrated character actors and impressionists in the business.
Finally, if you’re a Courtney Cox completionist, compare her performance here to her work in Masters of the Universe (1987). It shows an incredible range and a survival instinct in an industry that was still figuring out how to cast women in leading comedic roles. Watching these films back-to-back provides a clear picture of how an actor builds a persona before hitting it big with a career-defining role.