On this day July 8, 1988, Arthur 2 On the Rocks premiered in theaters, bringing back Dudley Moore as the lovable, boozy millionaire Arthur Bach. Directed by Bud Yorkin, the sequel continued the story of Arthur and Linda, played by Liza Minnelli, as they navigated marriage, adoption, and Arthur’s struggle with sobriety after losing his fortune.
Also returning was John Gielgud in a brief appearance as Arthur’s beloved butler Hobson, despite the character’s death in the original film. The sequel introduced new cast members including Kathy Bates and aimed to recapture the charm and humor of the 1981 hit. While it carried the same whimsical spirit, the film leaned more into sentimental territory and had a mixed reception among critics and audiences. The film earned 14.7 million dollars at the box office.
Revisit the movie in our Arthur 2 On the Rocks thread.
80s insight: Arthur 2 showed that revisiting a beloved character could be tricky, but it also gave fans one last glimpse of Moore’s most iconic role.
Also returning was John Gielgud in a brief appearance as Arthur’s beloved butler Hobson, despite the character’s death in the original film. The sequel introduced new cast members including Kathy Bates and aimed to recapture the charm and humor of the 1981 hit. While it carried the same whimsical spirit, the film leaned more into sentimental territory and had a mixed reception among critics and audiences. The film earned 14.7 million dollars at the box office.
Revisit the movie in our Arthur 2 On the Rocks thread.
80s insight: Arthur 2 showed that revisiting a beloved character could be tricky, but it also gave fans one last glimpse of Moore’s most iconic role.
