Nearly three decades after the iconic The First Wives Club (1996) won over audiences with its sharp wit and empowering revenge plot, The First Wives Club 2 (2025) made its grand debut on September 18, 2025, on Paramount+. Reuniting the legendary trio of Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton, and directed by Adam Shankman (known for Hairspray and Hitch), this sequel captures the spirit of the original while tackling modern issues like aging, technology, and navigating life in the social media era. With an $80 million budget, the film grossed over $150 million globally within two weeks of release, proving the enduring appeal of this story about resilient women in their golden years.

Setting and Plot Overview

The First Wives Club 2 is set in contemporary New York, where the world has transformed dramatically since the 1990s. It’s been 29 years since Elise Eliot (Goldie Hawn), Brenda Cushman (Bette Midler), and Annie MacDuggan-Parson (Diane Keaton) formed the “First Wives Club” to take down their cheating ex-husbands. Now in their 70s, they are accomplished women facing new challenges: Elise is a Hollywood film producer grappling with ageism; Brenda is a wealthy real estate mogul living in a lavish penthouse; and Annie is a respected university president juggling work and family life.

The story kicks off at the funeral of their old friend Cynthia (Stockard Channing, reprising her role from the original). The trio reunites and uncovers a shocking revelation: Morty (Dan Hedaya, Brenda’s ex-husband), once humiliated by their schemes, is now a tech billionaire who invested in an AI startup. He’s behind a dating app called “Second Chance Singles,” which pairs older men with much younger women and is poised to become a global empire. Worse, Morty is meddling in their lives again—investing in Elise’s film company, buying Annie’s university building, and even charming Brenda’s daughter to get to her fortune.

Determined not to be outdone, the trio revives the “First Wives Club” for a 2.0 version. This time, their mission isn’t just personal revenge but a broader fight against a system that glorifies “upgrading” women through tech-driven matchmaking. With their wit, experience, and help from a younger generation, they plot to take Morty down. The film blends dark humor, sharp banter, and heartfelt moments about friendship, aging, and self-empowerment.

Cast and Characters

The movie boasts a stellar cast, with the original stars returning to maintain authenticity and nostalgia:

• Goldie Hawn as Elise Eliot: Still glamorous and sharp-tongued, Elise is a Hollywood legend fighting to stay relevant in an ageist industry. Hawn shines in scenes parodying social media culture, like her character’s over-the-top TikTok selfies, delivering laugh-out-loud moments.
• Bette Midler as Brenda Cushman: The fiery, dramatic Brenda is now a real estate tycoon, rich but lonely after a second divorce. Midler steals the show with her musical performances, including a modern remix of “You Don’t Own Me,” embodying the financial and emotional resilience of women in their 70s.
• Diane Keaton as Annie MacDuggan-Parson: The group’s intellectual anchor, Annie is a grandmother and university president who feels dismissed by her family and colleagues. Keaton brings emotional depth, especially in scenes reflecting on loss and renewal.

New and returning supporting characters add freshness to the story:

• Eugene Levy as Morty: Levy (Schitt’s Creek) transforms Morty into a hilarious yet infuriating “tech bro,” spouting buzzwords like “disrupt” and “pivot.” He’s the main antagonist, representing the arrogance of entitled older men.
• Sarah Jessica Parker as Shelly: Parker returns in an expanded cameo as Morty’s new influencer trophy wife with millions of Instagram followers. Initially aligned with Morty, she gets drawn into the wives’ schemes.
• Younger Cast: New faces include Awkwafina as Jade, Elise’s tech-savvy hacker granddaughter who helps crack Morty’s app; Timothée Chalamet as Alex, a young employee of Morty’s who’s swayed by the women’s feminist ideals; and Octavia Spencer as Dr. Lena, a psychologist offering witty yet profound advice to the group.

The generational mix creates a vibrant dynamic, with hilarious mentor-mentee moments, like Awkwafina teaching Hawn how to use deepfake tech for a “virtual revenge.”

Detailed Plot Breakdown (Light Spoiler Warning)

The film is structured in three acts, each focusing on one of the main characters, interwoven with comedic subplots.

Act 1: Reunion and Setup (0-30 minutes) The trio reunites at Cynthia’s funeral and catches up at a familiar Manhattan bar. They share their struggles: Elise is sidelined from major film roles due to her age; Brenda discovers her new husband (a cameo by Matthew McConaughey) is cheating via Morty’s app; and Annie faces dismissal from her university for prioritizing gender equality programs. A New York Times article exposes Morty’s tech empire, prompting them to tail him. A standout comedic scene involves Brenda “accidentally” spilling a cocktail on Shelly at a charity gala, sparking their first confrontation.

Act 2: Planning and Conflict (30-90 minutes) The group recruits younger allies, with Jade hacking Morty’s servers to reveal his app manipulates data to favor younger women. They devise three simultaneous revenge plans:

• Elise infiltrates Hollywood by producing a satirical film about Morty, with Chalamet’s help.
• Brenda uses her real estate connections to tank Morty’s property values, leading to a hilarious yacht chase scene.
• Annie launches a viral social media campaign, turning #FirstWivesRevenge into a global trend.

Tensions rise when Morty discovers their plan and offers each woman a $10 million “settlement” to back off. The act’s climax is a family dinner where the trio exposes Morty’s secrets to his children, highlighted by Midler’s improvised rap diss track.

Act 3: Climax and Resolution (90-110 minutes) At Morty’s app launch event at the Met Gala, the group unleashes their secret weapon: a virus coded by Jade that makes the app match Morty with himself in ads. Shelly defects, revealing she was manipulated. Morty’s empire crumbles as his app faces a class-action lawsuit for gender discrimination. The film ends on a heartwarming note: the trio establishes the “Wives’ Legacy Fund” to support middle-aged women entrepreneurs. The final scene shows them dancing through New York streets to Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing,” symbolizing their unyielding strength.

Critical Reception and Cultural Impact

With a 78% audience score and 65% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, The First Wives Club 2 is praised for updating its feminist message without feeling preachy. Critics note some younger generation subplots feel forced, but overall, the film is a feel-good triumph for women of all ages. It cleverly critiques ageism and “tech bro” culture while reminding viewers that age is just a number, not a limitation.

For fans of the original, this sequel is a must-watch treat. Stream it on Paramount+ for laughs and inspiration! What are your thoughts on this comeback? Let me know!