Updated Oct. 26, 2026: expanded with what Michael Douglas wrote in his memoir, Kathleen Turner’s full response, a guide to every movie the two made together and where to watch them now.
Quick answer: In his memoir One Helluva Ride, released Oct. 6, 2026, Michael Douglas, 82, says he and Kathleen Turner had a secret romance while filming Romancing the Stone in Mexico in the early 1980s. Both had denied it for about 40 years. Turner, 72, told PEOPLE: “Good heavens, what a fuss about something 40 years ago!” She added that she loves Douglas and looks forward to the book. The pair made three movies together and reunited on Netflix’s The Kominsky Method. Most of the movies can be rented for about $3.99.
Here’s what the memoir says, how Turner reacted, and an easy guide to watching their films this fall.
Turner and Douglas on screen: every project
| Title | Year | Their roles | Where to watch (as of Oct. 26, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romancing the Stone | 1984 | Turner as novelist Joan Wilder; Douglas as adventurer Jack Colton | Free with ads on Tubi (listed as leaving soon); rent for $3.99 |
| The Jewel of the Nile | 1985 | Joan and Jack return for a sequel | Rent for $3.99 on Amazon, Apple TV or Fandango at Home |
| The War of the Roses | 1989 | A married couple whose divorce turns into a war; directed by Danny DeVito | Listed on Paramount+ by streaming guides; also available to rent |
| The Kominsky Method (TV) | 2021 | Turner plays Roz, the ex-wife of Douglas’s character, acting coach Sandy Kominsky (Season 3) | Netflix |
Streaming deals change often. Check JustWatch or the app itself before you pay for a service just for one movie.
What Michael Douglas revealed
According to an excerpt shared by PEOPLE, Douglas writes that he and Turner fell hard for each other while shooting Romancing the Stone in Mexico. He says he was separated from his first wife, Diandra Luker, at the time, though they were still legally married.
Douglas writes that the two kept the relationship private. He says they denied it through Romancing the Stone, The Jewel of the Nile and The War of the Roses, and even during press for The Kominsky Method a few years ago.
In his telling, the romance ended after Diandra visited the set in Mexico with their young son, Cameron. He says Turner stepped back once it was clear he was still married. Douglas later returned to his marriage. He and Diandra divorced years later, and he married Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2000.
These details are Douglas’s own memories of events from four decades ago. Turner hasn’t offered her own account beyond her short statement.
How Kathleen Turner responded
Turner kept it light. Her statement to PEOPLE was short, warm and a little amused. She called the attention “a fuss” over something from 40 years ago and said she loves Douglas.
Reports say Douglas asked Turner before including the story in his book. That helps explain her calm reaction. There’s no sign of a feud. The two worked together again decades later and have stayed friendly in public.
Kathleen Turner’s career beyond Douglas
Turner’s work goes far past the films she made with Douglas. She was the sultry speaking voice of Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). TV fans know her as Chandler’s father, Charles Bing, on Friends.
She has also built a long stage career. She earned Tony nominations for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway. In recent years she has toured with a one-woman cabaret show. Her deep, raspy voice remains one of the most recognizable in Hollywood.
A quick timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Romancing the Stone becomes a hit and makes Turner a major star. |
| 1985 | The Jewel of the Nile reunites the pair. |
| 1989 | The War of the Roses casts them as a couple at war, with Danny DeVito directing. |
| 2000 | Douglas divorces Diandra and marries Catherine Zeta-Jones. |
| 2021 | Turner joins Douglas in Season 3 of Netflix’s The Kominsky Method. |
| Early Oct. 2026 | Excerpts of Douglas’s memoir reveal the romance; Turner responds. |
| Oct. 6, 2026 | One Helluva Ride is released. |
Also read: Best Free Streaming Services in 2026 (No Subscription, No Card)
How to watch their movies for less
- Start with free options. Free, ad-supported apps like Tubi rotate classic films in and out. Romancing the Stone was on Tubi in late October, but it was listed as leaving soon.
- Rent instead of subscribing. If a movie isn’t on a service you already pay for, a $3.99 rental is usually cheaper than a new subscription.
- Check what you already have. If you pay for Paramount+, look for The War of the Roses there first. If you have Netflix, The Kominsky Method is included.
- Buy only your favorite. Digital copies run about $5 to $10. That makes sense only if you’ll rewatch it.
- Try your library. Many public libraries lend DVDs and Blu-rays for free, and some offer free movie apps with a library card.
Made-up example (for illustration only): These are made-up numbers to show the math.
Linda in Ohio wants a movie night with all three films. She rents Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile for $3.99 each and watches The War of the Roses on the Paramount+ plan she already has. Her total is $7.98. Signing up for a new service she doesn’t need would have cost more than that.
Why Romancing the Stone still holds up
The film follows Joan Wilder, a shy romance writer from New York, who flies to Colombia to save her kidnapped sister. She ends up teamed with Jack Colton, a rough-edged adventurer. Robert Zemeckis directed it, a year before Back to the Future.
The movie mixes adventure, comedy and romance in a way that still feels fresh. Douglas also produced it. Fans have long pointed to the chemistry between the leads. Now we know why.
The War of the Roses is a very different ride. It’s a dark comedy about a divorce that gets out of hand, and it shows how much range the two actors had together.
More of their best movies, apart
If the trilogy leaves you wanting more, both stars have long lists of hits. Check your apps for these:
| Kathleen Turner | Michael Douglas |
|---|---|
| Body Heat (1981), her breakout role | Wall Street (1987), which won him the Oscar for best actor |
| Prizzi’s Honor (1985), a mob comedy with Jack Nicholson | Fatal Attraction (1987), the thriller with Glenn Close |
| Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), which earned her an Oscar nomination | The China Syndrome (1979), which he also produced |
| Serial Mom (1994), a cult dark comedy | Ant-Man (2015), as scientist Hank Pym |
Older films move between services often. A quick search on JustWatch shows where each one is today, including free options.
About Douglas’s memoir
One Helluva Ride covers Douglas’s life and career, from growing up as Kirk Douglas’s son to his Oscar-winning work as a producer and actor. The Turner chapter is the part getting the most attention, but it’s only one piece of the book.
If you’re thinking about buying it, check your library’s e-book app first. New memoirs often have long waitlists, so place a hold early.
Recommended products
- One Helluva Ride by Michael Douglas
- Romancing the Stone on Blu-ray
- The War of the Roses on Blu-ray
- Send Yourself Roses, Kathleen Turner’s memoir
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Nexgen Headlines earns from qualifying purchases.
FAQ
Did Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas date?
Douglas says yes. In his 2026 memoir he writes that they had a romance while filming Romancing the Stone, when he was separated from his first wife. Both had publicly denied it for decades.
What did Kathleen Turner say about Michael Douglas’s memoir?
She told PEOPLE, “Good heavens, what a fuss about something 40 years ago!” and said she loves Douglas and looks forward to reading the book.
When did One Helluva Ride come out?
Michael Douglas’s memoir was released on Oct. 6, 2026.
How many movies did Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas make together?
Three: Romancing the Stone (1984), The Jewel of the Nile (1985) and The War of the Roses (1989). They also appeared together in Season 3 of Netflix’s The Kominsky Method in 2021.
Where can I watch Romancing the Stone?
As of late October 2026 it was free with ads on Tubi, though listed as leaving soon. You can also rent it for about $3.99 on Amazon, Apple TV or Fandango at Home.
Bottom line
Michael Douglas has confirmed what fans long suspected: he and Kathleen Turner had a real romance on the set of Romancing the Stone. Turner shrugged it off with a smile. If the news has you in the mood for a rewatch, you can catch all three of their films for under $10 by mixing free apps, rentals and services you already pay for.
Last reviewed: Oct. 26, 2026. Streaming availability changes often; check before you rent or subscribe.
Sources: PEOPLE (memoir excerpt and Turner’s statement); AAP via Illawarra Mercury; ARY News; JustWatch: Romancing the Stone; JustWatch: The Jewel of the Nile.
Featured image: Kathleen Turner (right) greets President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan at a Kennedy Center Honors reception in the 1980s. Photo: White House Photographic Office / Ronald Reagan Presidential Library via Wikimedia Commons, public domain; edited by Nexgen Headlines.
