Skip to main content
Horror Cult Classic

In Stepford, even the teens aren’t safe from a robotic makeover.

THE STEPFORD CHILDREN

Not everyone's perfect... yet.

1987 · 1h 36m · NR · Horror / Mystery / Science Fiction / Thriller / TV Movie · IMDB TMDB

In this sequel to The Stepford Wives, Steven and Laura Harding (along with their kids David and Mary) have moved to the quiet community of Stepford, CT. Steven joins the men's club, which is still assimilating their wives into robots. This time, they have begun to turn their out of control teens into robots as well. Once they are assimilated, they are obedient, homework loving, big band dancing droids. Laura, David, and Mary stumble onto this mystery, and they must avoid Steven's plans to turn them into robots.

Quick Answer

What is The Stepford Children about?

The Stepford Children is a 1987 American horror, mystery, science fiction, and thriller TV movie directed by Alan J. Levi about a family that moves to Stepford, Connecticut, where a secret society is turning rebellious teenagers into obedient robots.

Programmer's Pick

Stepford’s PTA meetings come with a side of microchips and mind control. This sequel doubles down on suburban paranoia—now with teens programmed for homework and big band instead of rebellion and rock. For anyone who thought the original was just a wives’ tale, this one proves the kids aren’t all right, either.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

When Laura and Steven Harding relocate to the suburban enclave of Stepford, Connecticut, their family seeks a fresh start. While Laura focuses on her legal ambitions, Steven unsettles the household by joining the local Men's Association, a group with a reputation for assimilating wives into robotic perfection. This time, however, the town’s mysterious agenda has expanded its reach: teenagers, once unruly and free-spirited, are being transformed into model citizens—robotic, obedient, and eerily devoid of personality. As the Hardings try to adjust, they quickly realize there’s something deeply wrong beneath Stepford’s polished surface, and the pressure to conform may be more sinister than they ever expected.

Details & Specs

Director
Alan J. Levi
Writers
Ira Levin, William Bleich
Release
1987
Runtime
1h 36m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
Genesis - Stadt der lebenden Toten

Why This Matters

This made-for-television film is the second sequel inspired by Ira Levin's novel The Stepford Wives and the 1975 film adaptation, continuing the franchise's exploration of suburban horror and conformity.
— SassyFlix Curator

Why Cult

Robotic Teens

Stepford’s signature assimilation program sets its sights on teenage troublemakers, turning them into eerily perfect students.

Suburban Paranoia

The film channels small-town anxieties into a blend of horror, mystery, and sci-fi, with a cheerfully sinister neighborhood twist.

Sequel to Stepford Wives

This TV movie expands the infamous Stepford mythos, raising the stakes by targeting the next generation.

Conformity vs. Individuality

Watch as rebellious youth and free spirits are pitted against a secret society obsessed with order and obedience.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Men's Association resumes assimilation project

Threat

Teenagers are turned into robots

Effect

Loss of individuality and autonomy

Setting

Suburban Stepford, Connecticut

Questions from the Vault

Who directed The Stepford Children? +

The Stepford Children was directed by Alan J. Levi.

How long is The Stepford Children? +

The Stepford Children has a runtime of 96 minutes.

What genre is The Stepford Children? +

The Stepford Children is a horror, mystery, science fiction, thriller, and TV movie.

When was The Stepford Children released? +

The Stepford Children was released in 1987.

How are the teenagers in Stepford being assimilated? +

The Men's Association has begun turning out-of-control teens into obedient, personality-free robots, just as they did with the town's wives.

Trailers & Clips