20th Century Fox first optioned Warren Adler's 1981 novel in October 1985, but after that deal expired, producer Polly Platt brought the project to James L. Brooks' attention.

Danny DeVito cast Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner because of his longtime friendship with Douglas and their prior collaborations with Turner on Romancing the Stone (1984) and its sequel The Jewel of the Nile (1985).

James L. Brooks initially met with Danny DeVito to direct the film before DeVito had even made his directorial debut with Throw Momma from the Train (1987), and the discussions continued through that film's production.

Principal photography began in Los Angeles on March 21, 1989, then moved to Coupeville, Washington a month later, with filming lasting until July 25.

The film's title alludes to the historical Wars of the Roses between the houses of York and Lancaster, playing on the family name Rose of the main couple.

In Germany, the film was such a huge success that its German title Der Rosenkrieg became synonymous with a high-conflict divorce and is still regularly used in German media today.

The film was preceded in theaters by 'Family Therapy', a Simpsons short from The Tracey Ullman Show, which was also included on the film's UK and Australian VHS rental releases; producer James L. Brooks and actor Dan Castellaneta worked on this project outside of their Simpsons duties.

The opening title sequence was created by celebrated designer Saul Bass together with Elaine Makatura Bass.