Click here to copy URL

As Good As It Gets

7.6

135,088

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

Flatrate

Rent

buy

Pro reviews

Links

Original title

As Good as It Gets

Year

1997

Running time

138 min.

Country

United States

Director

James L. Brooks

Screenwriter

Mark Andrus, James L. Brooks

Cast

Music

Hans Zimmer

Cinematography

John Bailey

Producer

Gracie Films. Distributor: TriStar Pictures

Genre

Comedy. Drama. Romance | Romantic Comedy. Comedy-Drama. Gay & Lesbian

Synopsis

In New York, Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is the most dysfunctional of men, an acid-tongued romance novelist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. As part of Melvin's unwavering daily routine, he consumes an artery-hardening breakfast of bacon, sausages and eggs at a local cafe. The only waitress willing to stand up to his sarcastic tirades is Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt), a single mother struggling to raise her chronically asthmatic son. Simon Nye (Greg Kinnear) has the distinct misfortune of living across the hall from Melvin. A talented artist, Simon is the darling of New York's art world, reason enough to draw Melvin's verbal fire. These three, none of whom has a chance in hell of finding real happiness, discover their fates intertwined because of a fourth character: an ugly little dog named Verdall.

Rankings Position

#17 Best LGTBIQ+ Productions
#66 Best Movies of the '90s
#105 Best Romantic Movies in the history of film
#123 Best Comedy Movies

Awards: 1997: 2 Oscar: Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Actress (Helen Hunt). 7 Nominations

1997: 3 Golden Globes: Best Movie - Comedy, Actor and Actress. 6 Nominations

1997: 2 Awards National Board of Review: Best Actor, Supp. Actor (Kinnear)

1997: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Nom. Best Actress (Hunt) & Actor (Nicholson)

1997: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Actor (Nicholson). 2 Nominations

1997: Producers Guild Awards (PGA): Nominated for Best Film

Show all

Critics' reviews

"Nicholson (...) is delightfully reinvigorated by Melvin's miserableness. (...) Mr. Brooks finds plenty of time for sharp writing and witty diversions."

Janet Maslin: The New York Times
"This film (...) creates memorable people, but is not quite willing to follow them down unconventional paths. (...) Yet there's so much good here, in the dialogue, the performances and the observation, that the movie succeeds at many moments (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of four)""

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"In 'As Good as It Gets', his (Brooks) mastery of the nuances of language and emotion has turned the most unlikely material into the best and funniest romantic comedy of the year"

Kenneth Turan: Los Angeles Times
"A sporadically funny romantic comedy with all the dramatic plausibility and tonal consistency of a TV variety show."

Todd McCarthy: Variety
"When movie magic works, it works"

William Fischer: Collider
"Nicholson, Hunt, and Kinnear will win you over as they turn the film into a valentine to New York's walking wounded"

Jay Carr: Boston Globe
"Smart, funny and often viciously cruel, this is a romantic comedy for people who are too old to believe in fairyales"

Ann Hornaday: Baltimore Sun

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

5 My Favorite Comedies (657)
6 My Favorite Romantic Comedies (316)
23 Funniest Movies Ever (86)
33 Movies with a Great Male Lead (110)
36 My Favorites from the 90s (224)
54 Movies that Don't Seem that Special but are Very Special to Me (63)
57 Movies I Liked More the Second Time I Watched Them (23)
78 Movies with a Great Female Lead (43)
94 Movies with Great Screenplays (43)

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

As Good As It Gets

User history