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As Good as It Gets

PG-13 Released Dec 19, 1997 2h 18m Romance Comedy LGBTQ+ TRAILER for As Good as It Gets: Trailer 1 List
86% Tomatometer 85 Reviews 86% Audience Score 250,000+ Ratings
Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction who's rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), but when he has to look after Simon's dog, he begins to soften and, if still not completely over his problems, finds he can conduct a relationship with the only waitress (Helen Hunt) at the local diner who'll serve him. Read More Read Less
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As Good as It Gets

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As Good as It Gets

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Critics Consensus

James L. Brooks and Jack Nicholson, doing what they do best, combine smart dialogue and flawless acting to squeeze fresh entertainment value out of the romantic-comedy genre.

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Critics Reviews

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Duane Byrge Hollywood Reporter With terrific lead performances by Jack Nicholson as a demonic novelist and Helen Hunt as a Manhattan waitress, As Good as It Gets is as good as mature adult entertainment gets on the silver screen. Dec 23, 2019 Full Review Anupama Chopra Film Companion This is the stuff of formula but director James L. Brooks and co-writer Mark Andrus elevate it with terrific writing. Aug 28, 2018 Full Review Jason Bailey Vice On one hand, it's Brooks's film that most betrays his TV sitcom roots; it's also one of his more ambitious works, packing in subplots and subjects by the handful-indicative of a filmmaker who seems to genuinely struggle with the confines of the genre. Jan 2, 2018 Full Review James Croot Stuff.co.nz Despite seemingly being given pretty much free rein to ham things up mercilessly, he [Jack Nicholson] shines without ever becoming too much. Rated: 4/5 Aug 28, 2023 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) A charming romantic comedy that will make you laugh and feel good. Excellent performances all around. Rated: A- Jan 19, 2023 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight James L. Brooks’ screenplay is fantastic, we are in their lives, it feels as if we are PART of their lives and watching it from right up close. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ben S Amazing film that I didn't see till 16 years after its release. JN & HH ARE AT THERE BEST . Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/31/24 Full Review Ollie S With the perfect ingredients, the perfect recipe, and the most perfect cooks, you end up getting the perfect meal. As good As it Get's is exactly that, the best of the best, a film that only comes along once every 25 years. A once in a lifetime experience is seeing this movie for the first time and then the 20 times after that. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review John M Endless unbearable cringe, maybe there was a different standard in 1997, but it is unwatchable now. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/24 Full Review Aidan M Nicholson in most of his films is a jerk, especially in this one, but this film shows the complexities of one's life and how people change, about how you think of man and take away reason and accountability. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/27/24 Full Review Marcelo J Brilliant!. Nicholson and Hunt superb work. Dialogues are stunning. Each word Nicholson says was carefully selected to destroy his counterpart (Hunt character) as it was part of a powerful atomic bomb. Very well written, directed and performed film. A must seen film, no doubt. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/24 Full Review Andrew H A great film most of my friends have never seen. One of the best screenplays of all time and best lead performances in a "romcom" though I'd say it's more a dramedy. Jack Nicholson's character, Melvin Udall, is hilarious. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Sell Crazy Someplace Else As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Sell Crazy Someplace Else 1:34 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - The Greatest Woman Alive As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - The Greatest Woman Alive 2:13 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Verdell the Dog As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Verdell the Dog 2:01 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - You Make Me Want to Be a Better Man As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - You Make Me Want to Be a Better Man 2:01 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Who Needs These Thoughts? As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Who Needs These Thoughts? 2:13 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Good Times, Noodle Salad As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Good Times, Noodle Salad 2:12 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - We're All Gonna Die Soon As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - We're All Gonna Die Soon 2:01 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - How Do You Write Women So Well? As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - How Do You Write Women So Well? 1:57 View more videos

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As Good as It Gets

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Movie Info

Synopsis Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) is an obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction who's rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor Simon (Greg Kinnear), but when he has to look after Simon's dog, he begins to soften and, if still not completely over his problems, finds he can conduct a relationship with the only waitress (Helen Hunt) at the local diner who'll serve him.
Director
James L. Brooks
Producer
James L. Brooks, Bridget Johnson, Kristi Zea
Screenwriter
Mark Andrus, Mark Andrus, James L. Brooks
Distributor
TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Gracie Films
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 19, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$147.6M
Runtime
2h 18m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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