Monkey Business

Released Sep 17, 1931

1h 18m

Comedy

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90%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

84%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

The four Marx Brothers star in their first film written specifically for the screen as stowaways on an ocean liner bound for New York. Each of them has a separate adventure on board; from matinee idol Zeppo's romancing of a bootlegger's daughter to Groucho having to avoid the attentions of gangster's moll Lucille Briggs.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Marx Brothers do Marx Brothers things in Monkey Business and it's hysterical watching them in action.

Rated: 4.5/5

Nov 16, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Watching each one try to pass himself off as Maurice Chevalier is a comic highlight.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 12, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Few bits stand out, but the shenanigans are dependable and satisfying.

Rated: 5/10

Dec 7, 2020

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Keeps plot at a minimum, anarchy at a maximum, which is a good place to be for the fearless foursome of 1930s screen comedy. [Blu-ray]

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 18, 2016

Full Review

Phil Hall

Examiner.com

A comic commotion on the ocean, via the fabulous four Marx Brothers.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 24, 2015

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Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

It's not the most dynamic and timeless of the brothers' movies but it has enough moments and lines to stand alongside any of them.

Rated: 8/10

May 13, 2014

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Ethan S

A rollicking romp, filled with the usual Marx Brothers zaniness but possibly executed better here than their previous films - perhaps not surprising as this was their first film script that was specifically written for that medium.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/30/21

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steve d

Still funny to this day.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

The best comedy movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

More anarchic shenanigans run rampant in Monkey Business, a Marx Bros. movie that (often for better, sometimes for worse) is different from the others by aiming to retain some narrative cohesion. But the core of the Marx Bros. is still here with some of their funniest gags to this point.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Ed M

Groucho's great but movie is dated.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/16/18

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Audience Member

A consistently funny comedy (with some amazing moments) but only until the characters leave the ship; after that, however, the film becomes more irregular, with jokes that don't work so well despite how addictive the Marx brothers are in nearly every scene they appear.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Norman Z. McLeod

Director

Groucho Marx

Groucho

Harpo Marx

Harpo

Chico Marx

Chico

Zeppo Marx

Zeppo

Thelma Todd

Lucille Briggs

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Synopsis

The four Marx Brothers star in their first film written specifically for the screen as stowaways on an ocean liner bound for New York. Each of them has a separate adventure on board; from matinee idol Zeppo's romancing of a bootlegger's daughter to Groucho having to avoid the attentions of gangster's moll Lucille Briggs.

Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 17, 1931, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 11, 2017
Runtime: 1h 18m