World's Greatest Dad

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World's Greatest Dad

R

Released Aug 21, 2009

1h 39m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

117 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When the son of high school English teacher Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) accidentally kills himself, Clayton writes a fake suicide note to evade scandal. At first uninterested in the death, the school is taken by the letter after it is published in the school paper. Hoping to claim the literary renown he has always wanted, Lance writes a diary, too. Fame and intrigue follow and Lance receives the attention he always wished for, but finds keeping his cool might be easier written than done.

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Critics Consensus

World's Greatest Dad is a risky, deadpan, dark comedy that effectively explores the nature of posthumous cults of celebrity.

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Anna Smith

metro.co.uk

The film's direction isn't always confident - there are baggy sections, and it's rarely deeply moving - but it is consistently funny.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 24, 2018

Full Review

Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 18, 2011

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

World’s Greatest Dad is more tender and heartfelt because of Williams’ performance. And when it’s all over, no matter how obscure the plot or demented the scenario, Goldthwait has constructed a welcomed little indie comedy of the unlikeliest kind.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 4, 2023

Full Review

James McMahon

NME (New Musical Express)

I enjoyed this film a lot. I'd go as far as to say that this is best film I have ever seen about someone who masturbates themselves to death.

Rated: 4/5

May 20, 2021

Full Review

David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Not as out-and-out funny as it should be nor as emotionally poignant as it could be...

Rated: 3/5

Oct 11, 2019

Full Review

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Drew B

A heart wrenching movie. It navigates some tough topics. It drags a little. But tis definitely worth seeing once.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Audience Member

This might be the most overlooked movie I’ve ever seen. It’s funny, touching, and very entertaining throughout the whole runtime. Robin Williams does a great job as well as Daryl Sabara

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

Alec C

Parenthood is not an easy task, especially if you're son is such a jerk! A struggling writer discovers that his son has accidentally killed himself and tries to hide the truth by falsifying a suicide note, which results in a media storm that sweeps him away. Dark and cynical, this film proves that just because people claim to be supportive do not mean sincerely!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Chris J

Get in touch with your inner self and find the time to watch this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

Full Review

G.E. A

It's the only Robin Williams movie I've ever seen that didn't make me laugh once, except near the end when it showed his penis and testicles, which was just an awkward unexpected kind of laugh. The writing and directing was straight out of a Hallmark movie and I was surprised they were done by Bobcat Goldthwait. On the upside, it gives me hope as an aspiring screenwriter because if this schlock can be produced…

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

Aaron S

Just a blisteringly dark comedy that really successfully navigates incredibly murky territory. Its exploration of morality, symbols, and desire are both hilarious and thought provoking. It's pretty amazing how this movie uses the most uncomfortable circumstances and at times deplorable characters to run the gambit of human emotion - melancholy, anger, bliss, and freedom. Robin Williams is great here and don't imagine I'll be forgetting World's Greatest Dad any time soon. How could I? There's really nothing like it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

Full Review

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Bobcat Goldthwait

Director

Robin Williams

Lance Clayton

Alexie Gilmore

Claire

Daryl Sabara

Kyle

Tom Kenny

Jerry Klein

Lorraine Nicholson

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Synopsis

When the son of high school English teacher Lance Clayton (Robin Williams) accidentally kills himself, Clayton writes a fake suicide note to evade scandal. At first uninterested in the death, the school is taken by the letter after it is published in the school paper. Hoping to claim the literary renown he has always wanted, Lance writes a diary, too. Fame and intrigue follow and Lance receives the attention he always wished for, but finds keeping his cool might be easier written than done.

Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Producer: Tim Perell, Howard Gertler, Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly
Screenwriter: Bobcat Goldthwait
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Magnolia Pictures, Darko Entertainment
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Crude and Sexual Content|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 21, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 9, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $221.2K
Runtime: 1h 39m

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