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World's Greatest Dad

Play trailer Poster for World's Greatest Dad R Released Aug 21, 2009 1h 39m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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World's Greatest Dad

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Rick R I did not enjoy this movie. I was amazed at Robin Williams outstanding dramatic acting. Robin Williams is great at comedy, he might be even better in drama. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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