A Fish Called Wanda

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A Fish Called Wanda

R

Released Jul 15, 1988

1h 47m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

British gangster George Thomason (Tom Georgeson) and his hapless aide, Ken Pile (Michael Palin), draft a pair of arrogant Americans, grifter Wanda Gerschwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) and weapons expert Otto West (Kevin Kline), for a massive diamond heist. When the job goes badly, Wanda attempts to seduce George's stuffy lawyer, Archie Leach (John Cleese), to find out where George hid the diamonds. Meanwhile, Ken repeatedly attempts to kill an elderly woman (Patricia Hayes) who witnessed the robbery.

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Critics Consensus

Smartly written, smoothly directed, and solidly cast, A Fish Called Wanda offers a classic example of a brainy comedy with widespread appeal.

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John Pym

Sight & Sound

To those who appreciate Ealing comedy (which is to say all right-thinking people), watching the film is like chancing on a Hogarth sketch in grandmother's attic, clearly and unmistakably signed by the Master.

Jan 16, 2020

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Peter Travers

People Magazine

Putting heart and heat into a film that could have easily slid by on silliness, Cleese proves himself a master actor.

Jul 30, 2013

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

Perhaps the most unusual aspect of what is surely the year's most original and daring comedy is that John Cleese is not the funniest performer in it. Believe it or not, that honor goes to none other than the usually somber Kevin Kline.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 30, 2013

Full Review

Eoghan Lyng

PopMatters

Best of all, A Fish Called Wanda showed that Cleese – closer to 50 than his character’s age of 40 – could tackle the intricacies of romance.

Feb 3, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... one of the funniest comedies of the eighties.

Aug 19, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The bright characterizations, vivid performances, and unexpectedly uproarious set-pieces have lost little of their luster over the ensuing decades.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 22, 2021

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Gareth v

Witty, well written comedy that is filled with some fantastic characters. One of the best comedies of 1988.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $60,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

Full Review

Dana B

The bright characterizations, vivid performances, and unexpectedly uproarious set-pieces have lost little of their luster over the ensuing decades.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

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A.L.Jude P

The character development was poorly executed and lacked depth, which significantly diminished the quality of the movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Frans B

Hilarious, batsh#t crazy, breakneck speed, quick witted, intelligent and utterly ridiculously funny. Stellar cast who all shines convincingly in character. Easily the definitive comedy movie. Never a dull moment here. Absolute must see

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

Insomniac X

Screwball crime comedy comes on strong with fast-paced dialogue and a fun premise, but becomes tiring as its manic schtick carries on through the second act. Nonetheless, the performances of a talented ensemble make it hard to look away.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/10/25

Full Review

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Charles Crichton

Director

John Cleese

Director

John Cleese

Archie Leach

Jamie Lee Curtis

Wanda Gershwitz

Kevin Kline

Otto West

Michael Palin

Ken Pile

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Have You Got a Stutter?

2:25

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Fish and Chips

2:14

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Striptease Surprise

2:21

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Upside-Down Apology

1:27

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Ken's Revenge

2:31

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Apes Don't Read Philosophy

1:54

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - He Doesn't Have a Clue

2:04

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - The Language of Love

1:39

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Loosening Ken's Lips

1:28

A Fish Called Wanda: Official Clip - Otto Hates the British

1:56

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Synopsis

British gangster George Thomason (Tom Georgeson) and his hapless aide, Ken Pile (Michael Palin), draft a pair of arrogant Americans, grifter Wanda Gerschwitz (Jamie Lee Curtis) and weapons expert Otto West (Kevin Kline), for a massive diamond heist. When the job goes badly, Wanda attempts to seduce George's stuffy lawyer, Archie Leach (John Cleese), to find out where George hid the diamonds. Meanwhile, Ken repeatedly attempts to kill an elderly woman (Patricia Hayes) who witnessed the robbery.

Director: Charles Crichton, John Cleese
Producer: Michael Shamberg
Screenwriter: John Cleese
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Prominent Features
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 15, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.0M
Runtime: 1h 47m

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