As Good as It Gets

Play trailer

2:31

As Good as It Gets

PG-13

1997

2h 18m

Romance

Comedy

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

84 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

12/23/2019

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.

Go to Full Review

Anupama Chopra

Film Companion

08/28/2018

This is the stuff of formula but director James L. Brooks and co-writer Mark Andrus elevate it with terrific writing.

Go to Full Review

Jason Bailey

Vice

01/02/2018

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.

Go to Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

08/28/2023

4/5

Despite seemingly being given pretty much free rein to ham things up mercilessly, he [Jack Nicholson] shines without ever becoming too much.

Go to Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

01/19/2023

A-

A charming romantic comedy that will make you laugh and feel good. Excellent performances all around.

Go to Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

01/07/2023

3.5/4

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Cork B

@RT87142816 3d

If you are going to do a romcom, do it like this. Not really my kind of movie, but it is so well done it is hard to stop watching. Two (or 3 maybe) damaged people get together to make their lives better. It is funny and distressing and all the things you had hoped for in a modern day romance. My main knock here is, yeah he is Jack Nicholson, but by all that is good out there the guy is way too old for her... I was thinking maybe he should get together with the mother.

See more

Levi J

@Lev77 Mar 29

Just plain wonderful acting from Nicholson & Hunt in one of the greatest romantic comedies!

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone Feb 1

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e as atuações do Jack nicholson e da helen hunt salvaram o filme.

See more

Oggie B

@OGDawg Nov 29

As Good As It Gets features a masterclass in writing, directing, and acting while reminding us that people can grow and evolve in their lives

See more

Lisa J

@RT17184382 Nov 23

Still a great romantic dramedy of the ’90s. Jack Nicholson is great; I'm not sure why Helen Hunt is interested, but it's a terrific story.

See more

Blobbo X

@Blobbo Nov 13

Memorably memorable. Maybe bit too long.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

James L. Brooks

Director

Jack Nicholson

Melvin Udall

Helen Hunt

Carol Connelly

Greg Kinnear

Simon Bishop

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Frank Sachs

Skeet Ulrich

Vincent Lopiano

As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Sell Crazy Someplace Else

1:34

As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - The Greatest Woman Alive

2:13

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

2:01

As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Who Needs These Thoughts?

2:13

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

2:01

As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - How Do You Write Women So Well?

1:57

View more videos

Three to Tango

29%

49%

Three to Tango

Watchlist

The Butcher's Wife

28%

30%

The Butcher's Wife

Watchlist

I'll Do Anything

65%

41%

I'll Do Anything

Watchlist

Nina's Heavenly Delights

16%

64%

Nina's Heavenly Delights

Watchlist

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

74%

65%

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

UK Critics Consensus: Tropic Thunder Soldiers On; Then She Found Me Is Found Out

Teaser Bulletin: "Spider-Man 3"

As Good as It Gets: Trailer 1

2:31

View more videos

View more photos

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
Screenwriter: Mark Andrus
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Gracie Films, TriStar Pictures
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)

Most Popular at Home Now