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As Good as It Gets

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for As Good as It Gets PG-13 Released Dec 19, 1997 2h 18m Romance Comedy LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 85 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.
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As Good as It Gets

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter 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. Dec 23, 2019 Full Review Anupama Chopra Film Companion This is the stuff of formula but director James L. Brooks and co-writer Mark Andrus elevate it with terrific writing. Aug 28, 2018 Full Review Jason Bailey Vice 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. Jan 2, 2018 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ Despite seemingly being given pretty much free rein to ham things up mercilessly, he [Jack Nicholson] shines without ever becoming too much. Rated: 4/5 Aug 28, 2023 Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) A charming romantic comedy that will make you laugh and feel good. Excellent performances all around. Rated: A- Jan 19, 2023 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight 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. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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R T Jack Nicholson is terrific in this film but the film itself, though watchable, is a lesson on emasculation where, like Scrooge, you're only seen as a "good guy" if you splash the cash and do favours for people ie become a mug Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/20/25 Full Review Audience Member It was a nice movie overall Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review Roberto T Not as bad as you'd think Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/26/25 Full Review GM H Fantastic characters, story line, humor, plot and all around Done right! Loved this movie!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/30/24 Full Review stephen b What makes this great is that as different as three characters are, these are the same three people who would find each other at a workplace. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/15/24 Full Review Jake of all T Easily one of my favorite movies of all time. Jack Nicholson is pure. Crazy in this and it just works out so well. There are a lot of good insights into this movie such as the development of found family. Before found, family became that the daily Norm in most all of movies. It also had a very awesome take on acceptance of homosexuality before that was actually really a thing, especially amongst mainstream society. Remember this was 1997. Some people say that the plot doesn't get resolved but they don't understand that the plot is two things Acceptance of circumstances Recognition that this might just the as good as it gets. There are many, many wonderful one-liners. And again, the plot is about learning to accept what cannot be changed and to change yourself In order to change your life. In a lot of ways this movie walked so that Gran Torino can run. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review Read all reviews
As Good as It Gets

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Cast & Crew

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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

Movie Clips

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As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Sell Crazy Someplace Else As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Sell Crazy Someplace Else 1:34 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - The Greatest Woman Alive As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - The Greatest Woman Alive 2:13 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Verdell the Dog 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 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? As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Who Needs These Thoughts? 2:13 As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - Good Times, Noodle Salad 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 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? As Good as It Gets: Official Clip - How Do You Write Women So Well? 1:57 View more videos

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As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets: Trailer 1 As Good as It Gets: Trailer 1 2:31 View more videos
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As Good as It Gets

As Good as It Gets (1997) As Good as It Gets (1997) As Good as It Gets (1997) As Good as It Gets (1997) As Good as It Gets (1997) As Good as It Gets (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

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)
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