Bartleby

Play trailer

Bartleby

PG-13

Released May 24, 2002

1h 22m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

36%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A manager (David Paymer) hires a strange employee (Crispin Glover) who, at first, is exceptionally efficient but then refuses to work.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Bartleby is a rather dull affair, stretched over a too-long running time.

Read Critics Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Rated: 2/4

Oct 15, 2009

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Jamie Russell

BBC.com

Rated: 2/5

Jan 13, 2004

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

It turns into a bone-dry comedy with enough weird touches to earn it a deserved cult status.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 6, 2024

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Glover carries the film but ultimately his performance is for naught.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 2, 2020

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

bryan b

I would have preferred not to have wasted time with this garbage.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Odd, awkward, funny and yet tragic look at the way society deals with people who just can't seem to fit in. Piscopo is hilarious, as usual: "What the hell are you complaining about? . . .I do love you, baby . . . Well yeah, I love her too . . . But it's two completely different types of of love - - equally beautiful. . ."

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is the type of art film that requires some patience and a desire to discern message. Having read the original story and seen the short film in high school, this modern adaptation takes some creative license, yet sticks to the general plot. It's about mental health and how Bartleby draws a successful and well-aligned businessman into the world of mania. But no matter how he attmpts to help, it is for not. And this is the sad commetary on mental illness in general, but at the same time, the businessman becomes obsessed with Bartleby's trauma, so enraptured he becomes Bartleby. Great film

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'd prefer not to leave a comment.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

85% I prefer not to...write a detailed account of what I thought of the film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fans of crisp in clover will enjoy it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jonathan Parker

Director

David Paymer

The Boss

Crispin Glover

Bartleby

Glenne Headly

Vivian

Joe Piscopo

Rocky

Maury Chaykin

Ernie

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

In Good Company

83%

54%

In Good Company

Watchlist

The Big Bounce

16%

24%

The Big Bounce

Watchlist

Driving Lessons

49%

71%

Driving Lessons

Watchlist

Bigger Than the Sky

12%

54%

Bigger Than the Sky

Watchlist

Calendar Girls

73%

67%

Calendar Girls

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

A manager (David Paymer) hires a strange employee (Crispin Glover) who, at first, is exceptionally efficient but then refuses to work.

Director: Jonathan Parker
Producer: Jonathan Parker
Screenwriter: Jonathan Parker, Catherine DiNapoli, Herman Melville
Production Co: Parker Film Company
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $141.4K
Runtime: 1h 22m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now