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Best in Show

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Best in Show

PG-13

Released Sep 29, 2000

1h 30m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them.

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Critics Consensus

A fine example of writer-director-star Christopher Guest's gift for improv comedy, Best in Show boasts an appealingly quirky premise and a brilliantly talented cast.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Guest seems to know just how far he can stretch reality without losing the crucial texture of verisimilitude. This is a comedy even cat lovers might adore.

Mar 7, 2018

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Hilarious and offbeat, but humor is pretty grownup.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 14, 2010

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Mark Bourne

Film.com

...it's always a pleasure to watch this ensemble of gifted talents do what they do best -- be spontaneous and funny and surprising. What we get is a master-class demonstration of the distinction between comic actors and comedians who try to act.

Feb 8, 2008

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

one of the best comedies ever made.

Mar 23, 2025

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

A great Guest movie depends on his massive casts entertaining across the board, and Best in Show hits a sweet spot where a half-dozen members of his recurring troupe... project all their insecurities and obsessions onto their nonplussed animals.

Jan 22, 2025

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...often feels much, much longer than its 90 minutes...

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 17, 2021

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Tom F

My favorite Christopher Guest mockumentary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

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Scott G

Easily one of my all time favorite movies. So many funny, quotable lines. The entire cast is outstanding and Fred Willard is a damn genius.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

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Julian S

BEST IN SHOW is a masterclass in comedic improvisation, growing funnier with each viewing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

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Jeffrey N

Doesn't deserve the rating it has. It has some funny moments, but they are few and far between, if you have a very dry sense of humor, then you'll probably love this. The story itself was lackluster and the resolution was underwhelming, it was more focused on the characters and their journey, but most of the time it's just like watching a boring reality TV show.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

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Alexandre N

Gotta start that I'm not a big mockumentary fan, but I loved the theme of the movie. That's why I gave it a go. Some character arcs were fun to follow, but it was uneven to some others.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

Full Review

Valerie H

This is one of the funniest movie ever. Perhaps you have to be a dog-owner to really appreciate it - which I am - but it is definitely in my Top 10 favourite movies of all time. Fred Willard is just brilliant! All of the actors are great in it and the fact that most of the script is improvised is so impressive.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/31/24

Full Review

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Synopsis

The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them.

Director: Christopher Guest
Producer: Karen Murphy
Screenwriter: Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 29, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.6M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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