Best in Show

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Best in Show

PG-13

2000

1h 30m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

116 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

03/07/2018

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.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

10/14/2010

3/5

Hilarious and offbeat, but humor is pretty grownup.

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Mark Bourne

Film.com

02/08/2008

...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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 9

3.5/4

The movie ascends to another level with the second-half introduction of Fred Willard as commentator Buck Laughlin.

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

Mar 23

one of the best comedies ever made.

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

01/22/2025

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.

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Tyler P.

@TylerPhoenixMD 2d

I like dry comedy but this is extra dry no butter toast. Tries to be funny, but it ends up not.

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Gordon M.

@gordumb 3d

It wasn't very funny to me. I was expecting better with so many familiar faces. Might just be a generational gap though.

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Corbin S

@Corbs1110 3d

I wasn’t sure how invested I could get in a movie about a dog show… and somehow I ended up laughing way more than expected. It’s such a low-stakes, easygoing comedy, but the characters make it absolutely worth it. Fred Willard is the clear MVP. He’s laugh-out-loud funny with major "Anchorman" energy, and you can almost feel the improv happening in real time. The whole thing has strong "Office"-style awkward humor, with interviews and over-the-top side bits that somehow make a potentially boring event genuinely entertaining. The dog show itself works perfectly as a backdrop for weird humans taking things way too seriously. If you’re in the mood for a light, character-driven comedy and just want a solid chuckle, this is an easy recommendation.

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Goose R.

@rodrigug Feb 20

I watched this movie long time ago and didn’t like it. Watched it again because it came up as a suggestion on Netflix because I think 2 reasons. It was the dog show competition and Catherine O’Hara recent passing. It’s a mockumentary about dog show contestants. It has some parts that are really funny but for the most part it’s just ok. Bonus. My favorite vegan actor stars , Jennifer Coolidge. 🍿🍿🍿/5 on Netflix

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Charles B.

@charlesbrand Feb 19

Outstanding! Loved It!

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Victoria A

@Victoria_A Feb 16

Very funny and lots of dogs. Fab mockumentary style. What more do you need?

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Parker Posey

Meg Swan

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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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