Breaking the Rules

Play trailer

Breaking the Rules

PG-13

Released Oct 9, 1992

1h 40m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

4 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Terminally ill Cleveland resident Phil (Jason Bateman) arranges a get-together with his closest childhood pals, Gene (C. Thomas Howell) and Rob (Jonathan Silverman). Gene and Rob had a falling out over a woman, but they put aside their differences and agree to join Phil on a trip to Los Angeles. Their goal is to land Phil a spot as a game show contestant on "Jeopardy!" Along the way they find adventure and, in the form of spirited waitress Mary (Annie Potts), a new buddy.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Breaking the Rules is a movie about a guy who finds out he has a month to live, and decides to spend it in the worst buddy movie ever made.

Rated: 0/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 12, 2005

Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Rated: 2/5

Oct 1, 2002

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

Anemic Guy Movie. The cast tries hard, to little avail.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 25, 2002

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Good movie... has everything from laughter to tears.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This one my top 5 movies of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is not a "guy movie" or a "buddy movie". This film is a celebration of life, and how we try and complicate it, rather than enjoy it. The final scene is nothing that hasn't been done before, but is executed in a manner that is so true to the character, and his desire to see his friends happy, that it is one of the most spiritually inspiring moments I've ever experienced in film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A favourite of mine from the 90's. Jason Bateman plays a dying man who's last wish is for his 2 best friends (played by C. Thomas Howell and Jonathan Silverman) to reconcile their differences before he passes away, so they drop everything and head out on a cross country road trip to the west coast with some comic adventures.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

More crappy movies I've seen. One day I might get every movie I've seen rated. Okay probably not. Here are some bad ones......with not much to say. [b]Breaking the Rules - 1/10 [/b]Director - Neal Israel Starring - C. Thomas Howell, Jason Bateman, Jonathan Silverman, Annie Potts. [b]Backtrack - 3.5/10 [/b]Director - Dennis Hopper Starring - Dennis Hopper, Jodie Foster, Dean Stockwell, Vincent Price, John Turturro, Joe Pesci, Charlie Sheen. [b]Black Sheep - 1.5/10 [/b]Director - Penelope Spheeris Starring - David Spade, Chris Farley, Tim Matheson. [b]Bye Bye Love - 4/10 [/b]Director - Sam Weisman Starring - Paul Resier, Matthew Modine, Randy Quaid, Janeane Garofalo. [b]Casper - 3/10 [/b]Director - Brad Silberling Starring - Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Neal Israel

Director

Jason Bateman

Phil Stepler

C. Thomas Howell

Gene Michaels

Jonathan Silverman

Rob Konigsberg

Annie Potts

Mary Klinglitch

Krista Tesreau

Rob's Date

View more photos

Synopsis

Terminally ill Cleveland resident Phil (Jason Bateman) arranges a get-together with his closest childhood pals, Gene (C. Thomas Howell) and Rob (Jonathan Silverman). Gene and Rob had a falling out over a woman, but they put aside their differences and agree to join Phil on a trip to Los Angeles. Their goal is to land Phil a spot as a game show contestant on "Jeopardy!" Along the way they find adventure and, in the form of spirited waitress Mary (Annie Potts), a new buddy.

Director: Neal Israel
Producer: Kent Bateman, Jonathan D. Krane
Screenwriter: Paul W. Shapiro
Production Co: Management Company Entertainment Group, Sterling Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 1992, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.2K
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now