Bringing Down the House

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Bringing Down the House

PG-13

2003

1h 45m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

148 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Lawyer Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) wants to dive back into dating after his divorce and has a hard time meeting the right women. But he lucks out with online dating and meets a fellow lawyer. The two agree to meet in the flesh, but the woman he meets -- an escaped African-American convict named Charlene (Queen Latifah) -- is not what he expected. Peter is freaked out, but Charlene convinces him to take her case and prove her innocence, and along the way they learn to become friends.

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Critics Consensus

Though the cast shines, they can't save this comedy, which is overly contrived and filled with outdated and offensive racial jokes.

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Rachel Swan

Bitch Media

12/17/2020

The film fails as a satire because it's plenty racist on its own.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/22/2010

3/5

Martin and Latifah rule in boundary-pushing PG-13.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

06/12/2003

It's quite a mess, this catastrophe -- a racially offensive mess, too.

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

11/07/2019

Steve Martin and Queen Latifah? Who woulda thunk it! But kudos to that brainchild!

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

07/26/2012

D

It's a wheezing, rusted machine of cheap jokes, cartoon performances, and crummy plotting, using shock value and insensitivity to make its painfully unfunny points.

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James Plath

Movie Metropolis

05/12/2012

4/10

Everything about this film is painfully familiar, except, perhaps, for the vicious-but-comic catfight between Latifah and Missi Pyle, who plays a high-society gold digger.

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Joanne D

@RT27437272 Feb 22

Great film. Really funny. Love it. Just goes to show. Never listen to boring critics

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Teddy G.

@Teddy Oct 21

Absolutely funny as hell, this movie is a classic

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waffle w

@RT59172842 Sep 24

these ratings are way too low- the movie's a fun watch. And none of the jokes are meant to be taken seriously...it's really not offensive and critics proclaim.

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Dang L

@RT20589283 Jul 13

Best movie I’ve eva seen in my life 10/10

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Lauren H

@RT07383280 Apr 19

In 2025, I get why it is not a 5/5 for most. However... Always will be a favourite movie of mine! Many belly laughs to be had.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Apr 10

Filme legalzinho, o roteiro é bacana, as cenas são bacanas, a história é bacaninha, o elenco é bom, e a maioria ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bons, e gostei da queen latifah como coadjuvante no filme, com tudo isso, eu recomendo esse filme

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Adam Shankman

Director

Steve Martin

Peter Sanderson

Queen Latifah

Charlene Morton

Eugene Levy

Howie Rottman

Joan Plowright

Mrs. Arness

Jean Smart

Kate

The Hot Chick

21%

59%

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Swing Vote

38%

42%

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Corky Romano

7%

39%

Corky Romano

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Mr. Wrong

7%

26%

Mr. Wrong

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Double Take

12%

50%

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Synopsis

Lawyer Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) wants to dive back into dating after his divorce and has a hard time meeting the right women. But he lucks out with online dating and meets a fellow lawyer. The two agree to meet in the flesh, but the woman he meets -- an escaped African-American convict named Charlene (Queen Latifah) -- is not what he expected. Peter is freaked out, but Charlene convinces him to take her case and prove her innocence, and along the way they learn to become friends.

Director: Adam Shankman
Producer: David Hoberman, Ashok Amritraj
Screenwriter: Jason Filardi
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista (Walt Disney)
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Drug Material|Sexual Humor)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $132.5M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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