Bringing Down the House

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Bringing Down the House

PG-13

Released Mar 7, 2003

1h 45m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

33%

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150 Reviews

49%

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Though the cast shines, they can't save this comedy, which is overly contrived and filled with outdated and offensive racial jokes.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

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

Dec 17, 2020

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

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

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

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

Nov 7, 2019

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

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.

Rated: D

Jul 26, 2012

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James Plath

Movie Metropolis

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.

Rated: 4/10

May 12, 2012

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Nathan W

They sure laid the stereotypes on thick in this one. Some of the bits i thought were in jest but others were downright cringy. So much so, that I'm surprised they were even allowed back in 2003. Modern day sensitivities aside, I thought this movie worked well enough and was a slightly above average comedy. Queen Latifah and Steve Martin had some chemistry together, and their overall personas kept what could have been a more offensive film feeling light and wholesome. Plus, Eugene Levy trying to talk dirty the whole movie... hilarious! It provides some genuine laughs but much of my amusement came from the outlandish situations that were presented. The main plot didn't really get going until almost the end of the film, and then there wasn't enough time to make it interesting. Still, if you can get past some of the more obvious flaws here, it's not a bad watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

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Max B

This movie was very cringy with its racial jokes and stereotypes heavily relied for comedic humor. It just got more discomforting throughout the film. They could not make a movie like this today.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

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M B

Of course, it's ridiculous, and many must find it offensive with the over the top stereotypes. But there was a movie in there somewhere, and if someone had some guts, and paired up Steve martin and Queen Latifah with some courage- this could have been really good. They had a sparky chemistry together, and they are both funny. But we were given the watered down chicken version. It had some very funny scenes in it, and great music.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

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Danny T

Hideous. Disgusting. Offensive. Impossible to understand how these seemingly respectable actors could stop so low.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

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Jonathan

One of the very best comedies ever made.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/24

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Ryan T

People are so sensitive now days and understandably so. But all offense aside.... This movie is HILARIOUS! 🤣

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/23

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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

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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: Buena Vista (Walt Disney), Touchstone Pictures
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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