The Cable Guy

Play trailer

2:21

The Cable Guy

PG-13

1996

1h 31m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Oddball cable installer Chip Douglas (Jim Carrey) attempts to strike up a friendship with customer Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick) by offering him premium channels at no cost. When Steven rebuffs Chip's frequent need for companionship, Chip goes from a mildly eccentric acquaintance to a full-fledged psycho stalker. Though it's increasingly apparent to Steven that the cable guy is dangerous, convincing his friends, family and the authorities of that is another matter entirely.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

The Cable Guy's dark flashes of thought-provoking, subversive wit are often -- but not always -- enough to counter its frustratingly uneven storytelling approach.

Read Critics Reviews

Patrick Z. McGavin

Chicago Reader

...on the whole The Cable Guy is about as subversive a mainstream comedy as you’ll find...

Rated: 2/4

Jun 14, 2022

Full Review

Dave Kehr

New York Daily News

The Cable Guy is a gutsy move on Carrey's part, suggesting a willingness to grow just where commercial good sense would say to stand pat.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 11, 2019

Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

Independent (UK)

It barely matters that The Cable Guy fails [to satirize TV], because it is crammed with other pleasures, not least Carrey, who lets us glimpse the human being behind the sociopath.

Dec 12, 2018

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

This is so crazy and nutty but it makes me laugh so much. Jim Carrey's out of his mind in this.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 23, 2025

Full Review

Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

I had a lot fun rewatching this. Jim Carrey's so insane but it's darkly hilarious. I wish we could've seen what Stiller would have done with the role, but I still laugh constantly when this is on.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 23, 2025

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

You'll be surprised when you find yourself laughing out loud.

May 31, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Jim Carrey is really something, lol

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Dave A

Low-key horror vibes and another incredible performance from Jim Carrey.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

Full Review

Filmgal G

Brilliants direction, writing and performances!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

Full Review

James O

Underrated film with great directing, writing, and cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

Full Review

K W

A dark twisted tale that makes you laugh all along the way

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

Full Review

Dylan R

Jim Carrey’s hidden masterpiece. The weird dark movie everyone either loved or hated that’s why it’s so good. Haven’t laughed this hard in a movie in so long thank you Ben Stiller!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ben Stiller

Director

Jim Carrey

Cable Guy

Matthew Broderick

Steven M. Kovacs

Leslie Mann

Robin Harris

Jack Black

Rick

George Segal

Steven's Father

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Cable Nightmare

2:12

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Prison Visit

2:06

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Satellite Fight

1:11

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Porno Password

2:01

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Cable Install Time

2:10

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Welcome to Medieval Times

2:13

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Roundball Warm-Up

0:58

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Illegal Cable

1:01

View more videos

Multiplicity

46%

49%

Multiplicity

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Multiplicity

Can't Hardly Wait

42%

63%

Can't Hardly Wait

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Can't Hardly Wait

Blue Streak

35%

65%

Blue Streak

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blue Streak

Armed and Dangerous

9%

39%

Armed and Dangerous

Watchlist

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

15%

31%

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

Watchlist

TRAILER

for City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Adam Pally’s Five Favorite Films

Weekly Ketchup: Is X-Force Fox’s New Franchise?

Cannes 2009: The Tomato Report – Almodovar’s Broken Embraces a Comfortable Favourite

The Cable Guy: Trailer 1

2:21

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Oddball cable installer Chip Douglas (Jim Carrey) attempts to strike up a friendship with customer Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick) by offering him premium channels at no cost. When Steven rebuffs Chip's frequent need for companionship, Chip goes from a mildly eccentric acquaintance to a full-fledged psycho stalker. Though it's increasingly apparent to Steven that the cable guy is dangerous, convincing his friends, family and the authorities of that is another matter entirely.

Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Andrew Licht, Jeffrey A. Mueller, Judd Apatow
Screenwriter: Lou Holtz Jr.
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.2M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now