The Cable Guy

PG-13

1996

1 hr. 31 min.

Comedy

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List

55%

80 Reviews

Tomatometer

51%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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.

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Victor P

The Cable Guy does have funny moments from the start, but Jim Carrey goes bizarre, creepy, and over the top in the third act. I didn't laugh that much.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

Audience Member

What an overlooked masterpiece. The movie didn’t resonate with me when it came out and I was also a young 16 year old kid. However over the years I find myself laughing at this movie hysterically and panning Jim’s earlier movies like ace venture. This dark comedy is more in sync with my humour today and it will definitely make you laugh if you give it another shot. It’s a cult classic today and rightly so. What else could be said but it was ahead of its time. Cliche yes. But cliches can be absolutely true and this movie is absolutely funny today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

Jimmy L

Carrey's style fits the character Chip Douglas perfectly, the bathroom scene is particularly entertaining. Not a hilarious film, but that's not what's important; what is, is the reality of people being different and the measure of one's own heart and love. To some, Chip is a bit of a villain, "crazy"...but to others, Chip is the representation of those of us who perhaps care too deeply. Whether or not it's inherent in some, or a symptom of past trauma, or both, what matters is how people treat people. What matters is how we treat those who are different from ourselves. The Cable Guy does an excellent job illustrating these concepts and I enjoyed it. 4 stars.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Never saw this when it came out as Jim Carrey isn't my favorite comedian. However, noticed how many other actors were in it that I really like, so watched it. Have to admit, it was pretty good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

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Audience Member

I thought there were some funny moments and I enjoyed some moments, but overall I wouldn't recommend.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/05/23

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Jay H

Jim Carey's acting is next level! I love the dark comedy!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/18/23

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Ben Stiller

Director

Jim Carrey

Cable Guy

Matthew Broderick

Steven M. Kovacs

Leslie Mann

Robin Harris

Jack Black

Rick

George Segal

Steven's Father

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The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Cable Nightmare

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The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Prison Visit

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The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Satellite Fight

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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

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The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Illegal Cable

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The Cable Guy: Trailer 1

2:21

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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

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

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

May 31, 2022

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James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

As with Reality Bites two years earlier, director Stiller makes some astute observations about Generation X and its love of television - and media in general.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 20, 2021

Full Review

Gena Radcliffe

The Spool

Just on paper Chip is an unsettling character, but it's Carrey who really brings him to horrifying life.

Jun 16, 2021

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Bernie Brillstein, Brad Grey, Marc Gurvitz
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
Sound Mix: Surround

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