The Cable Guy

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2:21

The Cable Guy

PG-13

1996

1h 31m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

81 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.

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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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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

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Logan G.

The Cable Guy is a surprisingly dark, psychological movie, but still has Carey’s usual weird and silly antics.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Lucas J.

Loved this one Jim Carey is always a riot

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/06/25

Full Review

D V

The classic sketch comedy moments more than make up for the story line faults. Is it childish at times? Yes. Is it dark? Yes. This is peak Jim Carrey. The fact this is scored so low, yet Zoolander is scored high does baffle me.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/25

Full Review

T.L. P.

My favorite comedy. Supremely rewatchable. Carey’s finest performance. Supporting actors are pitch perfect. The story delivers a textured commentary on relationship and alienation. The morning after scene between Carey and Broderick in the kitchen over breakfast may be the funniest bit of all time in any movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Ages 13 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The worldwide gross is $102,825,796.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

Full Review

Oliver L

Pretty decent thriller. Lots of good plot twists.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

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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

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

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The Cable Guy: Trailer 1

2:21

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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
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

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