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The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest

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The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest

PG-13

Released Jun 28, 2002

1h 45m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A successful marketing executive decides to chuck his nonstop, upwardly mobile lifestyle, when he realizes that he wants to be a creator instead of a seller. He takes a job at one of the area's most prestigious high-tech firms. Mocked by the company's brilliant project leader, he is assigned to a team made up of dysfunctional misfits, who through their imagination and ingenuity create something that can revolutionize their industry.

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

It appears to have been modeled on the worst revenge-of-the-nerds clichs the filmmakers could dredge up.

Rated: F

Jul 11, 2002

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V.A. Musetto

New York Post

The movie, directed by Mick Jackson, leaves no cliche unturned, from the predictable plot to the characters straight out of central casting.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 10, 2002

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Film Threat

Rated: 1/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Click to read review

Rated: 1/4

Jan 12, 2004

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Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

It's also curious to note that this film, like the similarly ill-timed Antitrust, is easily as bad at a fraction the budget.

Rated: 0/4

Feb 26, 2003

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Norm Schrager

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 1.5/5

Jan 13, 2003

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Audience Member

Watched this movie when I was 10 and thought the innovation in the movie was inspiring. It's really a great idea. Maybe I need to watch it again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

fun and nice action movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If only the film's budget had approached that of its title, it may have been more watchable. Not that it's not without its indie charms, but it just feels a little sloppy and haphazardly edited.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Even though it is a known fact that this movie was a box office flop, it was surprisingly an enjoyable and inspiring watch.Sadly, it is only a one time great watch.But hey.....who said movies are to be watched over and over again.Once again, majority was a fool.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's hard to call "The first $20 million is always the hardest" a comedy, because there's not even a little joke that works. Growing absurd with every single scene, this is easily one of the worst and pathetic nerds revenge flicks ever. The most interesting character of the movie (Rosario Dawson's Alisa) has only 10 or 15 minutes on screen and doesn't have anything to do with the main theme, what says a lot about the quality of "The first $20 million...".

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

great movie!!!!! loved the new computer for 99$ :D lol

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Mick Jackson

Director

Adam Garcia

Andy Caspar

Rosario Dawson

Alisa

Jake Busey

Darrell

Enrico Colantoni

Francis Benoit

Ethan Suplee

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Synopsis

A successful marketing executive decides to chuck his nonstop, upwardly mobile lifestyle, when he realizes that he wants to be a creator instead of a seller. He takes a job at one of the area's most prestigious high-tech firms. Mocked by the company's brilliant project leader, he is assigned to a team made up of dysfunctional misfits, who through their imagination and ingenuity create something that can revolutionize their industry.

Director: Mick Jackson
Producer: Harold Ramis, Trevor Albert
Screenwriter: Jon Favreau, Gary Tieche, Po Bronson
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, Fox Home Entertainment [br], Gemini Film [ru]
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Ocean Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2002, Original
Release Date (DVD): Sep 7, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.5K
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)