The Fortune Cookie

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The Fortune Cookie

1966

2h 5m

Comedy

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

While taping a football game, cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) ends up slightly injured after a collision with star player "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich). When Hinkle's scheming brother-in-law, lawyer Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau), catches wind of the incident, he wants Hinkle to feign paralysis to scam the insurance company. Hinkle agrees to the plan, if only to win back his ex (Judi West). But Hinkle's growing friendship with a guilt-ridden Jackson has him questioning the ploy.

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Critics Consensus

Uniting Jack Lemmon and a never-better Walter Matthau on the screen for the first time, The Fortune Cookie continues director Billy Wilder's winning streak of sweet comedies with a nice snap.

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

Oct 22, 2018

Matthau, with the role of a lifetime at his hands, seizes it and makes it wonderful. As the incompetent shyster, Matthau snarls, cajoles, is breezy and sniveling by turns.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Aug 15, 2007

...another bittersweet comedy commentary on contemporary US mores.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Aug 15, 2007

Wildly funny in spots...

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Aug 11, 2025

3/4

Though it unfolds with sitcom logic, Matthau in particular gives an outstanding performance, loading up his grandstanding with quietly hilarious little moments.

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

Aug 27, 2021

B+

... the team of Wilder, and his equally insightful collaborator I.A.L. Diamond, who manage to shine a light on the nasty and dark side of human nature, as well as race issues. And boy does it feel so very modern.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 13, 2020

3.5/4

The first joint Lemmon-Matthau effort might be the funniest.

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V M.

@IndianWarrior Oct 31, 2025

Classic Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon movie 😂🤣

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Vincent S.

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies Aug 31, 2025

The relationship between Harry and Luther make this a smartly written farce special.

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Alain E

@AlainE Jul 5, 2025

A very nice sentimental comedy with a truly Felliniesque ending and appropriate music by Andre Previn. We know from the beginning that this not a whodunnit. The question is how the case will be resolved. All the main actors are very good. Judi West, who plays well the slightly superficial ex of Lemmon’s character, did very little other work and she is still alive. Cliff Osmond who is the slightly goofy private eye eager to uncover the plot is deceased after working for many years. Nicely restored, it is available on Prime.

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Farah R

@Farah Apr 22, 2025

It’s hard to believe that a Billy Wilder film starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau bored me, but that’s exactly what The Fortune Cookie did. Whether it’s the depressing story or the dull characters, this is one you can go ahead and skip.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Jan 8, 2024

There's a lot of unrealized potential here but it's worth seeing for Matthau's fantastic performance.

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Dec 21, 2023

I usually love Billy Wilder films. And while Matthau is great and deserved his Oscar, getting through this film is really a labor. I think a big part of the problem is the ‘Chapters’ announcing like book chapters, each new segment. The effect is thst it just feels endless, like trying to get through a book you are not interested in, but required to finish.

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Billy Wilder

Director

Jack Lemmon

Harry Hinkle

Walter Matthau

Willie Gingrich

Ron Rich

Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson

Cliff Osmond

Purkey

Judi West

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Synopsis

While taping a football game, cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) ends up slightly injured after a collision with star player "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich). When Hinkle's scheming brother-in-law, lawyer Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau), catches wind of the incident, he wants Hinkle to feign paralysis to scam the insurance company. Hinkle agrees to the plan, if only to win back his ex (Judi West). But Hinkle's growing friendship with a guilt-ridden Jackson has him questioning the ploy.

Director: Billy Wilder
Producer: Billy Wilder
Production Co: Mirisch Company
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2019
Runtime: 2h 5m

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