Funny People

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3:33

Funny People

R

2009

2h 26m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

232 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.

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Critics Consensus

Funny People features the requisite humor, as well as considerable emotional depth, resulting in Judd Apatow's most mature film to date.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

This is a smart movie, one that's very unexpected.

Rated: A-

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Laremy Legel

Film.com

Funny People is funny, moving, dramatic, and alternately hilarious. It's a bit like a stand-up dramedy.

Rated: B

May 6, 2011

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

The film is also an admiring portrait of the artist as Californian solipsist -- unburdened by personal ties or even the need to seem intelligent, free to follow his own random, petty, moment-by-moment train of thought.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2009

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The humor is merely the setting for an affecting drama about comedians. Their material is endlessly amusing, and their chummy and sarcastic behavior toward one another riotous. Yet underneath that, Apatow emphasizes how the humor presents a façade.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 4, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

What the movie ends up saying is that some funny people will always be alone; their artistic strengths and their personal flaws are two sides of the same coin.

Rated: B

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Feels like it is both a love song and a tribute to Apatow's life journey and the people in it through their joys, sorrows, quirks and idiosyncracies.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 8, 2020

Full Review

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Chris M

Thought this was a very beautiful story. I’m surprised so many people dislike this movie. I think it might be one of his best to be honest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

Full Review

Autumn M

Waterboy it is not. Adam Sandler gives a nuanced performance as a comedian who happens to be a pretty flawed person. Seth Rogen as the voice of reason is great. I have tried to watch Sandler's other dramatic movies, and this seems to be the most authentic of his drama movies, probably because it is the subject he knows best. Recommended.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

Full Review

Dominic K

I suppose that my reception of this movie may have been influenced by the fact that it was the next Sandler starring movie I saw after Grown Ups which is the only movie I can remember strongly wanting to walk out of. However the movie is funny and real which in the ying and yang of good scripts makes for a good ride.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

Full Review

Joseph M

This movie has a bad reputation and people often criticize it because they expected something like previous Adam Sandler movies and got something more serious. I get that, but it feels so perfect to have a drama movie about comedians to tell a more deep and emotional story while still providing comedic relief with the comedians' jokes and actions. In my opinion, it's a misunderstood, underrated gem and maybe even my favorite Adam Sandler movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

Full Review

Willhelm K

It has people but it just isn't funny at all.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

Full Review

Tom M

I've always thought of Sandler as one of The U.S 's more juvenile comedians. But lately I've begun to think of him as quite a good actor. He doesn't disappoint in the acting stakes here. Unfortunately, Apatow's script is full of tiresome dick jokes and frankly this is not a very funny film. Leslie Mann thinks she's Madeline Kahn (she isnt). Seth Rogen is a gormless sap, Schwartzman is charmless, and only Jonah Hill hits it right.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

Full Review

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Judd Apatow

Director

Adam Sandler

George Simmons

Seth Rogen

Ira

Leslie Mann

Laura

Eric Bana

Clarke

Jonah Hill

Leo

Funny People: Official Clip - Marginally Famous

2:18

Funny People: Official Clip - Terrifying Accent

2:11

Funny People: Official Clip - The Myspace Show

2:56

Funny People: Official Clip - Celebrating George's Recovery

2:50

Funny People: Official Clip - Eminem Hates Raymond

1:24

Funny People: Official Clip - George's Toast

1:31

Funny People: Official Clip - Ira Cries at Lunch

2:18

Funny People: Official Clip - Kill Me

2:14

Funny People: Official Clip - Clarke vs. George vs. Ira

2:49

Funny People: Official Clip - Randy Kills It

1:13

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Funny People: Trailer 1

3:33

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Synopsis

Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.

Director: Judd Apatow
Producer: Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Clayton Townsend
Screenwriter: Judd Apatow
Distributor: Universal
Production Co: Apatow Company, Madison 23
Rating: R (Language|Crude Sexual Humor|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.8M
Runtime: 2h 26m

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