Grumpy Old Men

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Grumpy Old Men

PG-13

Released Dec 25, 1993

1h 44m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

65%

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46 Reviews

74%

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100,000+ Ratings

John Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau) are two curmudgeonly neighbors who have been at each other's throats for years. The rivalry of the former friends intensifies when Ariel (Ann-Margret) comes along and provides a love interest for both of them. When Max finds out that John is experiencing family troubles and financial ruin, however, he steps in to help. Their bond is further cemented when John has a health scare and Max makes the ultimate sacrifice for his friend.

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Critics Consensus

Grumpy Old Men's stars are better than the material they're given -- but their comedic chemistry is so strong that whenever they share the screen, it hardly matters.

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Simon Rose

Empire Magazine

Watching Matthau and Lemmon in this vehicle is sometimes hard to stomach after knowing that they are worthy of so much more.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 5, 2020

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

They're two saints of sarcasm. And they work their magic here with only the flimsiest sitcom structure to support them.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 5, 2020

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Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

In their prime, the by-play of these two (Lemmon and Matthau) was like an entertainingly bad marriage, but time has made their antagonism seem perfunctory, and the rapport that underlies it somehow smug.

Nov 15, 2017

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Rob Lowing

The Sun-Herald (Australia)

This is formula comedy all the way but somehow the skimpy plot and rehashed situations prove amusing in a leisurely not irritating way.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 28, 2024

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

Oh, to have been a senior citizen at the height of the Grumpy Old Men films. What dreams may come.

Jan 15, 2023

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James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Few movies of this increasingly burgeoning genre have reached the same heights, today’s efforts increasingly sanitised, formularised and joyless. Everything Grumpy Old Men is most certainly not.

Apr 4, 2022

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j f

End 2024. Was a very pleasant evening.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

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Kevin P

A cute funny little slice of life comedy about two elderly fisherman that bicker like an old married couple. Their chemistry is great and only gets better when they both fall in love for the same woman. The main character is pretty likeable and his rival is just so done with the world & cynical. It's not exactly deep or bust-out-loud funny, but I get the vibe that it wasn't supposed to be. Just a cute little peek into the life of two elderly frienemies competing and having fun while they ice fish and pursue a second chance at romance before they kick the bucket.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

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Justin K

A holiday classic filled with lots of heart and laughs. Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon are hilarious but Burgess Meredith steals the show as the sex obsessed old man who's always making double entendres. Watch through the credits for the blooper reel.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

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Max G

Walter Matthau is hilarious. Belly laugh hilarious.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/24

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a_cold_soul 9

Great movie from my childhood. I still continue to watch this movie well into my 30s. I wish they were still with us

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

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Brad K

A classic comedy with real humor. Always has been a enjoyable movie better than we get anymore

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

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Donald Petrie

Director

Jack Lemmon

John Gustafson

Walter Matthau

Max Goldman

Ann-Margret

Ariel Truax

Daryl Hannah

Melanie

Buck Henry

Snyder

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Synopsis

John Gustafson (Jack Lemmon) and Max Goldman (Walter Matthau) are two curmudgeonly neighbors who have been at each other's throats for years. The rivalry of the former friends intensifies when Ariel (Ann-Margret) comes along and provides a love interest for both of them. When Max finds out that John is experiencing family troubles and financial ruin, however, he steps in to help. Their bond is further cemented when John has a health scare and Max makes the ultimate sacrifice for his friend.

Director: Donald Petrie
Producer: Richard C. Berman, John Davis
Screenwriter: Mark Steven Johnson
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers, John Davis
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $69.3M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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