Hysterical

2021

1h 27m

Documentary

Comedy

Stand-Up

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List

90%

20 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Stand-up comedy had always been a male domain. Only a tiny handful of women have broken out of the brutal world of comedy clubs to become household names. After decades of fighting for a place in the spotlight, things have finally shifted. Hysterical, a feature documentary from director Andrea Nevins (Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie), journeys backstage and on the road with veteran comedians, rising stars and novices to discover how an intrepid group of boundary-breaking females are changing the game and exploring what it takes to become the voices of their generation and their gender. Hysterical takes an intimate look behind the velvet curtains and beer-soaked clubs of the comedy scene into the lives of the women shattering comedy's glass ceiling with raucous laughter and perfectly timed punch lines. From newcomers to super stars, the funniest women in comedy drop the mic with their heartfelt struggles, personal stories and hilariously bold opinions.

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Critics Consensus

Hysterical may not probe systemic disadvantages as deeply as it could have, but it excels as a frank and sometimes joyous celebration of very funny women who have made their mark in an industry that often marginalizes their achievements.

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Fernando C

I love this documentary so much, super powerful and empowering! So many great rolemodels and tons of wisdom, just amazing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/22

Full Review

Audience Member

It was great insight into the way that female comics are treated vs. their male counterparts.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

These women are genuinely funny, but in this documentary-style, it's 70% of them talking about life/comedy being harder for women. Perhaps, but it's nothing we haven't heard before and it's really tedious. Don't believe the critic score; it's a virtue signal. Should have been a performance film.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

dan c

Pretty standard comedy documentary with nothing new to add, wish it went a bit deeper into some issues but over all an enjoyable time and worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

Director

Kelly Bachman

Actor

Margaret Cho

Actor

Fortune Feimster

Actor

Rachel Feinstein

Actor

Marina Franklin

Actor

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Indie Fresh List: Concrete Cowboy, Hysterical, and Shiva Baby

New on Hulu in April 2021

Hysterical: Sneak Peek - Nikki Glaser & Margaret Cho On Beauty and Comedy

0:35

Hysterical: Trailer 1

1:55

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Ro White

Autostraddle

In a documentary that overwhelmingly features white cis women, there's little room left to explore what comedy is like for women who hold multiple marginalized identities... Despite its flaws, Hysterical makes a few smart moves.

May 13, 2021

Full Review

Robyn Bahr

Hollywood Reporter

Nevins instead hopes her film will serve as a nourishing broth extracted from the wisdom of veteran comics and newcomers alike. Frankly, though, I wanted something a little meatier.

Apr 1, 2021

Full Review

Carla Meyer

San Francisco Chronicle

Griffin and Cho are highly composed and insightful here. Who would have thought these outrageous comics would someday be so sage?

Rated: 3/4

Apr 1, 2021

Full Review

Danilo Castro

Next Best Picture

Hysterical may initially seem like a loose collection of jokes and anecdotes, but the power of the film comes through when you realize it has a tightly-defined structure.

Rated: 7/10

May 17, 2022

Full Review

Kate Robertson

Stuff.co.nz

The lack of commentary around the conditions of grimy comedy clubs and sleazy managers makes the film all the more insightful, made even better thanks to insight from comedic legends Margaret Cho, Marina Franklin and Fortune Feimster, among others.

Aug 13, 2021

Full Review

Sean L. McCarthy

Decider

If you're not already a comedy nerd and need an awakening, this is a good start.

Apr 12, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Stand-up comedy had always been a male domain. Only a tiny handful of women have broken out of the brutal world of comedy clubs to become household names. After decades of fighting for a place in the spotlight, things have finally shifted. Hysterical, a feature documentary from director Andrea Nevins (Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie), journeys backstage and on the road with veteran comedians, rising stars and novices to discover how an intrepid group of boundary-breaking females are changing the game and exploring what it takes to become the voices of their generation and their gender. Hysterical takes an intimate look behind the velvet curtains and beer-soaked clubs of the comedy scene into the lives of the women shattering comedy's glass ceiling with raucous laughter and perfectly timed punch lines. From newcomers to super stars, the funniest women in comedy drop the mic with their heartfelt struggles, personal stories and hilariously bold opinions.

Director: Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
Producer: Andrea Blaugrund Nevins, Ross Girard, Jim Serpico, Jessica Kirson
Genre: Documentary, Comedy, Stand-Up
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2021
Runtime: 1h 27m