It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Play trailer

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

G

Released Nov 7, 1963

2h 55m

Comedy

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante), who, before kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot, under the Big W. All of the motorists set out to find the fortune.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

It's long, frantic, and stuffed to the gills with comic actors and set pieces -- and that's exactly its charm.

Read Critics Reviews

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Stanley Kramer strikes out again with this elephantine 1963 attempt at uproarious comedy.

Nov 7, 2007

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The comic competition is so keen that it is impossible to single out any one participant as outstanding.

Nov 7, 2007

Full Review

Time Out

Kramer's 'comedy to end all comedy' stretches its material to snapping point but offers happy hours of star-spotting.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

This is a grim new variant of the old knockabout form, a comedy that deliberately brutalises every convention that makes people laugh. What it be comes, not surprisingly, is a comedy hat makes people feel battered and bleak.

Mar 6, 2024

Full Review

Judith Crist

New York Herald Tribune

It's a comic's field day. We haven't seen such a salute to the gift of lunacy for decades.

Aug 8, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Despite the spectacular nature of the stunts in the first half, by the time the intermission and entr'acte come around, the visuals get even more complexly outrageous.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 24, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert L

It is one of my all time favorite movies. Definitely my favorite comedy. Great group of actors and non-stop action. I saw it for the first time with my Dad when it came out in 1963.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

Honnest Jonn

The original comedy epic, containing the ultimate all-star cast of comedy legends! Non-stop laughs, historic locations all around Southern California, and some heart stopping stunts and car chases!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/17/23

Full Review

BKK F

Funniest movie I ever saw. So many movie stars from the past. They don't make em like this anymore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/07/24

Full Review

Emmett H

The shelf life of a comedy film is notoriously shorter than that of any other genre. Imagine a fellow getting a cream pie in the face: it just isn't funny any more. Nor are people with speech impediments, bulging eyes, and ridiculous affectations. This film is a paean to slapstick entertainment, and I recall how well this film was received back in the mid-Sixties. But this is 60 years on, and truly funny movies are few and very far between. This one misses the mark.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Antanas T

Why can't this movie be legally bought? 😢😡

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/23

Full Review

Joel H

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is such an ambitious comedy. To think that the filmmakers were able to gather so many famous comedians from the past and (then) present, coordinate multiple stunt scenes, and try to write a story that would keep people engaged for over 160 minutes is incredible. And what's even more incredible is that it works. Yes, it has more impact if you know who all these comedic actors are, but even if you don't, it still is able to make you laugh and keep you amused as the chaos ensues. It may start out at a slow roll, but It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a wild ride by the end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Stanley Kramer

Director

Spencer Tracy

Capt. T.G. Culpeper

Edie Adams

Monica Crump

Milton Berle

J. Russell Finch

Jimmy Durante

Smiler Grogan

Jonathan Winters

Lennie Pike

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Inspector Clouseau

0%

21%

Inspector Clouseau

Watchlist

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

78%

74%

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Watchlist

The Twelve Chairs

87%

62%

The Twelve Chairs

Watchlist

Around the World Under the Sea

20%

25%

Around the World Under the Sea

Watchlist

Hot Millions

67%

74%

Hot Millions

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

If Avengers: Infinity War Is Too Intense for Your Kids, Here Are Three Alternatives

Jerry Lewis’ Best Films by Tomatometer

Jackie Brown, Vikings S4, Manchester by the Sea, and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

View more photos

Synopsis

The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante), who, before kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot, under the Big W. All of the motorists set out to find the fortune.

Director: Stanley Kramer
Producer: Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter: Tania Rose, William Rose
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Casey Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 55m
Aspect Ratio: Cinerama (2.59:1), Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now