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

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

G

Released Nov 7, 1963

2h 55m

Comedy

Adventure

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

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

Nov 7, 2007

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Variety Staff

Variety

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

Nov 7, 2007

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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

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

So many funny scenes. Ethel Merman steals the movie

Mar 23, 2025

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Russ G

Everyone in show biz even remotely associated with comedy wanted a part in this film and most of them got it due to the bloated running time. Over three plus hours, some of it works, some of it doesn't, and some of it just gets tiresome. I saw this as a kid when it came out at the local run-down movie house that's long gone now; admission might have been as cheap as 50c for a matinee. The slapstick humor and madcap destruction was entertaining at the time but when I sat through it as an adult I found it silly and overlong. It had definitely jumped the shark by the concluding scene on the fire ladder. Jimmy Durante did the right thing by "kicking the bucket" at the open! Yes, the "Big w" was the movie's In Joke, as warner Bros. bankrolled this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

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Chris W

Hilarious cast, incredible slapstick and amazing stunts. Highly recommend.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

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Jonathan R

Way too long, forced humor and predictable ending (Capt. Culpepper stealing the money, and the money dispersed by the wind), annoying characters, and more. I never saw the movie when it came out. I saw it last night. Aside from the destruction of the gas station, the truly funny bits were few and far between.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

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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

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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

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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)

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