Krippendorf's Tribe

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Krippendorf's Tribe

PG-13

1998

1h 34m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

17%

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41 Reviews

24%

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5,000+ Ratings

After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf (Richard Dreyfuss) must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Krippendorf's Tribe, a surprisingly enjoyable piece of piffle, is pure Disney all the way, replete with a wholly preposterous plot, engaging performances and a feel-good, lesson-teaching ending.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 9, 2018

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Is it possible to recommend a whole comedy on the basis of one scene that made you laugh almost uncontrollably? I fear not. And yet Krippendorf's Tribe has such a scene, and many comedies have none.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

You couldn't make this comedy today, with its long list of now-taboo subjects. The faked ethnographical research is definitely cultural misappropriation; the movie's focus is sex, lies, and videotape, and none of it can really be said to be good for kids.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 29, 2024

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an oddball premise that’s employed to sporadically watchable effect by Holland...

Rated: 2/4

Nov 10, 2023

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

A clever and funny movie about a desperate lie that grows out of control.

Rated: B

Jan 19, 2023

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

A hateful, disgusting and amoral travesty.

Rated: 1/5

Mar 26, 2020

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Jachym L

Didn't expect much and laughed out loud all the time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

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Steve D

uncomfortable bigoted and unfunny.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

It's a absolute travesty that I just now discovered this movie. It is beyond funny. It's been years since a comedy made me laugh this much. Please watch it, tell your friends and let's all push this rating up to where it deserves to be at!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Just another bad one.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

This film reeks with the breezy comedy odor of the '90s. It hosts a wacky set up, corn-tastic music cues and characters who are far too easily fooled... but it's not all bad. You will laugh if you don't think too hard about it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

I don't know why anyone thought Africa was interesting, because it isn't. It also isn't funny.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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Todd Holland

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

James Krippendorf

Jenna Elfman

Veronica Micelli

Natasha Lyonne

Shelly Krippendorf

Gregory Smith

Mickey Krippendorf

Carl Michael Lindner

Edmund Krippendorf

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Synopsis

After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf (Richard Dreyfuss) must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.

Director: Todd Holland
Producer: Larry Brezner
Screenwriter: Frank Parkin, Charlie Peters
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Humor)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 27, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.6M
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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