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Krippendorf's Tribe

Play trailer Poster for Krippendorf's Tribe PG-13 Released Feb 27, 1998 1h 34m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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17% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 24% Popcornmeter 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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Krippendorf's Tribe

Critics Reviews

View All (41) Critics Reviews
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 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 2/5 Aug 18, 2005 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review 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 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an oddball premise that’s employed to sporadically watchable effect by Holland... Rated: 2/4 Nov 10, 2023 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (107) audience reviews
StephenPaul C LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 34 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/19/23 Full Review Steve D uncomfortable bigoted and unfunny. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review 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 Full Review Audience Member Just another bad one. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Krippendorf's Tribe

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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