Meet the Parents

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Meet the Parents

PG-13

Released Oct 6, 2000

1h 48m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

148 Reviews

79%

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250,000+ Ratings

Everything that can possibly go wrong for groom-to-be Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) does. The problems begin with Greg's disastrous first meeting with his girlfriend's family -- most notably her intimidating father Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and it's all downhill from there.

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Critics Consensus

Despite sometimes sitcom-like execution, Meet the Parents is a hilarious look at familial relationships that works mostly because the chemistry between its two leads is so effective.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

It’s just that it’s the kind of comedy that’s as likely to have you gnawing your fist in an agony of embarrassment as it is to make you laugh.

Feb 9, 2024

Full Review

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Meet the Parents isn't as funny as There's Something About Mary, nor as outrageous. But it confirms that Ben Stiller is the best of today's young practitioners of frustration comedy.

Jul 17, 2019

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Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Scenes that should have been uproarious are weaker than many of the movie's smaller moments, whose everyday humor isn't specific to the plot or characters.

Apr 9, 2012

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Meet the Parents may not demand repeat viewings—a number of the jokes are based in shock humor, therefore don’t last beyond their first exposure—but that first time, it’s an incredibly funny studio comedy.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 3, 2023

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Michael Kleinschrodt

Times-Picayune

Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller seem evenly matched, making effective foils.

Rated: 3/4

May 30, 2019

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...large swaths of the proceedings feel as though they'd be more at home within a garden-variety sitcom.

Rated: 2/4

Dec 20, 2010

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Stephen C

The best of the trilogy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Language, Drug References and Sexual Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $166,200,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

Full Review

Jacopo D

Pensavo facesse ridere nel senso di "fare ridere" non nel senso di "essere stupido" oltre tutto le battute sono scontate e fanno giusto scappare un piccolo sorriso...

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

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Max W

Meet the Parents follows a familiar comedic formula, but it's elevated by the natural comedic talents and undeniable chemistry between Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, turning it into a genuinely enjoyable good-time comedy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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Rich S

With De Niro as his foil, Stiller's game is raised and he delivers one of his better performances. Maybe his best?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/10/25

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Craig H

Haven't seen this for about 15 years and i can relate to this film so much more as an adult with its painfully awkward family moments and having to act a certain way around families and it be really cringe at times. Ben Stiller plays the hapless boyfriend who cant do no right perfectly, i miss Stiller on the big screen, also De Niro is great. They dont make harmless comedies like this anymore. It's the like the final destination of comedies with the scenarios that happen, Some really funny moments unfold and its laugh out loud at times.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/13/25

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m s

hilarious still, 25 years later!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/25

Full Review

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Jay Roach

Director

Robert De Niro

Jack Byrnes

Ben Stiller

Greg Focker

Blythe Danner

Dina Byrnes

Teri Polo

Pam Byrnes

James Rebhorn

Larry Banks

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Greg Says Grace

2:21

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Greg Has to Wait

1:11

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Milking Cats

2:58

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Kevin the Ex

2:44

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Racing Home

2:51

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Will You Be My Son-In-Law?

2:38

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Up In Flames

2:34

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - Lie Detector Test

2:39

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - The Circle of Trust

1:56

Meet the Parents: Official Clip - It's Only a Game, Focker!

2:03

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Synopsis

Everything that can possibly go wrong for groom-to-be Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) does. The problems begin with Greg's disastrous first meeting with his girlfriend's family -- most notably her intimidating father Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and it's all downhill from there.

Director: Jay Roach
Producer: Robert De Niro, Jay Roach, Jane Rosenthal, Nancy Tenenbaum
Screenwriter: John Hamburg, Jim Herzfeld, Greg Glienna, Mary Ruth Clarke
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, Universal Pictures
Production Co: Nancy Tenenbaum Productions, Universal Pictures, Tribeca Productions, DreamWorks Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Drug References|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $166.2M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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