The Ref

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The Ref

R

Released Mar 9, 1994

1h 33m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

74%

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57 Reviews

73%

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25,000+ Ratings

Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.

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Critics Consensus

Undeniably uneven and too dark for some, The Ref nonetheless boasts strong turns from Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey, as well as a sharply funny script.

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Kelly Vance

Chicago Reader

Demme and the screenwriters take care to fill out the scenario with vividly drawn characters such as Raymond J. Barry’s sardonic police chief and Robert Steinmiller Jr.’s Jesse.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 6, 2022

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

It's not just a Denis Leary vehicle. It's a real movie, with drama and grace and intelligence (and slapstick and drunk Santa gags and crude laughs).

Jan 4, 2017

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Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

It's miraculous casting, and the Australian Davis -- for my money the finest actress around, bar none -- is simply uncanny in her command of East Coast gentility combined with razor-sharp timing and comedic expression.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 6, 2013

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Jeff Simon

Buffalo News

No matter how clever the script sometimes is, the laughs elicited by this movie are cheap, tinny sitcom laughs.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 29, 2024

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Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

Often cited by many as a favorite Christmas film. Why? Because it depicts family ties at its most honest and painful, which is closest to the truth of what and who we are, especially in the midst of fake cheer of the holidays. W/Pat&Ken At the Holidays!

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 17, 2023

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

If you are in the mood for something different at Christmas than The Ref might be a fun choice for you.

Rated: C+

Mar 21, 2019

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Audience Member

Denis Leary is the ref but not a very good one it seems He plays a burglar Gus, it's Christmas time and he's in the middle of robbing a mansion in Connecticut But what he didn't count on was running into a bickering couple Lloyd and Caroline Gus not only has to make them hostages but also deal with their relatives and their many issues Some nice co-stars include Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, and Christine Baranski I didn’t like a single character in this, mainly it’s so much bickering back and forth with minor subplots that never flesh out but at least Leary is keeping the whole thing together reading these lines in quick flawless succession

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

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Vicki B

Absolutely fantastic. I love the sarcasm. Language not for kiddos.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

Tamarra R

This is my Christmas go-to. Love everything about it - dialogue is fantastic and every dysfunctional member of your family is represented. Truly a delight.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

Rich G

Had become one of my favorite holiday movies. Some seriously funny lines.. good fun!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

Renay M

Slap happy comedy that has some real depth. Leary was made for this role.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/08/23

Full Review

Lorenz L

I love this movie, an every-year holiday favourite - but the unrelenting black humour may turn-off some viewers. The romantic spats between Judi Davis and Kevin Spacey are gloriously nasty, even with a suave, sly (and attractive) nemesis in Denis Leery, Look for the uncredited BD Wong in the first scene, as a marriage counselor, which launches one of the funniest stories in the film, repeated for Davis to emasculate Spacey: a recurring dream in which she is served his penis on a bed of spinach. My favourite scene: the traditional Scandinavian Christmas feast, with all guests expected to wear wreath-like headpieces festooned with lit candles. What could possible go wrong? Great performances throughout, including from veteran Glynis Johns.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

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Ted Demme

Director

Denis Leary

Gus

Judy Davis

Caroline Chasseur

Kevin Spacey

Lloyd Chasseur

Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.

Jesse Chasseur

Glynis Johns

Rose Chasseur

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Synopsis

Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.

Director: Ted Demme
Producer: Ronald M. Bozman, Richard LaGravenese, Jeff Weiss
Screenwriter: Marie Weiss, Richard LaGravenese
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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