The Upside

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2:30

The Upside

PG-13

2019

2h 6m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

189 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic who needs a caretaker to help him with his day-to-day routine in his New York penthouse. He decides to hire Dell, a struggling parolee who's trying to reconnect with his ex and his young son. Despite coming from two different worlds, an unlikely friendship starts to blossom as Dell and Phillip rediscover the joy of living life to the fullest.

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Critics Consensus

Preachy, manipulative, and frustratingly clichéd, The Upside showcases Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart's chemistry without ever taking full advantage of it.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

04/13/2020

Director Neil Burger, for his part, moves the story along fairly briskly, refusing to let the film's schmaltziness weigh it down. This is nothing remarkable, but it could have been a lot worse.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

09/13/2019

Does it work? No, not really... But Kevin Hart is good.

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Brad Newsome

Sydney Morning Herald

05/03/2019

As the paint-by-numbers plot progresses -- over two very long hours -- the treacle thickens and it becomes clear that each of them is slowly going to learn from and be redeemed by the others.

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Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

07/14/2024

2/5

It’s perfectly fine, all things considered, but it’s still far too mechanical for my tastes.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/21/2022

3/5

The film’s investment is in telling us about this crazy and unique friendship. In doing so it may not hit every note it should, but it still manages to be a worthwhile watch.

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

08/17/2022

3.5/5

The Upside appeals to mass audience erogenous zones (bankable star, humor, candy-coating issues) that’s unapologetically feel-good while offering award season relief.

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Katie D

03/15/2021

definitely funny and heartwarming! I have to say that although it was supposed to be set in New York, I could tell that it was not actually filmed there. I did not realize that this was a remake and now I'd like to watch the French version to compare. It did make me wonder what parts really happened, what was based on the autobiography, what was based on the other film and what was made up.

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Phil D

@phildub Jul 20

Everyone in this brought their A game. I needed something light hearted, and got something even better. Uplifting! The directing & writing were fantastic. Very, very pleased.

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Heather P.

@RT34443762 May 5

Fantastic movie. Uplifting and real. I recommend it to people all the time. Especially if they are facing major health challenges. It’s a must see.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Apr 21

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Farmer T.

@RT74511724 Apr 4

I really enjoyed this movie. Very funny with a good feel good story

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Henry D

@Henry_Domke Apr 4

Heartwarming and surprisingly fresh, with real humor and an appealing contrast between extreme wealth and deep poverty. Bryan Cranston was even better than I had realized, especially coming so soon after seeing him play LBJ earlier this week. Yes, it was sentimental, but it never became too much.

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Dell Scott

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The Upside: Name the Review

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The Upside: Exclusive Interview

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The Upside: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Phillip is a wealthy quadriplegic who needs a caretaker to help him with his day-to-day routine in his New York penthouse. He decides to hire Dell, a struggling parolee who's trying to reconnect with his ex and his young son. Despite coming from two different worlds, an unlikely friendship starts to blossom as Dell and Phillip rediscover the joy of living life to the fullest.

Director: Neil Burger
Producer: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch
Screenwriter: Jon Hartmere
Distributor: STX Films
Production Co: Escape Artists
Rating: PG-13 (Suggestive Content|Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 2019, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 14, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $108.2M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)