Why Him?

Play trailer

2:25

Why Him?

R

Released Dec 23, 2016

1h 51m

Holiday

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

154 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

During the holidays, loving but overprotective Ned (Bryan Cranston) travels to California to visit his daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch) at Stanford University. While there, he meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward boyfriend, Laird (James Franco). Even though Laird is a multimillionaire, Ned disapproves of his freewheeling attitude and unfiltered language. His panic level escalates even further when he learns that Laird plans to ask for Stephanie's hand in marriage.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Solidly cast but overall misconceived, Why Him? offers the odd chuckle, but ultimately adds disappointingly little to its tired father-vs.-fiancé formula.

Read Critics Reviews

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

If the film drags a little at the end, it's perhaps because the film-makers were enjoying the company of these characters as much as the audience undoubtedly will.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2017

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Why Him? has all the flaws you'd expect, from the non-existent visual style to the shortchanging of the women in the cast.

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 28, 2016

Full Review

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

We do not predict a lifespan to compare with that of Meet the Parents.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 27, 2016

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Why Him? Why me?

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 17, 2021

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Balances raunchy humour - an awkward electronic toilet sequence rivals anything from the Adam Sandler canon - with actual heartfelt storytelling resulting in an enjoyably bawdy holiday pastime.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 3, 2021

Full Review

Ricardo Gallegos

Pólvora

It consistently makes you laugh throughout the 110 minute duration. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 2, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Ffcc F

Lost of Time. Not funny at all.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

Full Review

Penelope L

I hate to say it, but James Franco is just gross. I used to be a fan but this movie is so basic and crude that it’s unwatchable (they left the funny out, so there’s that too). Grow up writers. Make funny smart (and then it can be gross too).

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Greatest Christmas movie since National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

Full Review

Firstname L

I’m amazed they Bryan Cranston agreed to be in this film. It’s so below him. James Franco is a terrible actor and creepy Keegan Michael-Keys fake whatever accent it is, is just embarrassing. Adam DeVine is terrible in everything he is. Not sure why he keeps trying to be an actor. It’s shameful. Megan Mullalley weird child like voice just grates. This film tries to be funny with gross innuendo and cursing. But it makes for an unpleasant watch.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

Louis S

This is mostly um….. a movie. It was ok I guess and it did have some genuinely funny moments, with the first about half an hour actually being very good, but overall it falls, acting isn’t good jokes become brining and overdone Not worth your time

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/18/24

Full Review

Sean G

I'm tired of the formulaic Hallmark Christmas movies. This is the answer. James Franco and Bryan Cranston are brilliant. Sure, it subscribes to the father versus fiance formula, but it adds some genuine must see edginess to it. Ignore the score and have a fun romp.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/15/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Hamburg

Director

James Franco

Laird Mayhew

Bryan Cranston

Ned Fleming

Zoey Deutch

Stephanie Fleming

Megan Mullally

Barb Fleming

Griffin Gluck

Scotty Fleming

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Office Christmas Party

41%

41%

Office Christmas Party

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Office Christmas Party

The Night Before

68%

61%

The Night Before

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Night Before

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

69%

59%

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

Watchlist

TRAILER

for A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas

The Oath

63%

40%

The Oath

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Oath

Bad Santa 2

23%

34%

Bad Santa 2

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Bad Santa 2

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

On DVD This Week: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Silence, Planet Earth II, and More

Pete’s Dragon, The Handmaiden, Iron Fist and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

Box Office: Rogue One Rings in 2017 at #1 Nearing $800M

Why Him?: Trailer 1

2:25

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

During the holidays, loving but overprotective Ned (Bryan Cranston) travels to California to visit his daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch) at Stanford University. While there, he meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward boyfriend, Laird (James Franco). Even though Laird is a multimillionaire, Ned disapproves of his freewheeling attitude and unfiltered language. His panic level escalates even further when he learns that Laird plans to ask for Stephanie's hand in marriage.

Director: John Hamburg
Producer: Shawn Levy, Ben Stiller, Jonah Hill, Dan Levine
Screenwriter: John Hamburg, Ian Helfer
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 21 Laps Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, Red Hour Productions
Rating: R (Strong Language|Sexual Material Throughout)
Genre: Holiday, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.2M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now