Zero Effect

R

Released Jan 30, 1998

1h 55m

Comedy

Drama

List

66%

56 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Private investigator Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) is one of the finest sleuths in the world but also one of the most eccentric. A recluse prone to odd behavior, Daryl utilizes his assistant, Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller), as his face to see clients. When businessman Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) falls victim to a blackmail plot, he employs Daryl to find the culprit. Daryl starts to home in on Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) as a suspect, but he also finds her attractive, which complicates the case.

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Critics Consensus

A promising debut for writer/director Jake Kasdan, Zero Effect overcomes its flaws with its off-kilter humor and likeable leads.

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Donald A

Zero Effect is a slick, witty, and a comically brilliant retelling of the World's Greatest Detective. Bill Pullman is hilariously charming, and one of Ben Stiller's less heavy-on-comedy roles is additionally well-rounded. Throw in a fantastic breakthrough performance from Kim Dickens, and a surprisingly dynamic Ryan O'Neal, and Zero Effect all but lives down to its title.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Eric B

My favorite underrated comedy of all time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

Full Review

Steve D

Talented leads but it is just too odd.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

ArtystaPisarz

Why? How? I mean – what is the reason that we didn't get more of Daryl Zero? Sure, this movie was not perfect, far from it, but it was also a very, very promising start. I would gladly watch more and there is plenty of material to go by (didn't Conan-Doyle wrote fifty-six Holmes stories)? "Zero Effect" has dry, sleek style that I enjoyed for what it is. This movie is very 90's. It is also such a subtle retelling of "A Scandal in Bohemia" that I didn't realize what it was until after it was over. And you tell me that this was done by the guy who directed both of the new "Jumanji" movies? Just let this man meet with Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller again (both of them are great in this movie)! Just let them make a sequel! Perhaps a version of "Shoscombe Old Place"? Or even of "The Final Problem"? That, I think, would be a great, mature movie. Just don't let them anywhere near "The Hound of the Baskervilles". That story sucks.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is one of the best movies ever made. And it has one of the coolest the soundtracks ever. Nick Cave rarely makes it onto a movie soundtrack. I don't even wanna talk about the movie but just think modern day Sherlock Holmes and go see it! Combined with Permanent Midnight, Thick as Thieves 1998 ( The Alec Baldwin one not the Morgan Freeman one) and Suicide Kings they make up a quad of the most criminally underrated movies of the 90s and possibly of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really great movie. Period

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

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Jake Kasdan

Director

Bill Pullman

Daryl Zero

Ben Stiller

Steve Arlo

Ryan O'Neal

Gregory Stark

Kim Dickens

Gloria Sullivan

Angela Featherstone

Jess

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Martin Hoyle

Financial Times

Polished, ironic, enjoyable and hugely promising.

Jun 21, 2023

Full Review

Geoff Brown

Times (UK)

The film's eccentricities are badly controlled; and they oddly sit with the tired thriller conventions that are visible elsewhere. Once he loosens up, Kasdan might create something less artificial.

Jun 21, 2023

Full Review

Quentin Curtis

Daily Telegraph (UK)

If you are looking for something on a smaller scale and more cerebral, you could do a lot worse than Zero Effect.

Jun 21, 2023

Full Review

Matthew Sweet

Independent on Sunday

It's Kasdan who should really take the credit: his script is witty, and his handling of detective conventions is easy and unmannered. Remember his name.

Jun 21, 2023

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

As a film, Zero Effect shows Kasdan's promise as a filmmaker.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 31, 2023

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The presence of Stiller may lead you to expect a light, quirky Gen-X spin on the detective genre, but it cuts deeper than that.

Rated: B

Sep 1, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Private investigator Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) is one of the finest sleuths in the world but also one of the most eccentric. A recluse prone to odd behavior, Daryl utilizes his assistant, Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller), as his face to see clients. When businessman Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) falls victim to a blackmail plot, he employs Daryl to find the culprit. Daryl starts to home in on Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) as a suspect, but he also finds her attractive, which complicates the case.

Director: Jake Kasdan
Producer: Jim Behnke
Screenwriter: Jake Kasdan
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Castle Rock Entertainment, Manifest Film Co., Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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