Bad Words

Play trailer

Bad Words

R

2014

1h 25m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

132 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman), a 40-year-old misanthrope, makes waves at a regional spelling bee when, due to a loophole in the rules, he is allowed to enter -- and later wins. Hurling insults at every turn, Guy advances to the national contest in Los Angeles, accompanied by a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) who wants to discover his hidden motives for entering the bee. As the competition gears up, friendless Guy inexplicably forms a bond with a young speller who is feeling parental pressure to win.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Scabrously funny and gleefully amoral, Bad Words boasts one of Jason Bateman's best performances -- and proves he's a talented director in the bargain.

Read Critics Reviews

Wesley Morris

Grantland

Apr 3, 2014

I didn't like anything about the movie before discovering what Guy is up to. I actively hated it after I figured out what was actually going on.

Go to Full Review

Robert Everett-Green

Globe and Mail

Mar 28, 2014

1/4

The laughs in this film are all mean-spirited or just frat-boy gross.

Go to Full Review

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Mar 27, 2014

2.5/4

Almost unrelenting in its takedown both of an American institution and the country's obsession with victories big and small, Bad Words is more misanthropic fantasy than satiric fiction.

Go to Full Review

Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 15, 2026

D+

I guess if you find humor in being racist and borderline sexually abusive towards kids, you'll probably get a kick out of 'Bad Words'. Otherwise, it's probably a good choice to avoid this one.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 21, 2026

2.5/4

Watching Jason Bateman employ his deadpan demeanor, frosty stares, and impeccable timing to amusingly berate others isn’t a bad way to spend 90 minutes.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Sep 2, 2020

3.5/4.0

Bad Words casts a hilarious spell.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Zhaleh S.

@RT22191158 Jun 14, 2026

Funny and charming.

See more

Ben H

@MovieBuffBen Sep 6, 2025

This movie had me cracking up the entire time! Jason Bateman really surprised me with this character. It was such a fun, borderline wildly inappropriate movie. But its edgyness really added a lot to it. Just a great comedy and solid story.

See more

Samantha J

@RT91919704 Aug 11, 2025

Horrible, horrendous. So unfunny and offensive. And the premise made no sense.

See more

Daniel C. M

@RT91944882 May 3, 2025

A genuinely funny poltically incorrect dark comedy that explores our intimate desire for a complete, free of consequences freedom and in that offers a great and original escapist fantasy like no-other. I also personally found the protagonist, flawlessly portrayed by Jason Bateman, to be very relatable and realistic.

See more

Frank P

@RT39887683 Apr 24, 2025

Obnoxiously pathetic….

See more

Sharon C

@RT77227033 Feb 14, 2025

Totally enjoyed it! So much fun!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jason Bateman

Director

Jason Bateman

Guy Trilby

Kathryn Hahn

Jenny Widgeon

Rohan Chand

Chaitanya Chopra

Philip Baker Hall

Dr. Bowman

Allison Janney

Dr. Bernice Deagan

Bad Words: Official Clip - A Little Liar

3:15

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - These Are Not Light Pants

2:47

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Chaitanya the Champion

2:38

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Like an Elephant's Trunk

1:53

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Give These To Your Mother

2:38

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Take Him Out!

2:10

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Insults and Nipples

3:16

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Don't Look at Me

2:20

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Misspelling Bee

3:05

Now Playing

Bad Words: Official Clip - Autofellatio

1:46

Now Playing

View more videos

Nebraska

90%

83%

Nebraska

Watchlist

Magic Mike

78%

60%

Magic Mike

Watchlist

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

91%

78%

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Submarine

88%

82%

Submarine

Watchlist

Wish I Was Here

45%

59%

Wish I Was Here

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on DVD & Blu-Ray: Bad Words, The Raid 2, and More

Critics Consensus: Noah is a Fresh Take on an Old Tale

Video: Jason Bateman is a Terrible Speller

View more photos

Synopsis

Guy Trilby (Jason Bateman), a 40-year-old misanthrope, makes waves at a regional spelling bee when, due to a loophole in the rules, he is allowed to enter -- and later wins. Hurling insults at every turn, Guy advances to the national contest in Los Angeles, accompanied by a reporter (Kathryn Hahn) who wants to discover his hidden motives for entering the bee. As the competition gears up, friendless Guy inexplicably forms a bond with a young speller who is feeling parental pressure to win.

Director: Jason Bateman
Producer: Jason Bateman, Mason Novick, Sean McKittrick, Jeff Culotta
Screenwriter: Andrew Dodge
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Darko Entertainment, MXN Entertainment, Aggregate Films
Rating: R (Crude and Sexual Content|Brief Nudity|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.8M
Runtime: 1h 25m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings