The Cable Guy

Play trailer

2:21

The Cable Guy

PG-13

1996

1h 31m

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Oddball cable installer Chip Douglas attempts to strike up a friendship with customer Steven M. Kovacs by offering him premium channels at no cost. When Steven rebuffs Chip's frequent need for companionship, Chip goes from a mildly eccentric acquaintance to a full-fledged psycho stalker. Though it's increasingly apparent to Steven that the cable guy is dangerous, convincing his friends, family and the authorities of that is another matter entirely.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Cable Guy's dark flashes of thought-provoking, subversive wit are often -- but not always -- enough to counter its frustratingly uneven storytelling approach.

Read Critics Reviews

Patrick Z. McGavin

Chicago Reader

Jun 14, 2022

2/4

...on the whole The Cable Guy is about as subversive a mainstream comedy as you’ll find...

Go to Full Review

Dave Kehr

New York Daily News

Mar 11, 2019

3/4

The Cable Guy is a gutsy move on Carrey's part, suggesting a willingness to grow just where commercial good sense would say to stand pat.

Go to Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

Independent (UK)

Dec 12, 2018

It barely matters that The Cable Guy fails [to satirize TV], because it is crammed with other pleasures, not least Carrey, who lets us glimpse the human being behind the sociopath.

Go to Full Review

Robert Denerstein

Scripps Howard News Service

Jun 29, 2026

2/4

Director Ben Stiller does slick work, but Carrey's character is more disturbing than lovable, hardly the right slant for a comedy.

Go to Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Jun 15, 2026

3/5

The Cable Guy certainly won't be for all tastes, but you've got to admire its audacity.

Go to Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jun 14, 2026

3/5

The Cable Guy deserves credit for taking risks, even if the film’s dark sense of humor never quite connects.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Oaklee D

@ODie63 Oct 11, 2026

A really enjoyable dark comedy, Jim Carrey steals the show.

See more

Kyle F

@RT62663011 Sep 5, 2026

Slightly under appreciated. Definitely has its moments. Carrey’s doing his thing, Stiller was probably too restrained by the studio for his true vision. Either way the soundtrack was awesome!!!!

See more

Tyler S

@tylerking24 Aug 26, 2026

I think what hurt this movie the most was its inconsistency. You can tell they tried with the comedy and they tried with the thriller aspect. But nothing meshed in my opinion. The best part was Jim's performance of "Somebody to Love."

See more

John B

@johnbalash Aug 25, 2026

Finally watched this! I think if Ben Stiller had starred in it and not just directed, either as The Cable Guy or Matthew Broderick’s character, it would have been more well received. It’s sort of like an extended skit from The Ben Stiller show. There’s also a message showing how too much media consumption can lead to people being unable to manage interpersonal relationships.

See more

Cinema S

@cinema_sensei Aug 22, 2026

Jim Carrey is completely unhinged here, and that's what makes the movie so entertaining. It starts like a silly comedy but gradually becomes more disturbing, awkward, and even a little creepy. The humor can be hit or miss, and the story gets ridiculous at times, but the strange tone and Carrey's performance made it a really enjoyable watch.

See more

Ed R

@JustcallmeER Aug 18, 2026

The Cable Guy's dark flashes of thought-provoking, subversive wit are often -- but not always -- enough to counter its frustratingly uneven storytelling approach.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Ben Stiller

Director

Jim Carrey

Cable Guy

Matthew Broderick

Steven M. Kovacs

Leslie Mann

Robin Harris

Jack Black

Rick

George Segal

Steven's Father

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Cable Nightmare

2:12

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Prison Visit

2:06

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Satellite Fight

1:11

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Porno Password

2:01

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Cable Install Time

2:10

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Welcome to Medieval Times

2:13

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Roundball Warm-Up

0:58

Now Playing

The Cable Guy: Official Clip - Illegal Cable

1:01

Now Playing

View more videos

Multiplicity

46%

49%

Multiplicity

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Multiplicity

Can't Hardly Wait

42%

63%

Can't Hardly Wait

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Can't Hardly Wait

Blue Streak

35%

64%

Blue Streak

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blue Streak

Armed and Dangerous

9%

40%

Armed and Dangerous

Watchlist

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

12%

31%

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

Watchlist

TRAILER

for City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Cable Guy: Trailer 1

2:21

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Oddball cable installer Chip Douglas attempts to strike up a friendship with customer Steven M. Kovacs by offering him premium channels at no cost. When Steven rebuffs Chip's frequent need for companionship, Chip goes from a mildly eccentric acquaintance to a full-fledged psycho stalker. Though it's increasingly apparent to Steven that the cable guy is dangerous, convincing his friends, family and the authorities of that is another matter entirely.

Director: Ben Stiller
Producer: Andrew Licht, Jeffrey A. Mueller, Judd Apatow
Screenwriter: Lou Holtz Jr.
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.2M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings