Get Shorty

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Get Shorty

R

1995

1h 45m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami mobster who gets sent by his boss, the psychopathic Bones Barboni (Dennis Farina), to collect a bad debt from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a Hollywood producer who specializes in cheesy horror films. When Chili meets Harry's leading lady (Rene Russo), the romantic sparks fly. After pitching his own life story as a movie idea, Chili learns that being a mobster and being a Hollywood producer really aren't all that different.

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Critics Consensus

With a perfect cast and a sly twist on the usual Hollywood gangster dynamic, Get Shorty delivers a sharp satire that doubles as an entertaining comedy-thriller in its own right.

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David Hunter

The Hollywood Reporter

Oct 25, 2019

How cool can a mere movie be? A perfect cast and great script, based on a hilariously witty best seller, are key elements. When you add a talented director and let the magic of Hollywood take over, the result is Get Shorty.

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Manohla Dargis

Spin

Oct 25, 2019

Like the Elmore Leonard novel it adapts, Get Shorty is fast, very funny, minorly caustic, and about as consequential and lasting as the movies Chili himself tries to green-light.

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Carol Buckland

CNN.com

Jan 5, 2018

It's terrifically entertaining.

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Margaret A. McGurk

Cincinnati Enquirer

Aug 19, 2021

3.5/4

DeVito's wicked version of a self-absorbed superstar is worth the price of admission alone.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 13, 2020

9/10

The screenplay is brilliant (based on the novel by Elmore Leonard), interweaving fast-paced dialogue with sharp editing and plenty of humor.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 12, 2019

4/4

Get Shorty - for all its critical and commercial acclaim - has never received its due as one of the funniest Hollywood films of modern times.

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Jeff C

@RT75481995 May 8, 2026

I love this movie. I’ve seen it so many times . Every role perfectly cast. Every performance great. It’s fun and cool and hip and I love it. ( Did I mention I love this movie?)

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 27, 2025

It was a good watch. I didn't really understand was going on, but I just watched anyway. I have no regrets. Fun cast for sure.

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Miracle C

@RT41482817 Nov 15, 2025

One of the best satires of modern times with a fantastic script. Gene Hackman delivers as always as a self absorbed, clueless director and is worth the price of admission alone.

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nick s

@Nick_S Nov 9, 2025

Great cast, sure, but the plot was quite pedestrian and I lost interest in it. To be fair I only got a bit over half way. Not a particularly tight or memorable story.

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Matheus F

@matheusf_neto Aug 28, 2025

John Travolta is superb as Chili Palmer. I love many DeVito's projects of the 90s, and Get Shorty is easily one of them.

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Larry K

@Larrymoses39 Aug 27, 2025

Good story and a stacked cast

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Barry Sonnenfeld

Director

John Travolta

Chili Palmer

Gene Hackman

Harry Zimm

Rene Russo

Karen Flores

Danny DeVito

Martin Weir

Dennis Farina

Ray 'Bones' Barboni

Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili Surprises Harry

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - E.g. vs. I.e.

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili Wants His Coat

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - A Fan of Karen's Work

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili and Bo Talk Screenwriting

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - Martin's Motivation

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - Testing Bear's Stuntman Skills

2:25

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - Making the Movie

1:33

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - The Cadillac of Minivans

0:40

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Get Shorty: Official Clip - My Associate Chili Palmer

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Synopsis

Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami mobster who gets sent by his boss, the psychopathic Bones Barboni (Dennis Farina), to collect a bad debt from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a Hollywood producer who specializes in cheesy horror films. When Chili meets Harry's leading lady (Rene Russo), the romantic sparks fly. After pitching his own life story as a movie idea, Chili learns that being a mobster and being a Hollywood producer really aren't all that different.

Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer: Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Danny DeVito
Screenwriter: Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Production Co: Jersey Films, Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 20, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 21, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $68.8M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround

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