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Jakob the Liar

Play trailer Poster for Jakob the Liar PG-13 1999 1h 54m Comedy Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
31% Tomatometer 71 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1944, Jewish shop owner Jakob overhears a radio broadcast on the movements of the Soviet army while he is shuttled to Nazi headquarters from the Warsaw, Poland, ghetto where he is imprisoned. Upon his return, he whispers what he's heard to his friend Mischa, and before long the whole ghetto is alive with rumors and hope that the long war will soon end. Determined to keep up their spirits as best he can, Jakob continues to lie with the best of intentions.
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Jakob the Liar

Jakob the Liar

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Critics Consensus

Any real story is buried by awkward performances and contrived situations.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2/4
I prefer Life Is Beautiful, which is clearly a fantasy, to Jakob the Liar, which is just as contrived and manipulative but pretends it is not. Go to Full Review Mark Caro Chicago Tribune Jan 1, 2000
2/4
I never lost awareness that I was watching actors speaking lines, not real people. Go to Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Jan 1, 2000
2/4
None of these reliable performers can put enough spin on their roles to conjure up more than the good will they've earned in previous and better movies. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Dec 26, 2025
2.5/4
...compelling subject matter that’s employed to hit-and-miss effect by Kassovitz... Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Jan 3, 2009
2/4
So sternly manipulative that it becomes a chore to watch. Go to Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Sep 24, 2007
B
"Jakob the Liar" isn't nearly as intolerable as you might expect of a Holocaust fable starring Robin Williams. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 14, 2025 Funny in 1 hour and 54 minutes. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jun 20, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Diva L @RT29787984 Jan 17, 2024 Absolutely loved the movie. Loved the humour, the story line and Robin Williams' subtle performance. At least the movie wasn't being 'milked' for tears and the horrors that took place during WWII like all the other holocast movies before this one and no doubt the ones that will come after. See more Gregg B @RT84805208 Sep 24, 2023 Movie had a lot of heart. Exceptional cast lead by the always unbelievable Robin Williams, Alan Arkin, Mark Margolis and Liev Schrieber. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Feb 12, 2023 You know what happens even before you see it. See more Feb 19, 2020 It's too comedic in nature for such a serious topic. See more Read all reviews
Jakob the Liar

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Kassovitz

Director

Robin Williams

Jakob Heym

Alan Arkin

Max Frankfurter

Bob Balaban

Kowalsky

Hannah Taylor Gordon

Lina

Michael Jeter

Avron

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Jakob the Liar

A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." A scene from the film "Jakob the Liar." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1944, Jewish shop owner Jakob overhears a radio broadcast on the movements of the Soviet army while he is shuttled to Nazi headquarters from the Warsaw, Poland, ghetto where he is imprisoned. Upon his return, he whispers what he's heard to his friend Mischa, and before long the whole ghetto is alive with rumors and hope that the long war will soon end. Determined to keep up their spirits as best he can, Jakob continues to lie with the best of intentions.
Director
Peter Kassovitz
Producer
Marsha Garces Williams
Screenwriter
Peter Kassovitz, Jurek Becker, Didier Decoin
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television, Columbia Pictures
Production Co
TriStar Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama, War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.0M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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