Observe and Report

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Observe and Report

R

2009

1h 26m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

208 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

As head of security at the Forest Ridge Mall, Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) takes his job very seriously, enforcing mall rules with an iron fist. When a flasher strikes Forest Ridge, Ronnie sees a chance to display his unappreciated cop skills and bring the felon to justice, and, at the same time, impress his dream girl (Anna Faris) and win a coveted spot at the police academy.

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Critics Consensus

Though it has a mean streak, and does not cater to all tastes, Observe and Report has gut-busting laughs and a fully committed Seth Rogen in irresistible form.

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Tom Charity

CNN.com

04/10/2019

More than once, writer-director Jody Hill teases out the slippy, gray area between a subversive gross-out gag and something unsettlingly misogynist. He wants to push buttons, and he's talented enough to get away with it.

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Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

05/14/2009

2/5

Much of the movie is just plain vicious. At best, it's sad and grotesque, rather than hilarious.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

05/07/2009

1/5

Writer-director Jody Hill thinks he's trying to push the envelope but doesn't know in which direction, or why.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 2

2/4

A hit-and-miss curio.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

12/01/2023

3/4

The film’s tone is somewhere between Napoleon Dynamite and Taxi Driver, in an unexpected and clever way.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/29/2020

8/10

In-your-face and out-of-control, but very wickedly funny.

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Steven F.

@SteveGotScored Feb 20

By far my favorite Seth Rogen movie!

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vihaan b

@VihaanBodwal Feb 18

I don't get it why people don't like this film.A comedic version of the "Taxi Driver".

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Oct 25

Mean, ugly, and funny as hell. Don't get me wrong, I know why many object to the content here, it's strong. But to me, that's the beauty of the film. It's Jody Hill stuff, not for the weak or easily offended. Rogen and Farris are invested, to say the least, as are Pena and others.

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Matheus F

@matheusf_neto Aug 26

The chemistry between Ray Liotta and Seth Rogen is perfectly hilarious. Jody Hill is one of the best directors/writers of comedy films and HBO Tv Shows where Danny McBride shines.

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AMJH 4

@Tony1978 07/03/2025

I absolutely LOVE this film! It's hilarious and SO quotable, which is the 2 important/key ingredients for me in comedies. It's unbelievably underrated. Yes it's dark, but I STILL seriously believe its one of Seth Rogens best and funniest films and roles.

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Robert L

@RT66572947 04/26/2025

Seriously couldn't watch more than ten minutes of this crap.

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Jody Hill

Director

Seth Rogen

Ronnie Barnhardt

Ray Liotta

Detective Harrison

Michael Peña

Dennis

Anna Faris

Brandi

Dan Bakkedahl

Mark

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Synopsis

As head of security at the Forest Ridge Mall, Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) takes his job very seriously, enforcing mall rules with an iron fist. When a flasher strikes Forest Ridge, Ronnie sees a chance to display his unappreciated cop skills and bring the felon to justice, and, at the same time, impress his dream girl (Anna Faris) and win a coveted spot at the police academy.

Director: Jody Hill
Producer: Donald De Line
Screenwriter: Jody Hill
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: De Line Pictures
Rating: R (Graphic Nudity|Drug Use|Pervasive Language|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 10, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.0M
Runtime: 1h 26m