The Comedian

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2:31

The Comedian

R

2017

2h 0m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

24%

Tomatometer

112 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Jackie Burke, an aging comic icon, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets Harmony, the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two find inspiration in each other.

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Critics Consensus

The Comedian boasts an incredibly talented cast, but they're put to poor use in an aimless rom-com whose handful of memorable moments never add up to a compelling story.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

Feb 17, 2017

Hackford's never been much good at pacing, and the film sort of sloshes from one scene to the next, which calls greater attention to its considerable flab - it's full of full scenes and subplots that could disappear without any real damage.

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David Sims

The Atlantic

Feb 9, 2017

A fetid, overlong drama laden with bizarre subplots and an inexplicably star-studded supporting cast, built around the dated idea that standup comedians can, indeed, be jerks.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Feb 6, 2017

The plot is forced and flimsy, the characters are thinly conceived, and the comic writing is often cringeworthy.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 17, 2021

3/4

The Comedian benefits from the nice rapport between De Niro and Mann, the contributions of a knockout supporting cast, and hard-edged humor that isn't afraid to go for the low blow.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Mar 4, 2021

2/5

Promises much but doesn't deliver and in comedy delivery is everything.

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

May 1, 2020

It plays it safe and the end results are astonishingly mediocre.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 31, 2026

The Comedian is a 1.5 star Movie!

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Melissa L

@Agent99 Nov 26, 2025

This movie was was so foul, I turned it off within the few 15 minutes.

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Tony S

@RT22145614 Aug 4, 2025

Who knew that De Niro could play an insult comic who does blue humor? This is a much different De Niro than the gangster movies. Not a family movie, but there's a credible plot with a great cast.

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Jesse C

@RT79616910 Jul 27, 2025

With the cast this movie has it should be a classic, but the main character is completely unlikeable, his "comedy" is tone deaf and lousy. The pace is way off. I couldn't make it through it. Damn.

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Linda G

@Goldy78 Jul 21, 2025

Love any movie DeNiro is in. Entertaining with some well known actors.

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Blu B

@RT43513976 Nov 4, 2024

It's not the worst comedy in the world and compared to Dirty Grandpa that came out same year, this is Some Like it Hot quality compared to that. But it's not good. The music is pretty boring and forgettable with the same jazz track used most of the time and everything else about it is subpar. It looks cheap, the direction is really basic, there isn't much in the way of visual gags either. DeNiro honestly though isn't bad here and probably the best thing in this. His standup delivery is actually pretty good honestly which makes sense given he has done several classic comedies over the decades. The biggest problems I can point too besides lacking visual flare is everyone in the supporting cast isn't as funny, very forgettable, or not that likeable, and it feels after he goes to jail it feels like stuff just happens. The romance, the troubles he has with other people, his career, all feel like they just don't add up to much. It feels like this is trying to be a romcom mixed with a Lenny Bruce like character study and it just can't make the two work together in a cohesive meaningful way. The toilet jokes with the seniors also was the worst part and is so bottom of the barrel it's ridiculous. It does recover though somewhat. This also doesn't need to be pushing near hours either. Skip This. It's not that funny or that interesting.

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Taylor Hackford

Director

Robert De Niro

Jackie Burke

Leslie Mann

Harmony Schutz

Danny DeVito

Jimmy Berkowitz

Edie Falco

Miller

Harvey Keitel

Mac

No Pay, Nudity

71%

30%

No Pay, Nudity

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Synopsis

Jackie Burke, an aging comic icon, has seen better days. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself and his comic genius, the audience only wants to know him as the former television character he once played. Already a strain on his younger brother and his wife, Jackie is forced to serve out a sentence doing community service for accosting an audience member. While there, he meets Harmony, the daughter of a sleazy Florida real estate mogul, and the two find inspiration in each other.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Producer: Art Linson, John Linson, Mark Canton, Courtney Solomon, Taylor Hackford
Screenwriter: Art Linson, Jeff Ross, Richard LaGravenese, Lewis Friedman
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Atmosphere Entertainment MM LLC, Sony Pictures Classics, Imaginary Forces, Anvil Films
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Crude Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 3, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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