Buy tickets for Young Washington!

The Jerk

Find Movie Theaters & Showtimes

for
near
in

We didn't find this title in your area

Browse Local Theaters

Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1
SEE ALL VIDEOS & PHOTOS

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Carl Reiner

Producer:

David V. Picker, William McEuen

Writer:

Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb, Michael Elias

Release Date:

Dec 14, 1979

Runtime:

1hr 34m

Synopsis

An idiotic man struggles to make it through life on his own in St. Louis.

Cast

  • Carl Reiner
  • Bernadette Peters
  • Catlin Adams
  • Steve Martin
  • Mabel King
  • Richard Ward
  • Dick Anthony Williams
  • Bill Macy
  • M. Emmet Walsh
  • Dick O'Neill

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.6
129.1K
30.3K
31.4K
RATINGS 805 FANS
3.6
  • Aug 30, 2022

    More movies should have a part where the director shows up as himself and sues the main character

    1.8K Likes
    Patrick Willems
    Patrick Willems
    Jul 25, 2018

    I know we've only known each other four weeks and three days, but to me it seems like nine weeks and five days. The first day seemed like a week and the second day seemed like five days. And the third day seemed like a week again and the fourth day seemed like eight days.…

    693 Likes
    Aidan Fealy
    Aidan Fealy
    Aug 21, 2022

    “Federal regulations, sir.” Underrated element of this movie is the way M. Emmet Walsh runs down the alleyway while chasing Navin. Unbelievable amount of perfect lines in this movie, and unbelievable how much the earnest pivot to “Tonight You Belong To Me” works. Shame a…

    670 Likes
    demi adejuyigbe
    demi adejuyigbe
  •
    Nov 18, 2021

    I am a simple man who wants only one thing out of a comedy: 20 jokes per minute.

    557 Likes
    DaOConnman
    DaOConnman
    Sep 13, 2019

    “I was born a poor black child.”

    472 Likes
    John Ruhl
    John Ruhl
    Jul 25, 2020

    bernadette peters crying and putting on an old dress because she heard 'the way we were' on the radio and bernadette peters singing 'tonight you belong to me' on the beach and bernadette peters playing the trumpet and bernadette peters grinding on steve martin and…

    451 Likes
    eely
    eely
  • Jun 28, 2017

    WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY SPECIAL PURPOSE

    268 Likes
    Carlo Vanstiphout
    Carlo Vanstiphout
    Jul 8, 2017

    The greatest stupid movie of all time?

    248 Likes
    Crash Jatcko
    Crash Jatcko
    Apr 18, 2024

    They swear you in with your hand on a copy of this when you become a goofball

    219 Likes
    Joe Rumrill
    Joe Rumrill
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

86%
Community 1,347
❤️ LOVE
24%
👍 LIKE
62%
😐 MEH
10%
👎 DISLIKE
4%
Top Reviews
  • dkmovies
    dkmovies loved
    The Jerk

    “I was born a poor black child” 😂 Love this movie recommend to anyone who loves funny movies!

    😂 2 2Y
    Kward0610
    Kward0610 loved
    The Jerk

    Truly one of the funniest movies of all time. Steve Martin is great in this film. A great rags to riches story with a few unexpected twists. I really enjoyed this one.

    👀 1 2Y
    Jojo
    Jojo liked
    The Jerk

    “I know this is our first date but the next time u make love to ur boyfriend think of me?” Lmao this was a fun slapstick comedy from Steve Martin. Lots of funny gags and jokes, I knew this was a classic and had to watch it. Don’t take it too seriously. 6/10 🥫

    5D
  • shaggy z
    shaggy z liked
    The Jerk

    Laughs all the way through and some pretty good slapstick. Some of the jokes wouldnt fly today but nothing in mean spirits. Would reccomend if youre a fan of airplane and other slapstick movies of the genre.

    1Y
    Aaron Smith
    Aaron Smith is "meh" on
    The Jerk

    Pretty funny Steve Martin movie about a backwoods boy who leaves home, gets a job at a gas station, then a circus, becomes an inventor, becomes rich, and then loses it all.

    1Y
    Luke Gentry
    Luke Gentry liked
    The Jerk

    What a start for an actor with a lifetime of comedic relief ahead of him. Hilarious, thoughtful, and regenerative. I might even say Forrest Gump before Forrest Gump.

    9h
  • Brian Johnson
    Brian Johnson loved
    The Jerk

    Funny, irreverent, & politically incorrect. In other words, it’s hysterical. Steve Martin is at his best, and he and Bernadette Peters are wonderful together.

    3Y
    SpindlyMan
    SpindlyMan disliked
    The Jerk

    DNF. Feels cobbled together. Story jumps around and has no real direction. Jokes fall flat and aren’t even funny. Acting feels soulless. Not for me.

    25D
    Mickerdoo
    Mickerdoo loved
    The Jerk

    Classic 70s unapologetic comedy. Martin is iconically dense. Peter’s is a great addition with a memorable voice and delivery. Simple fun.

    2Y
View More Popular The Jerk Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

61
metacritic
Based on 14 Critics
7.0

USER SCORE (16)

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Reviews
80

Sweet, lighthearted, occasionally hilarious.

View full review
Metacritic review by Josh Modell
Josh Modell
The A.V. Club
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Jerk (1979) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is The Jerk (1979)?
The movie is 1hr 34min long.
What's The Jerk (1979) about?
An idiotic man struggles to make it through life on his own in St. Louis.
Who's the cast of The Jerk (1979)?
  • Carl Reiner
  • Bernadette Peters as Marie Kimble Johnson
  • Catlin Adams as Patty Bernstein
  • Steve Martin
  • Mabel King as Mother
  • Richard Ward as Father
  • Dick Anthony Williams as Taj Jonson
  • Bill Macy as Stan Fox
  • M. Emmet Walsh as Madman
  • Dick O'Neill as Frosty
Who's the director behind The Jerk (1979)?
Carl Reiner directed The Jerk (1979).
Who produced The Jerk (1979)?
David V. Picker and William McEuen produced The Jerk (1979).