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The Cable Guy (1996)

 -  Comedy | Drama | Horror  -  14 June 1996 (USA)
5.9
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Ratings: 5.9/10 from 83,833 users  
Reviews: 325 user | 62 critic

A lonely and disturbed cable guy raised on television just wants a new friend, but his target, a designer, rejects him, with bad consequences.

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Title: The Cable Guy (1996)

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3 wins & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Medieval Times Waitress
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Medieval Times Host
Harry O'Reilly ...
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Amy Stiller ...
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Keith Gibbs ...
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Storyline

Steven Kovak has been kicked out of his apartment by his girlfriend. Steven has a new apartment, and decides to slip the cable guy (Chip) $50 for free cable. Steven then fakes an interest in Chip's line of work. However Chip takes this to heart trying to become Steven's best bud. When Steven no longer wants to be Chips friend the man who can do it all goes on an all out assault to ruin Steven's life. In the backdrop is the delicate sub-plot of the trial of a former kid star for murdering his brother. Written by Wayne Jamieson <jamtin@OntheNet.com.au>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

He came...He saw...He tormented... See more »


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for dark thematic elements and crude humor | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

14 June 1996 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El insoportable  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$47,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,643,435 (UK) (19 July 1996)

Gross:

$60,154,431 (USA) (30 August 1996)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(8 channels)|

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Jim Carrey was paid 20 million dollars for his work in this film - a new record. See more »

Goofs

Steven and Robin have just started to watch Sleepless in Seattle having missed only the first few minutes, but the scene shown when the cable comes back on is from the middle of the movie. See more »

Quotes

The Cable Guy: Women are a labyrinth, my friend. Can I be frank? I don't think you listen to her. I think you tell her what she wants to hear. She wants you to thirst for knowledge about who she is, all the complicated splendor that is women. When your love is truly giving, it will come back to you ten fold.
Steven Kovacs: You're right. That's incredibly insightful.
The Cable Guy: I know. It was Jerry Springer's final thought on Friday's show.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The Columbia logo at the beginning of the movie segues into static from Steven's cable TV. See more »

Connections

Spoofs North by Northwest (1959) See more »

Soundtracks

"Get Outta My Head"
Written by David Lowery and Johnny Hickman (as John Hickman)
Produced by David Lowery and Dennis Herring
Performed by Cracker
Courtesy of Virgin Records America, Inc.
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

Carrey's greatest!
30 June 2001 | by (Perth, Australia) – See all my reviews

I divide movie fans into two types - those that love The Cable Guy, and those that don't. The latter I try and avoid.

Welcome to the most misunderstood, unjustly dissed movie of the 90s! Even Homer Simpson hates it! I'm not going waste time trying to change anybody's mind on this gem. If you don't see the sheer brilliance of this you're beyond hope. All I can say is that it ROCKS in every way. Jim Carrey has never been better as the creepy, psycho stalker "Chip Douglas", and Matthew Broderick is wonderfully likeable as Chip's unsuspecting customer. Add to that a tremendously cool supporting cast of cult legends including Charles Napier, Janeane Garofolo, Eric Roberts, Mr. Show's Bob and David, Sean Whalen,Owen Wilson, Andy Dick and BOTH members of Tenacious D, among others.

Full of memorable sequences - the Karaoke jam, the Medieval theme restaurant, director Ben Stiller's recurring duel role - The Cable Guy is smart-as-a-whip, black, surreal, FUNNY, FUNNY stuff!


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Steven was mean to the Cable Guy whitecp2
If you don't like it, set it aside and re-watch it in a few years... wlwlwlwl
Talk about prophetic yankee242B
What do you think? Was Sam Sweet found Guilty? OocatherineOo
Ben Stiller in the Matthew Broderick role blessyouforustwo
'Oh, Billy' Cappataur
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