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IMDbPro

Punchline

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:10
1 Video
54 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
A medical school dropout and a housewife/mom try to make it as stand-up comedians. They become friends and help each other out at an NYC comedy club.A medical school dropout and a housewife/mom try to make it as stand-up comedians. They become friends and help each other out at an NYC comedy club.A medical school dropout and a housewife/mom try to make it as stand-up comedians. They become friends and help each other out at an NYC comedy club.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Seltzer
  • Writer
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Sally Field
    • Tom Hanks
    • John Goodman
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Seltzer
  • Writer
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Sally Field
    • Tom Hanks
    • John Goodman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Punchline
    Trailer 2:10
    Punchline

    Photos54

    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Sally Field and Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Sally Field and Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Sally Field and Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sally Field
    Sally Field
    • Lilah Krytsickas Lilah Krytsick
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Steven Goldas Steven Gold
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • John Krytsickas John Krytsick
    Mark Rydell
    Mark Rydell
    • Romeoas Romeo
    Kim Greist
    Kim Greist
    • Madeline Urieas Madeline Urie
    Paul Mazursky
    Paul Mazursky
    • Arnoldas Arnold
    Pam Matteson
    • Utica Blakeas Utica Blake
    George McGrath
    George McGrath
    • Singing Nunas Singing Nun
    • (as George Michael McGrath)
    Taylor Negron
    Taylor Negron
    • Albert Emperatoas Albert Emperato
    Barry Neikrug
    • Krugas Krug
    Ángel Salazar
    Ángel Salazar
    • Ricoas Rico
    • (as Angel Salazar)
    Damon Wayans
    Damon Wayans
    • Percyas Percy
    Joycee Katz
    • Joyceeas Joycee
    Mac Robbins
    • Billy Laneas Billy Lane
    Max Alexander
    Max Alexander
    • Mister Ballas Mister Ball
    Paul Kozlowski
    • Jerry Petroviakas Jerry Petroviak
    Barry Sobel
    Barry Sobel
    • Robyn Greenas Robyn Green
    Marty Pollio
    • Juggling Comicas Juggling Comic
    • Director
      • David Seltzer
    • Writer
      • David Seltzer
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      About two months before the film started principal photography, Tom Hanks wrote and performed a five-minute stand-up comedy routine at the Los Angeles Comedy Store in California. Hanks once said of this: "It was pure flop sweat time, an embarrassment. That material lasted 1 minute 40 seconds, and it had no theme".
    • Goofs
      When Steven and Lilah are riding the #7 subway, the Manhattan terminus of the line is shown as Lexington Ave. The actual terminus should be 42nd St./ Times Square.
    • Quotes

      Steven: We are all Gods animated cartoons.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Punchline/Heartbreak Hotel/Memories of Me/Bird/Kansas (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Remember Tonight and Smile
      Words and Music by Michael Pollock

      [Played leading into the end credits]

    User reviews37

    Review
    Top review
    The film may be about a punchline, but it doesn't have its own
    "Punchline" is interesting, but not interesting enough. This movie is awfully one-sided. And it also doesn't have any ambiguity. The only character in this movie that does any real disagreeing is the John Goodman character. And yet, I expected him to yell, but he doesn't. Make him grouchy, and you might have a character, no matter how relevant to the plot, that works. And don't even get me started on the casting of Sally Field as a comedian. Seriously? Sally Field as a stand-up comedian? What were the filmmakers thinking? Why not cast someone Tom Hanks's age? Some of the audience in the movie may be laughing, but I didn't find myself laughing too much. And you probably won't either.

    **1/2 out of ****
    helpful•4
    6
    • raisleygordon
    • Mar 25, 2016

    FAQ1

    • I just saw Punchline (1988) with Sally Field and Tom Hanks. The closing credits had a fabulous trumpet piece in the soundtrack, but I couldn't find where it was identified. What is the piece and who played the trumpet???

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Punch Line
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Fogwood
      • IndieProd Company Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,042,667
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $160,742
      • Oct 2, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,042,667
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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