Grumpy Old Men (1993)

A lifelong feud between two neighbors since childhood only gets worse when a new female neighbor moves across the street.

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writer:

Mark Steven Johnson

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	John Gustafson
Walter Matthau	...	Max Goldman
Ann-Margret	...	Ariel Truax
Burgess Meredith	...	Grandpa Gustafson
Daryl Hannah	...	Melanie
Kevin Pollak	...	Jacob Goldman
Ossie Davis	...	Chuck
Buck Henry	...	Snyder
Christopher McDonald	...	Mike
Steve Cochran	...	Weatherman
Joe Howard	...	Pharmacist
Isabell O'Connor	...	Nurse (as Isabell Monk)
Buffy Sedlachek	...	Punky (as Buffy Sedlacheck)
John Carroll Lynch	...	Moving Man
Charles Brin	...	Fisherman

Storyline

John and Max are elderly men living next door to each other. They're continuously arguing and insulting each other, and have been this way for over 50 years. One day, Ariel, moves into the street. Both men are attracted to her, and their rivalry steps up a gear.

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor | fishing | frozen lake | fish | fisherman | 

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Taglines:

The best of enemies until something came between them.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grumpy Old Men

Filming Locations:

Half Time Rec, 1013 Front Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$70,172,621

Company Credits

Production Co:

John Davis,Lancaster Gate,Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Max says, "It's like one of them 'Fatal Attraction' things that they show on the 'Donahue' show," referring to both Fatal Attraction (1987) and Donahue (1967).

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Goofs

When John comes back from his visit with the IRS, he returns in a cab but doesn't pay the cab driver.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Snyder: Mr. Gustafson! I have to talk to you! Mr. Gustafson, will you answer the door, please? I know you're in there! It's no use pretending this isn't happening, Mr. Gustafson! I can't keep coming... back here every couple of days! You have to talk to me! Mr. Gustafson, I'm just trying to help you! Come on and open the door! I'll just keep knocking! I'll come back, so you might as well answer the door! I know you're in there! Think of the neighbors, Mr. Gustafson! There's a letter for ...

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Crazy Credits

After all the titles, Walter Matheau in the bathtub proclaims. "If I knew there would be a nude scene in this film, I'd have aked for an extra million"

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Giant Spider Invasion (1997)

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Soundtracks

Joy to the World
Written by Isaac Watts and Lowell Mason
Arranged by Nat 'King' Cole and Edith Bergdahl
Performed by Nat 'King' Cole
Courtesy of CAPITOL RECORDS
Under License from CEMA SPECIAL MARKETS

User Reviews

Review Of "Grumpy Old Men"

"Grumpy Old Men" is a 1993 Donald Petrie film about two feuding old men (Lemmon, Matthau) who step up their game to woo their new neighbor (Ann-Margret). Let me start off by saying that I love both Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon and I have heard of how the two of them are often paired together on film. This is the first film I've seen with the both of them in it and I can tell why they were paired together here. The chemistry between Matthau and Lemmon is really noticeable throughout this film - they really love working with each other. Everyone else's performances were also very well done. The movie was also pretty funny overall, but what surprised me the most was that this film featured some very touching and heartwarming scenes within it. Honestly, I can say that this movie surprised me all together. I thought I was only going to get a 90 minute film of two old men swearing at each other. What I got was that, but with very great acting, subplot development, tonal diversity, and more. "Grumpy Old Men" is a film that I watched with a genuine smile on my face.