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IMDbPro

Flirting with Disaster

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer1:57
2 Videos
42 Photos
  • Comedy
A young man, his wife, and his incompetent case worker travel across country to find his birth parents.A young man, his wife, and his incompetent case worker travel across country to find his birth parents.A young man, his wife, and his incompetent case worker travel across country to find his birth parents.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David O. Russell
  • Writer
    • David O. Russell
  • Stars
    • Ben Stiller
    • Patricia Arquette
    • Téa Leoni
Top credits
  • Director
    • David O. Russell
  • Writer
    • David O. Russell
  • Stars
    • Ben Stiller
    • Patricia Arquette
    • Téa Leoni
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 117User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 10 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Official Trailer
    Flirting With Disaster
    Trailer 1:53
    Flirting With Disaster

    Photos42

    Téa Leoni and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Téa Leoni and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Lily Tomlin, David O. Russell, and Matthew Weiner at an event for Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Lily Tomlin, Zanne Devine, David O. Russell, and Matthew Weiner at an event for Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Lily Tomlin at an event for Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, Mary Tyler Moore, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
    Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ben Stiller
    Ben Stiller
    • Mel Coplin
    Patricia Arquette
    Patricia Arquette
    • Nancy Coplin
    Téa Leoni
    Téa Leoni
    • Tina Kalb
    Mary Tyler Moore
    Mary Tyler Moore
    • Pearl Coplin
    George Segal
    George Segal
    • Ed Coplin
    Alan Alda
    Alan Alda
    • Richard Schlichting
    Lily Tomlin
    Lily Tomlin
    • Mary Schlichting
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Paul Harmon
    Josh Brolin
    Josh Brolin
    • Agent Tony Kent
    Celia Weston
    Celia Weston
    • Valerie Swaney
    Glenn Fitzgerald
    Glenn Fitzgerald
    • Lonnie Schlichting
    Beth Stern
    Beth Stern
    • Jane
    • (as Beth Ostrosky)
    Cynthia LaMontagne
    Cynthia LaMontagne
    • Sandra
    • (as Cynthia Lamontagne)
    David Patrick Kelly
    David Patrick Kelly
    • Fritz Boudreau
    John Ford Noonan
    John Ford Noonan
    • Mitch
    Charlet Oberly
    • B&B Lady
    Nadia Dajani
    Nadia Dajani
    • Jill
    Don Creech
    Don Creech
    • Cop #1
    • Director
      • David O. Russell
    • Writer
      • David O. Russell
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Lily Tomlin, Ben Stiller and David O. Russell did not get along and had many heated arguments.
    • Goofs
      Cameraman visible in mirror in detectives office.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Coplin: San Diego has a big carjacking problem. They bump you, and when you stop, they mutilate you and take your car.

    • Alternate versions
      The VHS and laserdisc versions (but not the DVD release) feature additional scenes during the end credits, not included in the original theatrical cut, showing the whereabouts of Tina and Tony and Paul.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Diabolique/It's My Party/Flirting with Disaster/Girl 6/Little Indian, Big City (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Anything But Love
      Written by Don Raleigh/Squirrel Nut Zippers
      Performed by Squirrel Nut Zippers

    User reviews117

    Review
    Top review
    An enjoyable display of Murphy's Law
    This film tells the story of a new father who decides to skip his adoptive father's sixtieth birthday celebration to find his biological parents.

    "Flirting with Disaster" has a very happening plot, with new unexpected events every few minutes. It details a trip that goes wrong at every turn, some are innocent mishaps while some are truly disastrous. It illustrates Murphy's Law very well! The story is darkly humorous, it is not laugh out loud funny, but it keeps viewers entertained and engaged with a smile on the face. It is also quite interesting to see what many famous faces looked like twenty years ago. I can't quite believe the policeman is Josh Brolin, for example.
    helpful•3
    0
    • Gordon-11
    • Feb 15, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 12, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Біда біду тягне
    • Filming locations
      • Tucson, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Miramax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,702,438
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $164,458
      • Mar 24, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,702,438
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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