Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

As Good as It Gets

  • 19971997
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 19m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
297K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,640
439
Jack Nicholson in As Good as It Gets (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaRomance
A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.A single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
297K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,640
439
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • James L. Brooks
    • Writers
      • Mark Andrus(story)
      • James L. Brooks(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Jack Nicholson
      • Helen Hunt
      • Greg Kinnear
    Top credits
    • Director
      • James L. Brooks
    • Writers
      • Mark Andrus(story)
      • James L. Brooks(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Jack Nicholson
      • Helen Hunt
      • Greg Kinnear
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 605User reviews
    • 136Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 38 wins & 54 nominations total

    Videos1

    As Good As It Gets
    Trailer 0:32
    As Good As It Gets

    Photos108

    Jack Nicholson and Jill the Dog in As Good as It Gets (1997)
    Melvin, Carol & Simon
    Melvin & Verdell
    Jack Nicholson as Melvin
    Simon & Frank
    Greg Kinnear as Simon
    Verdell
    Cuba Gooding Jr. as Frank
    Simon & Verdell
    Melvin, Simon & Verdell
    Helen Hunt as Carol
    Carol & Melvin

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Nicholson
    Jack Nicholson
    • Melvin Udall
    Helen Hunt
    Helen Hunt
    • Carol Connelly
    Greg Kinnear
    Greg Kinnear
    • Simon Bishop
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Frank Sachs
    Skeet Ulrich
    Skeet Ulrich
    • Vincent
    Shirley Knight
    Shirley Knight
    • Beverly
    Yeardley Smith
    Yeardley Smith
    • Jackie
    Lupe Ontiveros
    Lupe Ontiveros
    • Nora
    Jill the Dog
    Jill the Dog
    • Verdell
    • (as Jill)
    Timer the Dog
    • Supporting Dog
    • (as Timer)
    Billy the Dog
    • Supporting Dog
    • (as Billy)
    Bibi Osterwald
    Bibi Osterwald
    • Neighbor Woman
    Ross Bleckner
    • Carl
    Bernadette Balagtas
    Bernadette Balagtas
    • Caterer
    Jaffe Cohen
    Jaffe Cohen
    • Partygoer
    Laurie Kilpatrick
    Laurie Kilpatrick
    • Partygoer
    Alice Vaughn
    Alice Vaughn
    • Partygoer
    Brian Doyle-Murray
    Brian Doyle-Murray
    • Handyman
    • Director
      • James L. Brooks
    • Writers
      • Mark Andrus(story) (screenplay)
      • James L. Brooks(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Something's Gotta Give
    6.7
    Something's Gotta Give
    The Bucket List
    7.4
    The Bucket List
    A Few Good Men
    7.7
    A Few Good Men
    About Schmidt
    7.2
    About Schmidt
    Jerry Maguire
    7.3
    Jerry Maguire
    What Women Want
    6.4
    What Women Want
    Rain Man
    8.0
    Rain Man
    Big
    7.3
    Big
    Ghost
    7.1
    Ghost
    Philadelphia
    7.7
    Philadelphia
    When Harry Met Sally...
    7.7
    When Harry Met Sally...
    Terms of Endearment
    7.4
    Terms of Endearment

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In one scene the dog starts mimicking Jack Nicholson by stepping over the cracks in the sidewalk. The filmmakers accomplished this by placing little obstacles on the cracks so that the dog had to step over them. They then removed the obstacles digitally in post-production.
    • Goofs
      When Melvin and Carol walk past the bakery at the end of the movie, the lights come on and the staff in the bakery can be seen working. Before the lights came on, the staff must have been working in pitch black.
    • Quotes

      Melvin Udall: Now, I got a real great compliment for you, and it's true.

      Carol Connelly: I'm so afraid you're about to say something awful.

      Melvin Udall: Don't be pessimistic, it's not your style. Okay. Here I go. Clearly a mistake.

      [shifts in his seat uncomfortably]

      Melvin Udall: I've got this, what, ailment? My doctor, a shrink that I used to go to all the time, he says that in fifty or sixty percent of the cases, a pill really helps. I hate pills. Very dangerous thing, pills. Hate. I'm using the word "hate" here, about pills. Hate. My compliment is, that night when you came over and told me that you would never... all right, well, you were there, you know what you said. Well, my compliment to you is, the next morning, I started taking the pills.

      Carol Connelly: I don't quite get how that's a compliment for me.

      Melvin Udall: You make me want to be a better man.

      [pause]

      Carol Connelly: [stunned] That's maybe the best compliment of my life.

      Melvin Udall: Well, maybe I overshot a little, because I was aiming at just enough to keep you from walking out.

    • Crazy credits
      Just after the disclaimer of the American Humane Association (The animals used in this film were in no way mistreated...) there is a second disclaimer stating "The actors used in this film were in no way mistreated."
    • Connections
      Edited into Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez! (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Temple (Sanctuary Mix)
      Written & Performed by Jane Siberry

      Courtesy of Reprise Records

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews605

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Simply great
    As Good As It Gets is one of those incredibly moving films that is also hugely entertaining. It's not just a comedy, you can't quite label it a drama piece, it just is what it is; simply great.

    What works here so well are the actors and the script. Nicholson and Hunt both won Oscars and they're simply great but Kinnear is no less effective as Nicholson gay neighbour. Plus that dog is amazing as well. This film really relies on great performances and there's no shortage of that here.

    As Good As It Gets is also remarkably well written. So well defined characters and completely involving, you quite simply grow to love them and sympathize with their plight. Nicholson's remarks are terrific, each one very quotable (personal fav; I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability).

    Direction is first rate, Brooks made Terms of Endearment so it's well established that he's quite capable of making great films. As Good As It Gets is very nearly as good it gets.
    helpful•58
    18
    • ODDBear
    • Sep 19, 2005

    FAQ5

    • What is that song Vincent plays in Simon's studio?
    • What is the song Melvin plays in his car marked 'To Use As Icebreaker'?
    • What Breed of Dog is Verdell?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Old Friends
    • Filming locations
      • Khoury's Restaurant - 110 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • TriStar Pictures
      • Gracie Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $50,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $148,478,011
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,606,928
      • Dec 28, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $314,178,011
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 19 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Jack Nicholson in As Good as It Gets (1997)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for As Good as It Gets (1997)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in August
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Back to top
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.