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Poster for Zelig

Zelig

Seen it?

1983 | 79 min | Comedy

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Light and funny.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 19 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    97% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 2 Oscars.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $12 million worldwide on a $14 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 73K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Woody Allen

  • Woody AllenLeonard Zelig
  • Mia FarrowDr. Eudora Nesbitt Fletcher
  • Patrick HorganThe Narrator (voice)
  • John BuckwalterDr. Sindell
  • Marvin ChatinoverGlandular Diagnosis Doctor
  • Stanley SwerdlowMexican Food Doctor
  • Paul NevensDr. Birsky
  • Howard ErskineHypodermic Doctor
  • Richard WhitingOther Doctor
  • Ralph BellOther Doctor