The Odd Couple
Seen it?1968 | 106 min | Comedy
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), it drew serious awards attention, it made about 37 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
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. If you loved Harvey, start here. 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 46 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1968: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In New York, Felix, a neurotic news writer who just broke up with his wife, is urged by his chaotic friend Oscar, a sports journalist, to move in with him, but their lifestyles are as different as night and day are, so Felix's ideas about housekeeping soon begin to irritate Oscar.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Written American Comedy. Also nominated for 2 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes and 1 DGA Award. Plus 2 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$45 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 134K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Gene Saks
- Jack LemmonFelix Ungar
- Walter MatthauOscar Madison
- John FiedlerVinnie
- Herb EdelmanMurray
- David SheinerRoy
- Monica EvansCecily
- Carole ShelleyGwendolyn
- Iris AdrianWaitress
- Billie BirdChambermaid (uncredited)
- Angelique PettyjohnGo-go Dancer (uncredited)