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Poster for Ishtar

Ishtar

Seen it?

1987 | 107 min | Comedy, Adventure

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

It's still drawing plenty of interest, but middling reviews (37% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 4.6 out of 10 from audiences held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

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 and adventure fans. If you loved Crocodile Dundee or The Lost City, start here.
The mood
Light and funny.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 47 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • It picked up 1 Razzie, the "worst of the year" awards.

Two terrible lounge singers get booked to play a gig in a Moroccan hotel but somehow become pawns in an international power play between the CIA, the Emir of Ishtar, and the rebels trying to overthrow his regime.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    37% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesBelow par

    4.6 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No real honors on record. "Won" 1 Razzie, the "worst of the year" awards. Razzies don't count toward the rating.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $51 million worldwide on a $51 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 240K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Elaine May

  • Warren BeattyLyle Rogers
  • Dustin HoffmanChuck Clarke
  • Isabelle AdjaniShirra Assel
  • Charles GrodinJim Harrison
  • Jack WestonMarty Freed
  • Tess HarperWilla
  • Carol KaneCarol
  • Aharon IpaléEmir Yousef
  • Fijad HagebAbdul
  • David MarguliesMr. Clarke