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Poster for Jakob the Liar

Jakob the Liar

Seen it?

1999 | 120 min | Comedy, Drama, History

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With just 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and a box office loss, it's a mixed bag. 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 history buffs. If you loved The Zone of Interest or Jojo Rabbit, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood
Funny with heart, harrowing.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13: peril. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • Critics were cooler on it than audiences.

In 1944 Poland, a Jewish shop keeper named Jakob is summoned to ghetto headquarters after being caught out after curfew. While waiting for the German Kommondant, Jakob overhears a German radio broadcast about Russian troop movements. Returned to the ghetto, the shopkeeper shares his information with a friend and then rumors fly that there is a secret radio within the ghetto.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsWeak

    29% on Rotten Tomatoes, 40 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.7 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $5 million worldwide on a $45 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 44K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Peter Kassovitz

  • Robin WilliamsJakob Heym
  • Liev SchreiberMischa
  • Hannah Taylor-GordonLina Kronstein
  • Alan ArkinMax Frankfurter
  • Michael JeterAvron
  • Bob BalabanKowalsky
  • Armin Mueller-StahlProf. Dr. Kirschbaum
  • Éva IgóLina's Mother
  • István BálintLina's Father
  • Mark MargolisFajngold