As Good as It Gets
A comedy from the heart that goes for the throat. Brace yourself for Melvin.
1997 | 139m | English
Popularity: 5 (history)
| Director: | James L. Brooks |
|---|---|
| Writer: | James L. Brooks, Mark Andrus |
| Staring: |
| Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction, is rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor, Simon. After Simon is brutally attacked and hospitalized, Melvin finds his life turned upside down when he has to look after Simon's dog. In addition, Carol, the only waitress at the local diner who will tolerate him, leaves work to care for her chronically ill son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast. | |
| Release Date: | Dec 19, 1997 |
|---|---|
| Director: | James L. Brooks |
| Writer: | James L. Brooks, Mark Andrus |
| Genres: | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Keywords | waitress, road trip, single mother, friendship, dogsitter, obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd), art dealer, painter as artist, unexpected romance, new york city, lone wolf, author, novelist, hospitalization, gay artist, single parent, racist, home invasion, obnoxious, mother son relationship, child with illness, restaurant, neighbor, dog, rude, unlikely friendship, generosity, dog owner, daily routine, homophobic |
| Production Companies | Gracie Films, TriStar Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $314,178,011
Budget: $50,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jul 30, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Jack Nicholson | Melvin Udall |
| Helen Hunt | Carol Connelly |
| Greg Kinnear | Simon Bishop |
| Cuba Gooding Jr. | Frank Sachs |
| Shirley Knight | Beverly Connelly |
| Jesse James | Spencer Connelly |
| Yeardley Smith | Jackie Simpson |
| Lupe Ontiveros | Nora Manning |
| Skeet Ulrich | Vincent Lopiano |
| Harold Ramis | Dr. Bettes |
| Lawrence Kasdan | Dr. Green |
| Bibi Osterwald | Neighbor Woman |
| Ross Bleckner | Carl |
| Bernadette Balagtas | Caterer |
| Jaffe Cohen | Partygoer |
| Laurie Kilpatrick | Partygoer |
| Alice Vaughn | Partygoer |
| Brian Doyle-Murray | Handyman |
| Kristi Zea | Mother at Table |
| Annie Maginnis Tippe | Daughter at Table |
| Patricia Childress | Cafe 24 Waitress |
| Rebekah Johnson | Cafe 24 Waitress |
| Missi Pyle | Cafe 24 Waitress |
| Leslie Stefanson | Cafe 24 Waitress |
| Tara Subkoff | Cafe 24 Waitress |
| Shane Black | Cafe 24 Manager |
| Peter Jacobson | Man at Table |
| Lisa Edelstein | Woman at Table |
| Stan Bly | Cafe 24 Customer |
| Randall Batinkoff | Carol's Date |
| Jamie Kennedy | Street Hustler |
| Justin Herwick | Street Hustler |
| Maya Rudolph | Policewoman |
| John F. O'Donohue | Detective Ray |
| Dr. David A. Kipper | Hospital Doctor |
| Mary Elizabeth Still | Nurse Receptionist |
| Chloe Brooks | Child at Cafe 24 |
| Cooper Brooks | Child at Cafe 24 |
| Sharon L. Alexander | Female Passerby |
| Holly Denys | Female Passerby |
| Alison Rose | Psychiatric Patient |
| Kathryn Morris | Psychiatric Patient |
| Wood Harris | Cafe 24 Busboy |
| Linda Gehringer | Publisher |
| Julie Benz | Receptionist |
| Antonia Jones | Nurse |
| Kaitlin Hopkins | Woman in Lobby |
| Jimmy Workman | Sean from the Bakery |
| Danielle Spencer | Veterinarian |
| Todd Solondz | Man on Bus |
| Tom McGowan | Maitre'd |
| Danielle Brisebois | Singer |
| Matt Malloy | Men's Store Salesman |
| Paul Greenberg | Bar Waiter |
| Kirk Ringberg | Food Waiter |
| Dave Hawthorne | Bartender |
| Dunya Djordjevic | Art Dealer (uncredited) |
| Alex Ballar | Flower Store Customer (uncredited) |
| Jason Thomas Campbell | Valet (uncredited) |
| Amy Anzel | Ballet Dancer (uncredited) |
| Eliza Harris | Ballet Dancer (uncredited) |
| Eddie L. Fauria | NYC Transit Cop (uncredited) |
| Frank Slaten | Miffed Party Goer (uncredited) |
| Laura Mayes Byrnes | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) |
| Oriana Nicole Tavoularis | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) |
| Roger Ferreira | Restaurant Patron (uncredited) |
| Bronwyn Cornelius | Bartender (uncredited) |
| Maurice LaMarche | Fred Bishop - Simon's Dad on Phone (voice) (uncredited) |
| Ava Lee Scott | New Yorker |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| James L. Brooks | Screenplay, Director |
| Linda Arnold | Hair Supervisor |
| Ralph Coleman | Location Manager |
| S. Todd Christensen | Assistant Location Manager |
| Gary Deaton | Construction Coordinator |
| Yvonne Yaconelli | Production Office Coordinator |
| Martin Charles | Graphic Designer |
| George Merkert | Visual Effects Producer |
| Dale E. Grahn | Color Timer |
| Aldric La'Auli Porter | First Assistant Director |
| Ron Bartlett | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Jeffrey Pollack | Music Supervisor |
| Mike Moyer | Chief Lighting Technician |
| Donna Casey-Aira | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Mark Andrus | Story, Screenplay |
| Ray Quiroz | Script Supervisor |
| Philip Toolin | Art Direction |
| Clay A. Griffith | Set Decoration |
| Carrie Angland | Makeup Artist |
| Susan Perlman | Other |
| Karen E. Etcoff | Extras Casting, Casting |
| Michael Besman | Thanks |
| Bruce Fowler | Orchestrator |
| Gena Bleier | Assistant Editor |
| Ralph Nelson Jr. | Still Photographer |
| Greg Addison | Lighting Technician, Chief Lighting Technician |
| Dennis Drummond | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Hilary Schroeder | Assistant Editor |
| Mark Wade | Property Master |
| Ken Fritz | Stunt Coordinator |
| John D. Schofield | Unit Production Manager |
| William M. Connor | Second Assistant Director |
| David Giammarco | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Masako Masuda | Assistant Art Director |
| Brana Rosenfeld | Assistant Set Decoration |
| John Naehrlich | Leadman |
| Bart C. Hubenthal | Set Dresser |
| Scott G. Jones | Set Dresser |
| John Maskovich | Set Dresser |
| Renée Tondelli | ADR Supervisor |
| Patrick Drummond | Sound Effects Editor |
| Cindy Marty | Sound Effects Editor |
| Nicholas Korda | ADR Editor |
| Jonathan Klein | Foley Editor |
| Christopher Flick | Foley Editor |
| Zigmund Gron | Music Editor |
| Galen Goodpaster | First Assistant Sound Editor |
| Kira Edmunds | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Bill Ward | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Chris Jenkins | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Mark Smith | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Andy Malcolm | Foley Artist |
| Richard Duarte | Foley Mixer |
| Thomas J. O'Connell | ADR Mixer |
| Jeff Gomillion | ADR Mixer |
| Rudy Pi | Sound Recordist |
| Matt Colleran | Sound Recordist |
| Jeff Wexler | Sound Mixer |
| Don Coufal | Boom Operator |
| Gary Holland | Cableman |
| David Burnett | Assistant Chief Lighting Technician |
| Michael M. Krevitt | Key Grip |
| Thomas Wazney | Best Boy Grip |
| Michael Connors | Dolly Grip |
| William B. Doane | Special Effects Coordinator |
| Elaine Ramires | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Mary Elizabeth Still | Costumer |
| James Lapidus | Costumer |
| Theresa Repola Mohammed | Negative Cutter |
| Phil O'Dell | Stunts |
| Scott Meyers | Production Assistant |
| Steve Craft | Second Assistant "B" Camera |
| Michael Stone | "A" Camera Operator |
| Walter Scott | Stunt Coordinator |
| John Bailey | Director of Photography |
| Richard Marks | Editor |
| Francine Maisler | Casting |
| Bill Brzeski | Production Design |
| Julie Ansell | Thanks |
| Chester E. Tripp III | Stunts |
| BJ Davis | Stunt Double |
| Julia Davis | Stunt Coordinator, Stunt Double |
| Denise Lynne Roberts | Stunts |
| Barbara Harris | ADR Voice Casting |
| Pablo Ferro | Title Designer |
| Tim McGovern | Visual Effects Supervisor |
| Armen Ksajikian | Musician |
| John 'Jake' Jacobson | Unit Production Manager |
| John H. Maxwell | Set Dresser |
| Michèle Burke | Makeup Supervisor |
| Gene LeBell | Stunts |
| Hans Zimmer | Original Music Composer |
| Felipe Savahge | Stunts |
| Molly Maginnis | Costume Designer |
| Bryce Gregory | Stunts |
| B.J. Davis | Stunts |
| Pete Turner | Stunts |
| Lori C. Ingle | Associate Editor |
| Denise Sirkot | Executive In Charge Of Production |
| Todd Jacques | Set Dresser |
| Gary Rizzo | Set Dresser |
| Rochelle S. Allen | Art Department Assistant |
| Jeffrey Machala | Assistant Property Master |
| Rick Tschudin | "B" Camera Operator |
| Richard Turner | "B" Camera Operator |
| Paul Plannette | First Assistant "B" Camera |
| Donald E. Thorin Jr. | First Assistant "A" Camera |
| Michael Martinez | Second Assistant "A" Camera |
| Sarah Thiessen | Assistant Editor |
| Heather Hughes | Assistant Editor |
| Tony Solomons | Assistant Editor |
| Laura Congleton | Assistant Editor |
| Marisa Morabito | Editorial Production Assistant |
| Kim Haves | Dialogue Editor |
| Darren King | Dialogue Editor |
| George Campos | Apprentice Sound Editor |
| Adam Milo Smalley | Music Editor |
| Harry Gregson-Williams | Conductor |
| Lucas Richman | Conductor |
| Alan Meyerson | Scoring Mixer |
| Felix Ojeda | Compositor |
| Megan Omi | Compositor |
| Guy T. Wiedmann | Visual Effects Editor |
| Hal Miles | Rotoscoping Artist |
| Lisa Kahatriya | Rotoscoping Artist |
| Mark Dornfeld | Imaging Science |
| Kathryn Eisenstein | Casting Associate |
| Karen R. Jones | Unit Publicist |
| Vince del Castillo | Transportation Captain |
| Richard McLaughlin | Transportation Co-Captain |
| Shari Hanger | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Marguerite Rowland | Production Accountant |
| Giela Fredman | Assistant Accountant |
| George A. Davis | Production Secretary |
| Amy Herman | Unit Production Manager |
| Deirdre Cook | Production Coordinator |
| Miriam Schapiro | Assistant Production Coordinator |
| James Bartolomeo | Second Assistant Camera |
| Gábor Kövér | "B" Camera Operator |
| Jeff Hand | First Assistant "B" Camera |
| Al Rodgers | Second Assistant "B" Camera |
| Allen Weisinger | Makeup Artist |
| Heidi Shulman | Costume Supervisor |
| Daniel J. Adkins | Costume Supervisor |
| John Dolan | Key Grip |
| Declan Baldwin | Location Manager |
| Trish Adlesic | Assistant Location Manager |
| Jerome R. Vitucci | Sound Mixer |
| Kathleen King | Boom Operator |
| Al Griswold | Special Effects Coordinator |
| Teresa Carriker-Thayer | Art Direction |
| Robert Griffon Jr. | Property Master |
| Jacqueline Jacobson Scarfo | Set Decoration |
| Philip Canfield | Leadman |
| Edward O'Donnell | Transportation Captain |
| Patrick King | Transportation Co-Captain |
| Demmie Todd | Still Photographer |
| Mike Revell | Production Accountant |
| Susanna Horng | Production Secretary |
| David Yang | Producer's Assistant |
| Petra Alexandria | Executive Producer's Assistant |
| Felicia Nalivansky | Executive Producer's Assistant |
| Diane Krakower | Actor's Assistant |
| Stacey Berns | Actor's Assistant |
| Debbie Modrow | Actor's Assistant |
| Shawn Suttles | Actor's Assistant |
| Kristen Ploucha | Production Assistant |
| Michael Tubre | Production Assistant |
| Chad Ahrendt | Production Assistant |
| Brian Black | Production Assistant |
| Ted Sroka | Production Assistant |
| Chad Woelki | Production Assistant |
| Eric Mention | Production Assistant |
| Chris Palzis | Production Assistant |
| Andy Mensing | Production Assistant |
| Jason Rubenstein | Production Assistant |
| John Shaw | Production Assistant |
| Alex Fernandez | Production Assistant |
| Jeffrey Ford | First Assistant Editor |
| Dr. David A. Kipper | Medical Consultant |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Kristi Zea | Producer |
| Maria Kavanaugh | Associate Producer |
| John D. Schofield | Co-Producer |
| Bridget Johnson | Producer |
| Owen Wilson | Associate Producer |
| Aldric La'Auli Porter | Associate Producer |
| Richard Marks | Co-Producer |
| Richard Sakai | Executive Producer |
| Laurence Mark | Executive Producer |
| Laura Ziskin | Executive Producer |
| James L. Brooks | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Director | James L. Brooks | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Helen Hunt | Nominated |
| SAG Awards | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 31 | 46 | 20 |
| 2024 | 5 | 37 | 56 | 19 |
| 2024 | 6 | 33 | 62 | 19 |
| 2024 | 7 | 32 | 62 | 21 |
| 2024 | 8 | 30 | 47 | 18 |
| 2024 | 9 | 19 | 26 | 14 |
| 2024 | 10 | 27 | 41 | 18 |
| 2024 | 11 | 34 | 113 | 18 |
| 2024 | 12 | 26 | 37 | 18 |
| 2025 | 1 | 25 | 41 | 19 |
| 2025 | 2 | 20 | 29 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 9 | 31 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2025 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 2025 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 688 | 732 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 712 | 868 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 713 | 817 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 819 | 907 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 765 | 892 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 369 | 608 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 883 | 894 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 308 | 635 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 150 | 342 |
SoSmooth1982
6.0
When I first saw this movie I thought it was going to be a funny movie. It's actually a serious drama movie. I still liked it but he's a prick in this movie. ...
Apr 17, 2023
Arcanum101
8.0
This movie will hit you hard, force you to think about your biases and make you pretty damn uncomfortable. But don't fret, you'll feel better by the end. And Nicholson is so natural as a misanthrope. ...
May 19, 2023
Geronimo1967
7.0
Greg Kinnear ("Simon") finds himself in hospital after a brutal bit of gay-bashing, and that means that his small, yappie, dog ("Jill") has to be entrusted to his rather curmudgeonly, author neighbour "Melvin" (Jack Nicholson) - not exactly the most loving and obvious of choices. Now this latter guy ... isn't exactly flavour of the month - indeed it's really only waitress "Carol" (Helen Hunt) who will put up with his selfish and churlish behaviour. When her young son becomes ill, she has to take time off and "Melvin" finds himself truly alone - with no breakfast! The solution, well all three of them take a trip and, well, you can imagine that with Nicholson and Hunt on super form here, Kinnear clearly thriving as their foil, and a screenplay from James L. Brooks at his best, we get an highly entertaining and earthy hybrid of comedy and the most unlikely semblance of romance as the three realise that there is so much more to life than any realised was possible. It's a wee bit long, but the characterisations are rich and engaging and there is a genuine chemistry on screen between all three - and the dog! It's a feel good film that has some serious undercurrents but those are dealt with in a fashion that is potent but not preachy and provides us with food-for-thought wrapped in a smile. Definitely worth watching.
May 27, 2023