Leave 'Em Laughing (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1981, Leave 'Em Laughing is a drama and tv movie film directed by Jackie Cooper, running about 98 minutes.
What it’s about. Real-life clown Jack Thum, along with his devoted wife, Shirlee, cared for dozens of homeless children — 37 of them over the years — in the Chicago area, all of whom come back to visit when they discover he's terminally ill.
Who’s in it. Leave 'Em Laughing stars Mickey Rooney as Jack Thum, Anne Jackson as Shirlee Thum, Allen Garfield as Dr. Arthur Abrams and Elisha Cook Jr. as Jetter, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, Leave 'Em Laughing sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo and MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Leave 'Em Laughing page.
If you liked it. Fans of Leave 'Em Laughing tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Leave 'Em Laughing (1981)?
- In US, Leave 'Em Laughing is available to stream on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo, and rent or buy from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Leave 'Em Laughing worth watching?
- Leave 'Em Laughing holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and tv movie. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Leave 'Em Laughing?
- Leave 'Em Laughing stars Mickey Rooney, Anne Jackson, Allen Garfield, Elisha Cook Jr. and Michael LeClair.
- When was Leave 'Em Laughing released?
- Leave 'Em Laughing was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 98 minutes.