As Good as It Gets (1997): cast, story & where to watch
1997 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1997, As Good as It Gets is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by James L. Brooks, running about 139 minutes. “A comedy from the heart that goes for the throat. Brace yourself for Melvin.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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 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, must leave work to care for her sick son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast.
Who’s in it. As Good as It Gets stars Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall, Helen Hunt as Carol Connelly, Greg Kinnear as Simon Bishop and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Frank Sachs, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, As Good as It Gets has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $314.2M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch As Good as It Gets page.
If you liked it. Fans of As Good as It Gets tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch As Good as It Gets (1997)?
- In US, As Good as It Gets is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is As Good as It Gets worth watching?
- As Good as It Gets holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in As Good as It Gets?
- As Good as It Gets stars Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich.
- When was As Good as It Gets released?
- As Good as It Gets was released in 1997, with a runtime of about 139 minutes.