Punchline (1988): cast, story & where to watch
1988 · Film · ★ 5.4
Released in 1988, Punchline is a comedy and drama film directed by David Seltzer, running about 123 minutes. “Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Lilah Krytsick is a mother and housewife who's always believed she could be a stand-up comedian. Steven Gold is an experienced stand-up seemingly on the cusp of success. When the two meet, they form an unlikely friendship, and Steven tries to help the untried Lilah develop her stage act. Despite the objections of her family and some very wobbly beginnings, Lilah improves, and soon she finds herself competing with Steven for a coveted television spot.
Who’s in it. Punchline stars Sally Field as Lilah Krytsick, Tom Hanks as Steven Gold, John Goodman as John Krytsick and Mark Rydell as Romeo, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, Punchline has proved divisive with audiences. It went on to earn $21M 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 Punchline page.
If you liked it. Fans of Punchline tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Punchline (1988)?
- In US, Punchline 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 Punchline worth watching?
- Punchline holds an audience score of 5.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Punchline?
- Punchline stars Sally Field, Tom Hanks, John Goodman, Mark Rydell and Kim Greist.
- When was Punchline released?
- Punchline was released in 1988, with a runtime of about 123 minutes.