As Good as It Gets (1997)

12/19/1997 (US) • 2h 19m

Drama, Comedy, Romance

A comedy from the heart that goes for the throat. Brace yourself for Melvin.

Overview

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.

Top Billed Cast

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


Recommendations

Something's Gotta Give

66%

About Schmidt

68%

As Good as Dead

63%

Wolf

61%

Easy Rider

71%

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

73%

The Bucket List

72%

Barbie as Rapunzel

70%

Spanglish

60%

A Few Good Men

75%

Along Came Polly

60%

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

84%

The Day the Earth Stood Still

74%

The Pledge

66%

What Maisie Knew

71%

Take This Waltz

64%

Disconnected

59%

Battle in Seattle

63%

Columbus Circle

58%

Green Card

61%

Status

Released

Original Language

English

Budget

$50,000,000.00

Revenue

$314,178,011.00

Keywords

new york city

friendship

waitress

single parent

restaurant

lone wolf

dogsitter

road trip

racist

neighbor

author

obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd)

single mother

home invasion

dog

novelist

art dealer

rude

obnoxious

unlikely friendship

hospitalization

painter as artist

generosity

mother son relationship

dog owner

gay artist

unexpected romance

daily routine

child with illness

homophobic

© All Rights Reserved 2025