Funny People

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3:33

Funny People

R

2009

2h 26m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

229 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.

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Critics Consensus

Funny People features the requisite humor, as well as considerable emotional depth, resulting in Judd Apatow's most mature film to date.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

A-

This is a smart movie, one that's very unexpected.

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Laremy Legel

Film.com

May 6, 2011

B

Funny People is funny, moving, dramatic, and alternately hilarious. It's a bit like a stand-up dramedy.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Sep 11, 2009

3/5

The film is also an admiring portrait of the artist as Californian solipsist -- unburdened by personal ties or even the need to seem intelligent, free to follow his own random, petty, moment-by-moment train of thought.

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Catherine Searcey

Loud and Clear Reviews

Mar 3, 2026

The most underrated Judd Apatow movie.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 4, 2023

3.5/4

The humor is merely the setting for an affecting drama about comedians. Their material is endlessly amusing, and their chummy and sarcastic behavior toward one another riotous. Yet underneath that, Apatow emphasizes how the humor presents a façade.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 22, 2022

B

What the movie ends up saying is that some funny people will always be alone; their artistic strengths and their personal flaws are two sides of the same coin.

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Gareth V

@geewah Oct 17, 2026

Thoughtful and occasionally moving, though it struggles to bring its different threads together.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 14, 2026

Funny People is a *2.5* star Movie!

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Kyle T

@RT06668653 Oct 5, 2026

I can sort of understand why people might not like this movie but it’s one of my favorites. I feel crazy saying that I’ve seen it 10 or so times. I’m a huge Sandler fan and this feels like the first time you see him ironically portray his true feelings about his career in a film. He’s such a sweet guy and this movie not only is hilarious but it’s sad and makes me miss him while he’s still here. I think this film is super misunderstood as it doesn’t really know if its a comedy or a dramedy. For me it’s perfect. Highly recommend watching with an open mind.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 12, 2026

The worldwide gross is $71,585,235.00, less than the production budget of $75,000,000.00. Difference of $3,414,765.00.

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Spikey D.

@superbadlover27 Dec 30, 2025

Great movie, as usual from Apatow.

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Dude A. M

@Dudamundo Dec 27, 2025

I honestly couldn't decide which character was most detectable....the Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen or Leslie Mann character The only one I can say I even remotely liked at all was the Eric Bana character.

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Judd Apatow

Director

Adam Sandler

George Simmons

Seth Rogen

Ira

Leslie Mann

Laura

Eric Bana

Clarke

Jonah Hill

Leo

Funny People: Official Clip - Marginally Famous

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Funny People: Official Clip - The Myspace Show

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Funny People: Official Clip - Celebrating George's Recovery

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Funny People: Official Clip - Ira Cries at Lunch

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Funny People: Official Clip - Kill Me

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Funny People: Official Clip - Clarke vs. George vs. Ira

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Funny People: Official Clip - Randy Kills It

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Synopsis

Recently learning that he has a fatal disease, comic George Simmons (Adam Sandler) spots a struggling performer named Ira (Seth Rogen) and decides to become his mentor. The men become close friends as George teaches Ira the art of stand-up comedy, and Ira helps George define his legacy. When an old flame (Leslie Mann) reappears and the disease goes into remission, George gets a chance to re-evaluate his life and figure out what is truly important to him.

Director: Judd Apatow
Producer: Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, Clayton Townsend
Screenwriter: Judd Apatow
Distributor: Universal
Production Co: Apatow Company, Madison 23
Rating: R (Language|Crude Sexual Humor|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.8M
Runtime: 2h 26m

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