World’s Greatest Dad (2009)
80%RT Audience Score: 67%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
World’s Greatest Dad is a risky, deadpan, dark comedy that effectively explores the nature of posthumous cults of celebrity
World’s Greatest Dad is a dark comedy that will make you laugh and cringe at the same time. While the pacing may be a bit off and the emotional depth lacking, Robin Williams delivers some of his best acting in this film. Don’t be fooled by the jolly poster, this is not your typical family-friendly Robin Williams movie. But if you’re up for a risky and uncomfortable ride, this film is worth a watch. Plus, it’s probably the best movie ever made about someone who masturbates themselves to death.
Production Company(ies)
Red Crown Productions, The Princess Grace Foundation Participant
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Seattle, Washington, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, crude and sexual content, some drug use and disturbing images
Year of Release
2010
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 39m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 21, 2009 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 8, 2009
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
World’s Greatest Dad, Robin Williams, dark comedy, posthumous cults of celebrity, Bobcat Goldthwait, Tim Perell, Howard Gertler, Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly, R rating, Magnolia Pictures, English, Comedy, Drama, $221.2K, reviewed by Anna Smith, Hank Sartin, Joshua Rothkopf, Derek Malcolm, Robbie Collin, Anthony Quinn, James McMahon, David Harris, Josh Larsen, Richard von Busack, Alistair Harkness, starring Alexie Gilmore, Daryl Sabara, Tom Kenny, Lorraine Nicholson, Geoff Pierson, directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, written by Bobcat Goldthwait, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, producer names, writer names, director names, critic names, Fame, intrigue, literary renown, Lance Clayton, high school English teacher, fake suicide note, scandal, school paper, diary, keeping cool, crude and sexual content, some drug use, language, disturbing images
Worldwide gross: $221,805
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $301,519
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,853
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 32,881
US/Canada gross: $221,805
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $301,519
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,459
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,675
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,355
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,781
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Alexie Gilmore – Claire
Daryl Sabara – Kyle
Tom Kenny – Jerry Klein
Lorraine Nicholson – Heather
Geoff Pierson – Principal Anderson
Bobcat Goldthwait – Writer/Director
Tim Perell – Producer
Howard Gertler – Producer
Sean McKittrick – Producer
Richard Kelly – Producer
Director(s)
Bobcat Goldthwait
Writer(s)
Bobcat Goldthwait
Producer(s)
Tim Perell, Howard Gertler, Sean McKittrick, Richard Kelly
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (118) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (104) | Rotten (14)
The film’s direction isn’t always confident – there are baggy sections, and it’s rarely deeply moving – but it is consistently funny.
August 24, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Anna Smith
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Goldthwait has given it a title that will make some shy away. But don’t. It’s a comedy about the particularly American capacity to create legends out of the dead, and it’s sharper than most.
September 29, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Beware that poster, with its jolly red writing and Mork from Ork’s face thereon. This is not the Robin Williams of Old Dogs and License To Wed.
September 29, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Robbie Collin
News of the World
TOP CRITIC
Goldthwait’s pacing is uncertain, and his humour is frequently “off”, but the sense of risky provocation is compelling.
September 24, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
I enjoyed this film a lot. I’d go as far as to say that this is best film I have ever seen about someone who masturbates themselves to death.
May 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
James McMahon
NME
Not as out-and-out funny as it should be nor as emotionally poignant as it could be…
October 11, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
…a bitterly dark comedy whose aim is uncomfortably true.
August 20, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
Here, Williams has a chance to do some of the most integral, gentle and praiseworthy acting of his career.
August 11, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
Richard von Busack
MetroActive
… This voyage through the moral maze is more entertaining and whisper it quietly, more profound, than most.
June 30, 2011
Ed Whitfield
The Ooh Tray
Writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait can’t quite manage to bring things to a satisfying conclusion, but he’s good enough at weaving the freakishly perverse into the everyday without the results seeming too forced.
September 27, 2010 | Rating: 2/5
Alistair Harkness
Scotsman…
Plot
Lance Clayton is a man who has learned to settle. His son, Kyle’s an insufferable jerk. Lance is dating Claire, the school’s art teacher, but she doesn’t want to get serious or even acknowledge publicly they’re dating. In the wake of a freak accident, Lance suffers the worst tragedy
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Robin Williams leads the cast and gives a fairly strong performance.
Bobcat-Goldthwait.jpg
