Some Like It Hot (1959)

Kernel Score: 89% · 3,798 ratings · Rated NR

Genres: Comedy, Romance, Crime

Released: 1959-03-19

Runtime: 122 minutes

Is Some Like It Hot worth watching?

Must-watch. Two musicians on the run from the mob hide in an all-female band, and Billy Wilder makes it one of the funniest comedies ever. Fast, daring and still sharp, it's essentially joke after joke.

Watch it if you

  • want a classic comedy that still gets laughs
  • like farce with sharp dialogue
  • enjoy Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe

Skip it if you

  • won't watch black-and-white films
  • want modern comedy pacing

Best for: Classic comedy night

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch Some Like It Hot

  • Stream: Fubo, Philo, YouTube TV, MGM+
  • Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free, Tubi
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

In Prohibition-era Chicago, musicians Joe and Jerry witness a mob hit, and flee the state in an all-female band disguised as Josephine and Daphne, but further complications set in.

Some Like It Hot parents' guide: ages 8+

Parents need to know that Some Like It Hot is a classic comedy involving cross-dressing, a mob murder witnessed by the leads, and flirtatious humor, but no graphic content.

  • Violence & scariness: Some — The plot opens with the leads witnessing a gangland shooting (the St. Valentine's Day Massacre), though it's handled comedically without graphic gore.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Flirtatious humor and cross-dressing disguise plots drive much of the comedy, including suggestive innuendo.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Some Like It Hot

If you liked Some Like It Hot, these are the movies we'd watch next.

  • The Apartment (1960) — 91%: Wilder's wry, bittersweet comedy with Jack Lemmon.
  • Bringing Up Baby (1938) — 86%: Screwball comedy with a frantic, chaotic pace.
  • Sunset Boulevard (1950) — 92%: Wilder's darker, sharper look at Hollywood.
  • Double Indemnity (1944) — 90%: Wilder's crime classic, with the same sharp dialogue.
  • The Birdcage (1996) — 77%: A modern farce built on disguise and mistaken identity.
  • Modern Times (1936) — 90%: Classic physical comedy that still lands.

Director

Billy Wilder

Cast

  • Tony Curtis as Joe (Josephine)
  • Jack Lemmon as Jerry (Daphne)
  • Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Kane Kowalczyk
  • George Raft as Spats Colombo
  • Pat O'Brien as Detective Mulligan
  • Joe E. Brown as Osgood Fielding III
  • Nehemiah Persoff as Little Bonaparte
  • Joan Shawlee as Sweet Sue
  • Billy Gray as Sig Poliakoff
  • George E. Stone as Toothpick Charlie

Some Like It Hot FAQ

Is Some Like It Hot worth watching?

Must-watch. Two musicians on the run from the mob hide in an all-female band, and Billy Wilder makes it one of the funniest comedies ever. Fast, daring and still sharp, it's essentially joke after joke.

Where can I watch Some Like It Hot?

In the US you can stream Some Like It Hot on Fubo, Philo, YouTube TV and MGM+, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, YouTube Free and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Some Like It Hot OK for kids?

Some Like It Hot is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Some Like It Hot is a classic comedy involving cross-dressing, a mob murder witnessed by the leads, and flirtatious humor, but no graphic content.

What movies are like Some Like It Hot?

If you liked Some Like It Hot, try The Apartment, Bringing Up Baby, Sunset Boulevard and Double Indemnity.