The Apartment (1960)
Kernel Score: 91% · 2,588 ratings
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Released: 1960-06-21
Runtime: 125 minutes
Is The Apartment worth watching?
Must-watch. A sharp, sad, funny comedy about a lonely clerk who lends out his flat to bosses for affairs. It balances cynicism and tenderness better than almost any romantic comedy, and it still feels fresh.
Watch it if you
- like witty classic comedies
- enjoy films that mix laughs with real heartache
- want a great Jack Lemmon performance
Skip it if you
- won't watch black-and-white films
- want a breezy, purely light rom-com
Best for: Cozy classic night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Apartment
- Stream: YouTube TV
- 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
Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve.
The Apartment parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Apartment is a classic romantic comedy-drama involving extramarital affairs and a suicide attempt.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — The plot centers on an office worker lending his apartment for executives' extramarital affairs, per the 'love affair' and 'extramarital affair' keywords.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Office party and holiday drinking feature in the New Year's Eve and Christmas-set story.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Apartment
If you liked The Apartment, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Some Like It Hot (1959) — 89%: Another Wilder comedy with fast dialogue and heart
- Sunset Boulevard (1950) — 92%: Wilder's dark, cynical look at the showbiz world
- Double Indemnity (1944) — 90%: Wilder at his sharpest, with a very different mood
- Annie Hall (1977) — 86%: Witty New York romance with bittersweet edges
- When Harry Met Sally... (1989) — 83%: Smart, talky romance about love and timing
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957) — 89%: Wilder again, with great dialogue and a late sting
Director
Cast
- Jack Lemmon as C.C. Baxter
- Shirley MacLaine as Fran Kubelik
- Fred MacMurray as Jeff D. Sheldrake
- Ray Walston as Joe Dobisch
- Jack Kruschen as Dr. Dreyfuss
- David Lewis as Al Kirkeby
- Hope Holiday as Mrs. Margie MacDougall
- Joan Shawlee as Sylvia
- Naomi Stevens as Mrs. Mildred Dreyfuss
- Johnny Seven as Karl Matuschka
The Apartment FAQ
Is The Apartment worth watching?
Must-watch. A sharp, sad, funny comedy about a lonely clerk who lends out his flat to bosses for affairs. It balances cynicism and tenderness better than almost any romantic comedy, and it still feels fresh.
Where can I watch The Apartment?
In the US you can stream The Apartment on YouTube TV, 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 The Apartment OK for kids?
Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Apartment is a classic romantic comedy-drama involving extramarital affairs and a suicide attempt.
What movies are like The Apartment?
If you liked The Apartment, try Some Like It Hot, Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity and Annie Hall.