Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
94%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 14 nominations total
This adaptation of David Mamet’s play is every bit as compelling and witty as its source material, thanks in large part to a clever script and a bevy of powerhouse actors.
Glengarry Glen Ross is like watching a group of sharks in a tank, but instead of water, it’s a real estate office. The cast, including Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, and Jack Lemmon, deliver some of their best work in this film. The dialogue is sharp and poetic, and the characters are compelling, even if they’re not exactly likable. It’s not an enjoyable watch, but it’s definitely exhilarating. And if you’re a fan of stinging social rebukes, this movie is a must-see. Just don’t expect to leave with your faith in humanity intact.
Production Company(ies)
New Line Cinema, Zupnik Cinema Group II GGR
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment, New Line Cinema
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Office, 1515 Sheepshead Bay Road, Brooklyn, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
1992
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Stereo
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 40m
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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): Sep 16, 1992 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, directed by James Foley, written by David Mamet, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Henry Sheehan, James Berardinelli, Todd McCarthy, Peter Travers, Kathleen Maher, Rita Kempley, Quentin Crisp, PJ Nabarro, Vanessa Letts, Tim Brayton, Ashley Norris, Dennis Schwartz, R rating, New York City, real estate salesmen, firing, leads, tough-talking salesmen, Shelley Levene, sick daughter, John Williamson, plan to steal leads, powerhouse actors, clever script, witty, compelling, social rebuke, sharp dialogue, human nature, brutal dialogue, individualize, humanize, pugilistic wordplay, intense psychodramatic material, ensemble cast, Mamet play, sizzles, excellent dialogue, superb acting, expansion of source material, appropriate changes, Baldwin character, introspective look, underbelly, nice guy sales people, cinematic equivalent of Baseball’s All Star game, big stars, grand time, afternoon’s entertainment vehicle, worthy of re-watching, Always Be Closing
Worldwide gross: $10,725,228
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,957,625
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,666
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,503,558
US/Canada gross: $10,725,228
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,957,625
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,366
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,104,402
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $4,504,526
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,114
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $26,756,569
Production budget ranking: 1,222
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,408,413
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$18,207,357
ROI to date (est.): -44%
ROI ranking: 1,649
Jack Lemmon – Shelley Levene
Alec Baldwin – Blake
Ed Harris – Dave Moss
Alan Arkin – George Aaronow
Kevin Spacey – John Williamson
Director(s)
James Foley
Writer(s)
David Mamet
Producer(s)
Jerry Tokofsky, Stanley R. Zupnik
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 14 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (3)
While the dark view of human nature and brutal dialogue might keep faint hearts from the film, the cast manages to individualize and humanize the pugilistic wordplay so that its expressiveness never veers into offensiveness.
October 3, 2018
Henry Sheehan
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
For anyone who loves sharp dialogue, compelling characters, and a stinging social rebuke, Glengarry Glen Ross is not to be missed.
June 10, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
Mamet reveals his exceptional talent for writing almost poetic working-class vernacular, scores his major implicit thematic thrusts against the nature of the way business-at-large is conducted.
June 9, 2008
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
May 12, 2001 | Rating: 4/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Glengarry Glen Ross is interesting to watch like well-performed gymnastics but it never really connects.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/5
Kathleen Maher
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Foley is as adept at managing this intensely psychodramatic material as he is handling an ensemble cast with the combined power of a runaway locomotive.
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
I recommend Glengarry to all of you, but do not hope to leave the cinema with the last vestige of your faith in human nature still intact.
April 6, 2022
Quentin Crisp
Christopher Street
Clearly some of the best work that the likes of Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, and even the great Jack Lemmon, have ever done.
February 22, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Not an enjoyable watch, but in its own way it is exhilarating.
July 24, 2018
Vanessa Letts
The Spectator
As an expression of a great script, it really can’t be beat.
March 20, 2015 | Rating: 7/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
Head of the direction duties, James Foley, strings it together well, making it harmonise like the musical piece it has succeeded to be.
February 5, 2013 | Rating: 4.5/5
Ashley Norris
HeyUGuys
As you would expect from a Mamet play, the dialogue sizzles.
March 17, 2011 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
The real story behind the world of sales. This is a realistic portrayal of what it is to try making a life in high pressure sales with all its highs and lows; promises of fortunes and deliveries of dross. Red-leads and dead-leads are to blame for life’s outcomes. Living with “Objection, Rebuttal, Close”.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Glengarry Glen Ross includes powerhouse actors such as Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, and Kevin Spacey.
James-Foley.jpg
