Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
86%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 8 nominations
A high-concept high school reunion movie with an adroitly cast John Cusack and armed with a script of incisive wit
Grosse Pointe Blank” is like if John Hughes directed “The Killer” and it’s a hitman movie that treats being a professional killer like it’s just another profession, one that’s gotten staid and corporate. John Cusack is charming and convincing as a hitman who’s trying to figure out his life while attending his high school reunion. The soundtrack curated by Joe Strummer is blistering and adds to the overall coolness of the film. It’s a fun, engaging film that’s perfect for keeping your spirits up.
Production Company(ies)
Mad As Birds G-B A S E Head Gear Films,
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures, Hollywood Pictures Home Video
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Grosse Pointe, Detroit, Michigan, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence, language and some drug content
Year of Release
1997
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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 47m
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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): Apr 11, 1997 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 8, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Alan Arkin, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven, directed by George Armitage, written by Tom Jankiewicz, D.V DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, comedy, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Ansen, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Anthony Quinn, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Leonard Klady, Susan Stark, MPAA rating R, produced by Donna Arkoff Roth, Roger Birnbaum, Susan Arnold
Worldwide gross: $28,084,357
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $52,351,512
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,304
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,708,998
US/Canada gross: $28,084,357
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $52,351,512
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,050
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,870,397
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,806,976
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 872
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,961,213
Production budget ranking: 1,184
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,057,113
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,333,186
ROI to date (est.): 22%
ROI ranking: 1,288
Minnie Driver – Debi Newberry
Dan Aykroyd – Grocer
Alan Arkin – Dr. Oatman
Joan Cusack – Marcella
Jeremy Piven – Paul Spericki
Director – George Armitage
Producers – Donna Arkoff Roth, Roger Birnbaum, Susan Arnold
Writers – Tom Jankiewicz, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack
Director(s)
George Armitage
Writer(s)
Tom Jankiewicz, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack
Producer(s)
Donna Arkoff Roth, Roger Birnbaum, Susan Arnold
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (13)
As a satire, Grosse Pointe Blank doesn’t completely add up-the parts are greater than the whole-but it’s very much alive and kicking.
February 28, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
June 10, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Despite some early indications from the two Cusacks and Arkin that it’s going to be funny, it winds up an unholy mess that becomes steadily more incoherent — morally, dramatically, and conceptually.
November 6, 2009
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Cusack is charming and assured in the film.
March 26, 2009
Leonard Klady
Variety
TOP CRITIC
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Starring 80s poster boy John Cusack and featuring a blistering soundtrack curated by Joe Strummer, ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’ is like John Hughes directed The Killer.
July 4, 2022
Travis Johnson
Blunt Magazine
The big joke in Grosse Pointe Blank is that it treats being a professional killer like its just another profession, one thats gotten staid and corporate (25th anniversary)
April 22, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
…a fun, engaging film to keep the spirits up…
July 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Eddie Harrison
film-authority.com
Cusack might seem a bit frail to be regarded as a hitman, but his hyper-cool manner and razor-sharp delivery of the movie’s cracking dialogue is never anything but convincing.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Tackling the ravages of time with a rambunctious tone, “Blank” wraps emotional entropy and existential rumination into a clever, conceptual comedy that befits the ’90s brethren like “Defending Your Life” or “Groundhog Day” alongside which it stands.
April 27, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
If Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) was just another comedy in the wave of 80s nostalgia, then John Cusack is the kid who grew up to be Oliver North.
December 15, 2016
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com…
Plot
Martin Blank is a freelance hitman who starts to develop a conscience, which causes him to muff a couple of routine assignments. On the advice of his secretary and his psychiatrist, he attends his 10th year High School reunion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (a Detroit suburb where he’s also contracted to kill someone). Hot on his tail are a couple of over-enthusiastic federal agents, another assassin who wants to kill him, and Grocer, an assassin who wants him to join an “Assassin’s Union.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features an adroitly cast John Cusack in the lead role.
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