Small Time Crooks (2000)

NEUTRAL

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68%

2000, Comedy/Romance, 1h 35m

RT Critics’ Score: 66% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 57%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 4 nominations

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Critics Consensus

Woody Allen rises from his recent slump with Small Time Crooks. A simple, funny movie, Crooks proves Allen still has the touch that made his name synonymous with off-beat comedy

Audience Consensus

Small Time Crooks is a movie that’s so old-fashioned, it’s practically a time capsule. Unfortunately, the humor is also stuck in the past, and it’s not all that funny. But hey, at least Elaine May steals the show, and Tracey Ullman is a great match for Woody Allen. If you’re looking for a good laugh, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you’re in the mood for some harmless, old-school entertainment, Small Time Crooks might be just the ticket. Just don’t expect to be rolling on the floor with laughter.

Storyline

Dishwasher and small-fry criminal Ray hits on a plan with his partners in crime to re-open a local pizza place and dig through to the bank down the street. As his wife can’t cook pizza but does great cookies, that’s what they sell. While the no-hope tunnellers get lost underground, the cookie operation really takes off and the team find themselves rich business people. But the other local money isn’t quite ready to accept them.

Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Vtoroe Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie

Distributor
DreamWorks SKG

Release Type
Theatrical

Filming Location(s)
Doyers Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for language

Year of Release
2000

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

Dolby
Aspect ratio:

1.85 : 1
Runtime:

1h 35m
Language(s):

English
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 2000 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2000

Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance

Keyword(s)
starring Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Hugh Grant, Jon Lovitz, Elaine May, Michael Rapaport, directed by Woody Allen, written by Woody Allen, produced by Jean Doumanian, comedy, romance, PG, box office, budget, reviewed by David Ansen, Nell Minow, Ed Gonzalez, Ben Falk, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jay Boyar, Jim Lane, Joe Lozito, Frank Swietek, Jeffrey M Anderson, Robin Clifford, Tracey Ullman, Diane Keaton, Annie Hall, social commentary, bank heist, misadventures, ex-con dishwasher, manicurist wife, get-rich-quick scheme, crime, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Flat (1.85:1)

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $29,934,477
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $51,918,829
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,307
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,661,813

US/Canada gross: $17,266,359
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $29,947,045
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,276
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,880,723
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,730,787
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,046

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $43,360,394
Production budget ranking: 890
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $23,349,572
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$14,791,138
ROI to date (est.): -22%
ROI ranking: 1,517

Cast & Crew

Woody Allen

Ray Winkler

Tracey Ullman

Francis ‘Frenchy’ Fox Winkler

Hugh Grant

Woody Allen

Tracey Ullman

Hugh Grant

Jon Lovitz

Elaine May

Woody Allen – Ray Winkler
Tracey Ullman – Francis ‘Frenchy’ Fox Winkler
Hugh Grant – David
Jon Lovitz – Benny
Elaine May – May
Michael Rapaport – Denny

Woody Allen

Jean Doumanian

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
Woody Allen

Writer(s)
Woody Allen

Producer(s)
Jean Doumanian

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
1 win & 4 nominations

Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Ansen

Nell Minow

Ed Gonzalez

Ben Falk

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Newsweek

Common Sense Media

Slant Magazine

BBC.com

Chicago Reader

SMALL TIME CROOKS
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (34)
This is an amiable and quite conventional comedy. The biggest problem is that it’s not all that funny. The whole movie, with its rather antiquated notions of the lower classes, feels as if it were inspired by another era.

March 6, 2018

David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Not much here to interest to children.

December 28, 2010 | Rating: 3/5

Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Elaine May steals the show.

May 2, 2001 | Rating: 2.5/4

Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
April 17, 2001 | Rating: 4/5

Ben Falk
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4

Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A lot of it is enjoyable.

January 1, 2000

Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5

Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 3/4

Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
July 24, 2006 | Rating: B

Frank Swietek
One Guy’s Opinion
I’m happy to report that the new film, Small Time Crooks, is a return to good laughs and good fun.

May 26, 2006

Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
April 9, 2005 | Rating: C-

Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
Tracey Ullman is Allen’s best on-screen match since Diane Keaton in Annie Hall; smart, funny, a fully-developed character.

January 15, 2005 | Rating: B-

Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer…

Plot
Dishwasher and small-fry criminal Ray hits on a plan with his partners in crime to re-open a local pizza place and dig through to the bank down the street. As his wife can’t cook pizza but does great cookies, that’s what they sell. While the no-hope tunnellers get lost underground, the cookie operation really takes off and the team find themselves rich business people. But the other local money isn’t quite ready to accept them.

Trivia