Tommy Boy (1995)
78%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 2 nominations
Though it benefits from the comic charms of its two leads, Tommy Boy too often feels like a familiar sketch stretched thin
Tommy Boy is a movie that’s so bad, it’s good. It’s like a train wreck that you can’t look away from. Chris Farley and David Spade’s chemistry is undeniable, and their antics will have you laughing out loud. Sure, the plot is cliché and the jokes are low-brow, but that’s what makes it so entertaining. It’s the perfect movie to watch with a group of friends and a few beers. So, grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride with Tommy Boy.
Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Sandusky, Ohio, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, some drug content and nudity
Year of Release
1995
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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 38m
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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): Mar 31, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Chris Farley, David Spade, Brian Dennehy, Bo Derek, Dan Aykroyd, Julie Warner, directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, comedy, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Brian Lowry, Caryn James, Kevin Thomas, Desson Thomson, Roger Ebert, Mal Vincent, Malcolm Johnson, Quentin Curtis, John A Nesbit, Alex Orner, produced by Lorne Michaels, Robert K Weiss, MPAA rating, automobile parts factory, Sandusky, Ohio, Tommy Callahan, Richard Hayden, Beverly Barish-Burns, Ray Zalinsky, Michelle Brock, father-son relationship, road trip, comedy duo, physical comedy, slapstick humor, buddy comedy, underdog story, sentimental, heartwarming, classic comedy, cult classic, Chris Farley’s debut film, David Spade’s chemistry with Chris Farley, Brian Dennehy’s performance as Chris’s father
Worldwide gross: $32,679,899
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $64,260,441
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,223
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,007,682
US/Canada gross: $32,679,899
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $64,260,441
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 961
US/Canada opening weekend: $8,027,843
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,785,628
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 762
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $39,327,197
Production budget ranking: 973
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $21,177,696
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $3,755,549
ROI to date (est.): 6%
ROI ranking: 1,371
David Spade – Richard Hayden
Brian Dennehy – Thomas ‘Big Tom’ Callahan II
Bo Derek – Beverly Barish-Burns
Dan Aykroyd – Ray Zalinsky
Julie Warner – Michelle Brock
Director(s)
Peter Segal
Writer(s)
Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (26)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: C
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Stupid is apparently in.
May 6, 2008
Brian Lowry
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The most peculiar aspect of the movie is that some of it is played straight.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 1.5/5
Caryn James
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Tommy Boy is a good belly laugh of a movie.
February 13, 2001 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
As a sketch for a Saturday Night Live show, it would have been a tour de force. But as part of this rather unimaginative movie, it’s just a bit with a burning desk.
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The movie is an assembly of cliches and obligatory scenes from dozens of other movies, all its better.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 1/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Farley has a great deal of energy and a cheerful screen presence. It’s impossible not to like him at the same time that you can merely shake your head at this flick.
March 1, 2022 | Rating: 1/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
Mostly this is one long, loud, stupid road picture.
April 10, 2018 | Rating: 1/4 stars
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Dumber than Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy is a comedy that might be a hoot after several beers but is otherwise best avoided.
December 13, 2017
Quentin Curtis
Independent on Sunday
re-do it as a 10-15 minute motivational tape as a seminar for business and sales people
August 5, 2013 | Rating: C
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
Raunchy, funny, and not for younger kids.
January 1, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Alex Orner
Common Sense Media
Farley and Spade have a definite chemistry, and they do their best to pick up the slack. [Blu-ray]
December 26, 2008 | Rating: 2/4
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews…
Plot
Tommy Callahan Jr. is a slow-witted, clumsy guy who recently graduated college after attending for seven years. His father, Big Tom Callahan, owns an auto parts factory in Ohio. When Tommy arrives back home, he finds he has a position at the factory waiting for him. His dad also introduces Tommy to the new brake pad division of the factory and to Tommy’s soon-to-be stepmother, Beverly, and her son Paul. But when Big Tom dies, the factory threatens to go under unless the new brake pads are to be sold. Therefore, Tommy must go on the road to sell them, along with the assistance of Richard, Big Tom’s right-hand man. Will Tommy save the company, or will the factory, and the town, go under?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found in the Fresh Kernels database for Tommy Boy.
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