What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
91%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Barbra Streisand was never more likable than in this energetic, often hilarious screwball farce from director Peter Bogdanovich.
What’s Up, Doc? is a classic comedy that will have you laughing from start to finish. With a cast of talented actors and a director who knows how to create chaos in the most entertaining way possible, this film is a must-see for anyone who loves a good screwball comedy. Sure, it may not be as tight or fierce as the original classics, but it’s fizzy, loveable, and always worth watching. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to laugh until your sides hurt!
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures,
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Hilton San Francisco Union Square 333 O’Farrell Street San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
1972
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 34m
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Language(s):French, German, English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 1972 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton, Sorrell Booke, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, written by Buck Henry, David Newman, Robert Benton, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Brody, James Berardinelli, Jay Cocks, Nell Minow, Ian Nathan, Steven D Greydanus, Mike Massie, David Nusair, Diego Galán, Tim Brayton, Cole Smithey, Tom Hutchinson, G rating, San Francisco, research grant, music, jewels stolen, government whistle blower, top secret papers, Warner Bros Pictures, Judy Maxwell, Howard Bannister, Eunice Burns, Hugh Simon, Frederick Larrabee, Harry
Worldwide gross: $66,000,000
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $523,843,456
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 268
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 57,125,786
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $4,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $31,748,088
Production budget ranking: 1,126
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $17,096,346
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $474,999,023
ROI to date (est.): 972%
ROI ranking: 129
Ryan O’Neal – Howard Bannister
Madeline Kahn – Eunice Burns
Kenneth Mars – Hugh Simon
Austin Pendleton – Frederick Larrabee
Sorrell Booke – Harry
Director(s)
Peter Bogdanovich
Writer(s)
Buck Henry, David Newman, Robert Benton
Producer(s)
Peter Bogdanovich
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (5)
In Bogdanovich’s analytical twist on the genre, even joyous liberation leaves a huge mess.
May 26, 2020
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The film builds on itself, gaining speed as it careens out-of-control toward its conclusion. Only a director in complete control can fashion something so effortlessly chaotic.
October 2, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
The result is a comedy made by a man who has seen a lot of movies, knows all the mechanics, and has absolutely no sense of humor.
February 10, 2014
Jay Cocks
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A lot of fun for the whole family.
December 29, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
It’s never quite as tight or fierce as the original screwballers, but is fizzy and loveable and always worth watching.
February 2, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Never less than entertaining and is sometimes side-splittingly hilarious.
October 29, 2008 | Rating: B
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
It’s a unique, noble effort to recreate the comedy stylings of a bygone era, but it’s never completely convincing.
June 28, 2021 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
…a briskly-paced and often hilarious endeavor…
December 16, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
What’s Up, Doc? naturally has a life of its own, but its inspiration is derived from other excellent comedies. [Full Review in Spanish]
September 5, 2019
Diego Galán
El Pais (Spain)
Stands out as one of the great, if semi-forgotten comedy masterpieces of the 1970s.
September 11, 2014 | Rating: 8/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
[VIDEO ESSAY] Barbara Streisand takes over the feminine human incarnation of Bugs Bunny’s free-spirited cartoon character in Peter Bogdanovich’s enthusiastic homage to the screwball comedy.
February 25, 2014 | Rating: A+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
[A] hilarious homage to the screwball comedies of the 1930s by Howard Hawks and Preston Sturges.
February 10, 2014 | Rating: 5/5
Tom Hutchinson
Radio Times…
Plot
Two researchers have come to San Francisco to compete for a research grant in Music. One seems a bit distracted, and that was before he meets her. A strange woman seems to have devoted her life to confusing and embarassing him. At the same time a woman has her jewels stolen and a government whistle blower arrives with his stolen top secret papers. All, of course have the same style and color overnight bag.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Barbra Streisand was never more likable than in this energetic, often hilarious screwball farce from director Peter Bogdanovich.
Peter-Bogdanovich.jpg
