The Cable Guy (1996)
Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 56
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 26
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4/10
Critic Reviews: 16
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 13
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 446,071
Movie Info
Originally planned as a silly vehicle for Chris Farley, in the hands of director Ben Stiller and star Jim Carrey, The Cable Guy became an opportunity for Carrey to flex some of his darker comedic muscles as stalker Chip Douglas. Matthew Broderick plays Steven, an average Joe who is forlorn over his recent breakup with girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). When he moves into a new apartment, Steven comes in contact with Chip, who shows up to hook up the cable. Before he knows it, and whether he likes
Jun 14, 1996 Wide
Aug 8, 2000
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Jim Carrey
Chip Douglas the Cable ... -
Matthew Broderick
Steven, Steven Kovacs -
Leslie Mann
Robin Harris -
Jack Black
Rick -
George Segal
Earl Kovacs -
Diane Baker
Mrs. Kovacs -
Aki Aleong
Karaoke Party Guest -
Jeremy Applegate
Medieval Times Serf -
David Bowe
Helicopter Paramedic -
Blake Boyd
Steven's Brother-in-Law -
Lydell M. Cheshier
Jail Inmate -
David Cross
Sales Manager -
Kyle Gass
Couch Potato -
Paul Greco
Raul -
Kathy Griffin
Cable Boy's Mother -
Annabelle Gurwitch
Steven's Sister-in-Law -
Donna Hardy
Karaoke Party Guest -
Tommy Hinkley
Basketball Player -
Conrad Janis
Father "Double Trouble" -
Lloyd Kino
Karaoke Party Guest -
Cynthia Mason
Karaoke Party Guest -
Christopher Michael
Arresting Officer -
Jeff Michalski
Basketball Player -
Joel Murray
Basketball Player -
Charles Napier
Arresting Officer -
Harry O'Reilly
Hal, Steven's Boss -
Ahmad Reese
Jail Inmate -
Julian Reyes
Bar Patron -
Steven Scott
Stan at 8 years -
Amy Stiller
Steven's Secretary -
Mark Thompson
Newsroom Reporter -
Leonard O. Turner
Sam Sweet Judge -
Sean Whalen
Karaoke Party Guest -
Frank Davis
Bar Patron -
Jeff Kahn
Basketball Player -
Eric Roberts
Himself -
Ben Stiller
Sam Sweet -
James O'Connell
Bathroom Attendant -
Marty Zagon
Karaoke Party Guest -
Liza D'Agostino
Newsroom Researcher -
Andy Dick
Medieval Host -
Janeane Garofalo
Malinda the serving wen... -
Suli McCullough
Basketball Player -
Michael Rivkin
Karaoke Party Guest -
Owen Wilson
Robin's Date -
Andrew Shaifer
Basketball Player -
Emilio Rivera
Jail Inmate -
Shawn Michael Howard
Basketball Player -
John O'Donohue
Prison Guard -
Bob Odenkirk
Steven's Brother -
Thomas Scott
Sam at 8 years -
Robert "Bobby Z" Zajonc
Medivac Pilot -
Jason Larimore
Jail Inmate -
Cynthia Lamontagne
Restaurant Hostess -
Harper Roisman
Karaoke Party Guest -
Sandra Thigpen
Karaoke Party Guest -
Carlo Allen
Sam Sweet Court Clerk -
Barbara Babbin
Bar Patron -
Adam Beasley
Nuclear Kid -
Bill Beasley
Nuclear Dad -
Christine Beasley
Nuclear Mom -
Devon Beasley
Nuclear Kid -
Adam Consolo
Medieval Time Serf -
Christine Devine
Anchor Woman -
Marion Dugan
Robin's Neighbour -
Staci Flood
Karaoke Video Dancer -
Michael Fossat
Medieval Time Serf -
Keith Gibbs
Basketball Player -
Julie Hayden
Steven's Sister -
Douglas Robert Jackson
Bathroom Patron -
Kennedy Kabasares
Medieval Time Serf -
Rikki Klieman
Herself -
Misa Koprova
Heather -
Mary Lee
Karaoke Video Dancer -
Sara Lowell
Karaoke Party Guest -
Robert L. Rasner
Medieval Time Serf -
Raydeen Revilla
Karaoke Video Dancer -
Charles Knox Robinson III
Steven's Lawyer -
Robert Simels
Himself -
Tabitha Soren
Herself -
Cameron Starman
Cable Boy -
Wendy Walsh
Reporter Outside Courtr... -
Darlene Worley
Karaoke Video Dancer
ADVERTISEMENT
The Cable Guy Trailer & Photos
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (26) | DVD (7)
It's a fairly interesting effort -- much more ambitious than most Carrey vehicles.
Aiming, perhaps, for a neat double helix of black humor and prankishness, they've ended up with a pretty ugly granny knot.
While some of its antic set pieces are genuinely funny, this fuzzy-focus outing is hopelessly disconnected and ultimately unsatisfying.
Stiller's film ranks as an honourable failure.
Top CriticMuch of it plays like a personal boob tube with Carrey trapped inside, determined to act his way out in a freak show of mugging. He's a disturbing mixture of psychopath and lonely soul. Here, as always, a little Carrey goes a long way.
Carrey runs riot, and Stiller won't stop him.
A twisted comedy about TV addiction. Teens OK.
One of the most underrated comedies of all time.
The writer and director can't keep pace with the dark places Carrey takes the script.
The Cable Guy is certainly a cautionary tale, but not about the dangers of TV.
In all, about a third of the film (most of it contained in three extended sequences) is audaciously funny and genuinely disturbing. The rest will sorely test the devotion of Carrey's fans.
As a follow up to hits Ace Ventura and The Mask, this black comedy curio bewildered Carrey's fans and failed at the box office. But its nervy sheen and strung-out comedy set pieces work well.
an underrated flick
Consistently funny (in an intensely uncomfortable way).
A misunderstood and misdirected movie.
The film brilliantly constructs awkward situations that neither character can find ways to get out of and deftly plays with the bizarre nature of human relationships. What makes two people click, and what happens when only one clicks?
A hilarious black comedy that proved too dark and too smart for its star's fan base.
The film maintains a dark edge throughout, even with its happy ending.
Plays as a '-from-hell' thriller with a few funny moments instead of a funny comedy with dark overtones.
Sure comedy isn't pretty all the time, but in 'The Cable Guy,' comedy is actually ugly. (published 6-14-96)
Not really successful, but too strange to quite dismiss.
Twisted, but sometimes deliciously so!
Audience Reviews for The Cable Guy
Super Reviewer
-
- Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: Right into the buckle. That's gotta hurt, Gene!
-
- Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: I learned the facts of life - from watching "The Facts of Life."
-
- Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: That's your sweet spot, right there.
-
- Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: Everything was going so well, why are you ding this Stephen? I made you breakfast and we were eating... The scramby eggs!
-
- Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: I JUST WANNA HANG OUT! NO BIG DEAL!
-
- Chip Douglas the Cable Guy: You could be fined up to 5,000 dollars and spend six months in a correctional facilily!
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| Underrated | 44 days ago | 0 |
What's Hot On RT
Pictures from a zombie nation
Woody Allen in San Francisco
See the Desolation of Smaug trailer!
Where does This Is the End rank?
Latest News on The Cable Guy
October 21, 2011:
Fox Buys The Mountain for Ben StillerStiller's attached to direct a horror story based on Edith Wharton's "Summer."
May 20, 2009:
Cannes 2009: The Tomato Report ? Almodovar's Broken Embraces a Comfortable FavouritePedro Almodovar is a firm favourite in Cannes, so it's no surprise to see his new film Broken...
August 30, 2007:
Video Exclusive: Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow talk Knocked Up, Superbad and Walk HardAnd the pair nab their Certified Fresh award for... well, just about everything at the moment.
Featured on RT
- Digital Multiplex: 21 & Over, Quartet, and More 0
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Jack the Giant Slayer and Quartet 20
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Man of Steel Sets June Record 101
- Weekly Ketchup: Man of Steel Sequel In the Works 182
- Five Favorite Films with Joss Whedon 124
- Bonus Footage of the Cast & Crew of Man of Steel 1
- Critics Consensus: Man of Steel Is Up, Up, and Okay 277
Top Headlines
Foreign Titles
- Disjoncté (FR)

