Do you want to see ‘Ishtar’?

Add to Netflix

Ishtar (1987)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 3.4/10
Reviews Counted: 26
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 21

No consensus yet.

No Score Yet...

Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 2.3/5
User Ratings: 4,689

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Considered one of the great box-office turkeys of its decade, Ishtar was an attempt by writer/director Elaine May and stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty to do a modern-day road picture in the style of the much-loved Bob Hope and Bing Crosby comedy classics. Beatty is Lyle Rogers, a dimwitted songwriter who befriends and partners with Chuck Clarke (Hoffman), who is only slightly more intelligent but every bit as untalented. Together the duo dreams of becoming a big-time lounge act, but their

PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.

Comedy

Directed By: Elaine May

In Theaters: May 15, 1987 Wide

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Ishtar Trailer & Photos

Cast

Warren Beatty
Lyle Rogers
Dustin Hoffman
Chuck Clarke
Isabelle Adjani
Shirra Assel
Charles Grodin
Jim Harrison
Jack Weston
Marty Freed Talent Agen...
Tess Harper
Willa
Carol Kane
Carol
Aharon Ipal�
Emir Yousef
Rose Arrick
Mrs. Clarke
Bill Bailey
Gen. Westlake
Ron Berglas
CIA Agent
Haluk Bilginer
Guerilla Leader
Arthur Brauss
German Gunrunner
Warren Clarke
English Gunrunner
Matt Frewer
CIA Agent
Julie Garfield
Dorothy
Bob Girolami
Bartender
Bruce Gordon
Screamin' Honker
Stefan Gryff
KGB Agent
Fijad Hageb
Abdul
Adam Hussein
Mohamed The Camel Selle...
Alex Hyde-White
CIA Agent
Alexei Jawdokimov
KGB Agent
Kamarr
Maitre 'd at Chez Casab...
Abe Kroll
Mr. Thomopoulos
David Margulies
Mr. Clarke
Fred Melamed
Caid of Assari
Bill Moor
U.S. Consul
Christine Rose
Siri Darma
Nadim Sawalha
Rag Shop Owner
Herb Gardner
Rabbi Pierce
Stuart M. Abramson
Screamin' Honkers
J.C. Cutler
Omar
Aziz Ben Driss
Waiter at Chez Casablan...
John Freudenheim
Screamin Honker
Ian Gray
Manager of Chez Casabla...
Sumar Khan
IshtariGunrunner
Bouhaddane Larbi
Taxi Driver
George Masri
Mohamed The Camel Selle...
Jon Paul Morgan
Djellabah Seller
Eddy Nedari
Mohamed The Camel Selle...
Mark Ryan
Screamin' Honker
Phillip Schopper
Waiter
Edgar Smith
Professor Barnes
Maati Zaari
Porter
Neil Zevnik
CIA Agent
Howard Feuer
Cristine Rose

Critic Reviews for Ishtar

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (21)

A victim of its own hyped publicity and too harsh criticism, Ishtar is not the worst movie ever made or even a bomb, just a dim-witted silly comedy-thriller (with some good jokes) based on the casting against type of Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman.

April 19, 2009 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The intentionally bad songs and the early scenes in New York City are amusing, but the movie totally falls apart once Beatty and Hoffman arrive in the fictional country of Ishtar.

February 16, 2006 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

A failed attempt at doing a modern Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "Road" picture.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Better then you've heard. Paul William's songs are genius.

January 8, 2005 Comments (2)

Michael A. Smith

Nolan's Pop Culture Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

It's pretty bad, but not as bad as its legend.

September 3, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Ishtar

View All

Funny... I would watch it again.

August 25, 2006

Leigh Ryan

Super Reviewer

Not as bad as it's reputation; It's just NOT funny.

February 6, 2008

Michael S

Super Reviewer

Ishtar Quotes

View All

1. Lyle Rogers: It takes a lot of courage to have nothing at your age.
– Submitted by Joseph M (2 months ago)

Submit a Quote from 'Ishtar'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

Add another line to this dialog...

Let me know when its ready...

We can send you a notification e-mail when your quote has been reviewed by our editors.


or

Use my Facebook e-mail to contact me

Hide

Movies

Opening

——	Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance	Feb 17
37%	This Means War	Feb 14
94%	The Secret World of Arrietty	Feb 17

More…

Top Box Office

29%	The Vow	$41.2M
52%	Safe House	$40.2M
42%	Journey 2: The Mysterious Island	$27.3M
57%	Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D)	$22.5M
86%	Chronicle	$12.1M
64%	The Woman in Black	$10.1M
77%	The Grey	$5.0M
73%	Big Miracle	$3.9M
90%	The Descendants	$3.4M
29%	Underworld Awakening	$2.5M

In Theaters | Top 50

Certified Fresh In Theaters

99%	A Separation	Dec 30
97%	The Artist	Nov 25
96%	The Muppets	Nov 23
96%	Pariah	Dec 28
96%	Tomboy	Nov 16

More…

Latest News for Ishtar

May 11, 2011:

Elaine May to Premiere, Discuss Director's Cut of Ishtar
In today's dose of "Wait, What?" news, Elaine May plans to host the premiere of the "Ishtar"...

View All