It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

G

1963

2h 55m

Comedy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan, who, before kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot under the Big W. All the motorists set out to find the fortune.

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Critics Consensus

It's long, frantic, and stuffed to the gills with comic actors and set pieces -- and that's exactly its charm.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

11/07/2007

Stanley Kramer strikes out again with this elephantine 1963 attempt at uproarious comedy.

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Variety Staff

Variety

11/07/2007

The comic competition is so keen that it is impossible to single out any one participant as outstanding.

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Time Out

02/09/2006

Kramer's 'comedy to end all comedy' stretches its material to snapping point but offers happy hours of star-spotting.

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

03/23/2025

So many funny scenes. Ethel Merman steals the movie

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Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

03/06/2024

This is a grim new variant of the old knockabout form, a comedy that deliberately brutalises every convention that makes people laugh. What it be comes, not surprisingly, is a comedy hat makes people feel battered and bleak.

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Judith Crist

New York Herald Tribune

08/08/2022

It's a comic's field day. We haven't seen such a salute to the gift of lunacy for decades.

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Robert L

04/15/2024

It is one of my all time favorite movies. Definitely my favorite comedy. Great group of actors and non-stop action. I saw it for the first time with my Dad when it came out in 1963.

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Honnest Jonn

06/17/2023

The original comedy epic, containing the ultimate all-star cast of comedy legends! Non-stop laughs, historic locations all around Southern California, and some heart stopping stunts and car chases!

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David B.

@midnightrun1 May 7

One of the great comedies of all time. So many memorable scenes, so many great lines from a really great cast.

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Frans B

@FransB Apr 10

Brilliant! Stanley Kramer at his absolute best. Very well written and brought to screen. Amazing cinematography, way ahead of it's time. Stellar cast all excels convincingly in character. Epic adventure comedy indeed. More mishaps, misunderstandings, turn of events, silliness, car chases, unfortunate events, fortunate events, calamity, mad rush, drama, suspense and all round breakneck speed pace than you'll probably ever witness in a movie. This must be the golden standard of this genre. Very entertaining and memorable, also funny as hell

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Phil T

@RT73555170 Mar 21

It's far too long and not very funny. It is very difficult to make a big budget comedy with so many stars. If you're idea of a funny scene is some guy trapped at the end of a fire engine ladder crying "Woooo" while latter swings around, then this comedy is for you. I saw the original 70mm road show engagement when I was a child and just sat through it, waiting it to end. I felt the comedy was too juvenile when I was a kid. It reminds me of Spielberg's 1941 another big budget comedy that wasn't very funny.

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Al F

@CallMeAl Feb 23

This movie is an absolute classic! It has possibly the greatest cast ever assembled and it still holds up today. It may be long, but it well worth the watch.

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Stanley Kramer

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Capt. T.G. Culpeper

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Synopsis

The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan, who, before kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot under the Big W. All the motorists set out to find the fortune.

Director: Stanley Kramer
Producer: Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter: Tania Rose, William Rose
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Casey Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 55m
Aspect Ratio: Cinerama (2.59:1), Scope (2.35:1)