Out Cold

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Out Cold

R

1989

1h 31m

Comedy

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2 Reviews

31%

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100+ Ratings

Sweet-natured Dave (John Lithgow) is having an affair with Sunny (Teri Garr), the wife of his blustery long-time partner, Ernie (Bruce McGill), with whom he owns a butcher's shop. One night after an argument, Dave knocks out Ernie and leaves him in an open meat locker. Sunny comes by and, in a fit of anger, locks Ernie in the store's freezer. When Ernie is found frozen to death, Dave thinks he's responsible. Meanwhile, dim-witted Detective Lester (Randy Quaid) is hot on the murderer's trail.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 6, 2026

1/4

Despite a cash much too good for it, "Out Cold" is in one of the saddest genres now going: A would-be black comedy that's only tattle-tale gray, and not funny at all.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Mar 8, 2019

C+

Offbeat understated black comedy set in San Francisco that never thaws out.

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Nov 28, 2020

That movie was so bad I just kept watching in amazement that any movie could be that bad.

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Jun 26, 2014

Stinks from start to finish

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Mar 21, 2014

With a talented cast, Out Cold is somewhat formulaic but benefits from a creative twist and solid performances by John Lithgow and Teri Garr.

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Oct 11, 2011

This could have been much funnier, just because of the cast and story, what went wrong is the real mystery.

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Jun 6, 2011

This could have been much funnier, just because of the cast and story, what went wrong is the real mystery.

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Sep 6, 2010

An entertaining dark comedy with a good cast, and they do a good job too, but I really felt it could have been better somehow.

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Malcolm Mowbray

Director

John Lithgow

Dave

Teri Garr

Sunny

Randy Quaid

Lester

Bruce McGill

Ernie

Lisa Blount

Phyllis

Out Cold: Official Clip - Dumping Lester's Car

1:27

Now Playing

Out Cold: Official Clip - Locked In

2:04

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Sunny Traps Dave

1:25

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Lester Questions Dave

2:08

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Lucky Accident

1:41

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Bourbon and Legal Advice

1:26

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Meatheads

2:42

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Frozen Surprise

2:27

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Close Call

2:05

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Out Cold: Official Clip - Getting Away With Murder

1:38

Now Playing

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Synopsis

Sweet-natured Dave (John Lithgow) is having an affair with Sunny (Teri Garr), the wife of his blustery long-time partner, Ernie (Bruce McGill), with whom he owns a butcher's shop. One night after an argument, Dave knocks out Ernie and leaves him in an open meat locker. Sunny comes by and, in a fit of anger, locks Ernie in the store's freezer. When Ernie is found frozen to death, Dave thinks he's responsible. Meanwhile, dim-witted Detective Lester (Randy Quaid) is hot on the murderer's trail.

Director: Malcolm Mowbray
Producer: Ron Hamady, George G. Braunstein
Screenwriter: Leonard Glasser, George Malko
Distributor: Hernadale Film Corp.
Production Co: Hemdale, Braunstein and Hamady Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $201.5K
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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