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Krippendorf's Tribe

Play trailer Poster for Krippendorf's Tribe PG-13 1998 1h 34m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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17% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 24% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.
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Krippendorf's Tribe

Critics Reviews

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Mike Clark USA Today 01/09/2018
2.5/4
Krippendorf's Tribe, a surprisingly enjoyable piece of piffle, is pure Disney all the way, replete with a wholly preposterous plot, engaging performances and a feel-good, lesson-teaching ending. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
2/4
Is it possible to recommend a whole comedy on the basis of one scene that made you laugh almost uncontrollably? I fear not. And yet Krippendorf's Tribe has such a scene, and many comedies have none. Go to Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times 01/29/2024
3/5
You couldn't make this comedy today, with its long list of now-taboo subjects. The faked ethnographical research is definitely cultural misappropriation; the movie's focus is sex, lies, and videotape, and none of it can really be said to be good for kids. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 11/10/2023
2/4
...an oddball premise that’s employed to sporadically watchable effect by Holland... Go to Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) 01/19/2023
B
A clever and funny movie about a desperate lie that grows out of control. Go to Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel 03/26/2020
1/5
A hateful, disgusting and amoral travesty. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jachym L @RT51180493 04/12/2025 Didn't expect much and laughed out loud all the time! See more Steve D @RT35616104 02/12/2023 uncomfortable bigoted and unfunny. See more 03/27/2021 It's a absolute travesty that I just now discovered this movie. It is beyond funny. It's been years since a comedy made me laugh this much. Please watch it, tell your friends and let's all push this rating up to where it deserves to be at! See more 01/17/2015 Just another bad one. See more 06/05/2014 This film reeks with the breezy comedy odor of the '90s. It hosts a wacky set up, corn-tastic music cues and characters who are far too easily fooled... but it's not all bad. You will laugh if you don't think too hard about it. See more 01/22/2013 I don't know why anyone thought Africa was interesting, because it isn't. It also isn't funny. See more Read all reviews
Krippendorf's Tribe

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Cast & Crew

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Todd Holland

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

James Krippendorf

Jenna Elfman

Veronica Micelli

Natasha Lyonne

Shelly Krippendorf

Gregory Smith

Mickey Krippendorf

Carl Michael Lindner

Edmund Krippendorf

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Krippendorf's Tribe

Krippendorf's Tribe (1998) Krippendorf's Tribe (1998) Krippendorf's Tribe (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.
Director
Todd Holland
Producer
Larry Brezner
Screenwriter
Frank Parkin, Charlie Peters
Distributor
Touchstone Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Sexual Humor)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 27, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.6M
Runtime
1h 34m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)