Matinee

1993, Comedy, 1h 39m

37 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Smart, funny, and disarmingly sweet, Matinee is a film that film buffs will love -- and might even convert some non-believers. Read critic reviews

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Matinee Videos

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Matinee Photos

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Movie Info

In October 1962, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurs and the menace of nuclear war looms over the American South. Low-budget filmmaker Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) is in Key West, Fla., debuting his new film "Mant!" and thinks the prevailing mood of fear surrounding the premiere is perfect to stir up some excitement. A group of local teenagers (Simon Fenton, Lisa Jakub, Kellie Martin) prepare for the film's opening night, experiencing small crises of their own.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Joe Dante
  • Producer:
    Michael Finnell
  • Writer:
    Charles S. Haas
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $8.9M
  • Runtime:
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround

Cast & Crew

John Goodman
Lawrence Woolsey
Cathy Moriarty
Ruth Corday, Carole
Simon Fenton
Gene Loomis
Omri Katz
Stan
Lisa Jakub
Sandra
Kellie Martin
Sherry
Jesse Lee Soffer
Dennis Loomis
Lucinda Jenney
Anne Loomis
James Villemaire
Harvey Starkweather
Robert Picardo
Howard
Jesse White
Mr. Spector
Dick Miller
Herb Denning
John Sayles
Bob
David Clennon
Jack
Luke Halpin
Lucy Butler
Rhonda
Mark McCracken
Mant, Bill
William Schallert
Dr. Grabow, DDS (uncredited)
Robert Cornthwaite
Dr. Flankon (uncredited)
Kevin McCarthy
General Ankrum (uncredited)
Joe Dante
Director
Michael Finnell
Producer
Charles S. Haas
Screenwriter
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Matinee

All Critics (37) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (3)
Full Review… Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Full Review… Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Full Review… James Berardinelli ReelViews Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Sergio Benítez Espinof Full Review… Sean Mulvihill FanboyNation.com Full Review… Gary Shannon The Young Folks Full Review… Austin Trunick Under the Radar Full Review… Christopher Machell CineVue
View All Critic Reviews (37)

Audience Reviews for Matinee

  • Jun 24, 2021
    Joe Dante crafts a very feel-good homage to the United States that was before the onslaught and ravages of Beatlemania. John Goodman is a type of William Castle, entrepreneur extraordinaire, hawking his brand of hucksterism on an unsuspecting and gullible public, living on a prayer with Cathy Moriarty as his sidekick - on the clock and the clock is ticking - as they stop in Key West to push his latest opus creature feature. As fear of the possibility of atomic holocaust is only a stone's throw away, Castro and the Cuban Missile Crisis, can anything slow the raging capitalism of Goodman's latter day P.T. Barnum? It's all in good fun, a nostalgic tribute to a brief moment of innocence here in the US, a fond remembrance by Dante.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 13, 2021
    A complex and hilarious nostalgia piece. I love the "Mant" sequences which are perfectly goofy.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Jun 06, 2011
    a funny, innocent, and kindhearted film with a funny way to express itself from a nucular bomb that's about to hit them in a few days. A
    Juan C Super Reviewer
  • May 14, 2010
    John Goodman as William Castle? Directed by Joe Dante? FUCK yes!
    Eduardo C Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

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