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Trailer

Bringing Down the House

2003Movie1 h 45 minPG-13

ComedyDrama
46
MediocreGoodWatch score
IMDb5.7Metacritic396.2Rotten Tomatoes33%49%

A hopeful, fast-paced comedy movie about everyday modern life.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

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Not for scares, tears or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

Everything he needed to know about life, she learned in prison.

Uptight lawyer Peter Sanderson wants to dive back into dating after his divorce and has a hard time meeting the right women. He tries online dating and lucks out when he starts chatting with a fellow lawyer. The two agree to meet in the flesh, but the woman he meets — an escaped African-American convict named Charlene — is not what he expected. Peter is freaked out, but Charlene tries to convince him to take her case and prove her innocence. Along the way, she wreaks havoc on his middle-class life as he gets a lesson in learning to lighten up.

Feels like

  • Comedy
  • Fish-Out-of-Water
  • Culture Clash
  • Situational Humor
  • Romantic Comedy
  • Quirky
  • Light-Hearted
  • Escapist Fun

Cast

24 of 40

Crew

Directed by
Adam Shankman
Written by
Jason Filardi
Produced by
David Hoberman, Ashok Amritraj
Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 7, 2003 · 1 h 45 min · PG-13

Released
March 7, 2003
Runtime
1 h 45 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$20 million
Box office
$133 million
Available in
63 countries

Tropes

Pretty Fly for a White Guy, Cat Fight, Villainous Valor +9

  • Pretty Fly for a White Guy
  • Cat Fight
  • Villainous Valor
  • Intoxication Ensues
  • Pocket Protector
  • Obfuscating Stupidity
  • When You Coming Home, Dad?
  • Wedgie
  • Gold Digger
  • Cain and Abel
  • Mama Bear
  • Jerkass

12 of 25 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Bringing Down the House?"

Questions about Bringing Down the House

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Bringing Down the House?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Bringing Down the House from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 41 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Bringing Down the House worth watching?

46
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 46 (IMDb 5.7, Rotten Tomatoes 33%, and Metacritic 39). Audiences rate it higher (56 out of 100) than critics (36).

Is Bringing Down the House okay for kids?

PG-13Strong languageSexual content

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language and sexual content, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Will Bringing Down the House make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and slapstick (8 of 10).

Can I half-watch Bringing Down the House?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 5 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Was Bringing Down the House a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$133 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $20 million to make and earned $133 million worldwide, 6.6 times its budget.

What tropes does Bringing Down the House use?

Pretty Fly for a White GuyCat FightVillainous ValorIntoxication EnsuesPocket ProtectorObfuscating StupidityWhen You Coming Home, Dad?WedgieGold DiggerCain and AbelMama BearJerkassand 13 more

TV Tropes lists 25 tropes for it, including Pretty Fly for a White Guy, Cat Fight, and Villainous Valor.