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Punchline

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:10
1 Video
54 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
A medical school dropout and a housewife/mom try to make it as stand-up comedians. They become friends and help each other out at an NYC comedy club.A medical school dropout and a housewife/mom try to make it as stand-up comedians. They become friends and help each other out at an NYC comedy club.A medical school dropout and a housewife/mom try to make it as stand-up comedians. They become friends and help each other out at an NYC comedy club.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
8.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Seltzer
  • Writer
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Sally Field
    • Tom Hanks
    • John Goodman
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Seltzer
  • Writer
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Sally Field
    • Tom Hanks
    • John Goodman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Punchline
    Trailer 2:10
    Punchline

    Photos54

    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Sally Field and Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Sally Field and Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Sally Field and Katie Rich in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)
    Tom Hanks and Sally Field in Punchline (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sally Field
    Sally Field
    • Lilah Krytsickas Lilah Krytsick
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Steven Goldas Steven Gold
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • John Krytsickas John Krytsick
    Mark Rydell
    Mark Rydell
    • Romeoas Romeo
    Kim Greist
    Kim Greist
    • Madeline Urieas Madeline Urie
    Paul Mazursky
    Paul Mazursky
    • Arnoldas Arnold
    Pam Matteson
    • Utica Blakeas Utica Blake
    George McGrath
    George McGrath
    • Singing Nunas Singing Nun
    • (as George Michael McGrath)
    Taylor Negron
    Taylor Negron
    • Albert Emperatoas Albert Emperato
    Barry Neikrug
    • Krugas Krug
    Ángel Salazar
    Ángel Salazar
    • Ricoas Rico
    • (as Angel Salazar)
    Damon Wayans
    Damon Wayans
    • Percyas Percy
    Joycee Katz
    • Joyceeas Joycee
    Mac Robbins
    • Billy Laneas Billy Lane
    Max Alexander
    Max Alexander
    • Mister Ballas Mister Ball
    Paul Kozlowski
    • Jerry Petroviakas Jerry Petroviak
    Barry Sobel
    Barry Sobel
    • Robyn Greenas Robyn Green
    Marty Pollio
    • Juggling Comicas Juggling Comic
    • Director
      • David Seltzer
    • Writer
      • David Seltzer
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      About two months before the film started principal photography, Tom Hanks wrote and performed a five-minute stand-up comedy routine at the Los Angeles Comedy Store in California. Hanks once said of this: "It was pure flop sweat time, an embarrassment. That material lasted 1 minute 40 seconds, and it had no theme".
    • Goofs
      When Steven and Lilah are riding the #7 subway, the Manhattan terminus of the line is shown as Lexington Ave. The actual terminus should be 42nd St./ Times Square.
    • Quotes

      Steven: We are all Gods animated cartoons.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Punchline/Heartbreak Hotel/Memories of Me/Bird/Kansas (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      Remember Tonight and Smile
      Words and Music by Michael Pollock

      [Played leading into the end credits]

    User reviews37

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The stress of stand up
    The late Edmund Gwenn on his deathbed said that dying was easy, comedy was hard. I think most entertainers would agree with that. One thing for sure is that if the laughs don't come and in the right places you are doing something wrong.

    Tom Hanks and Sally Field are a couple of hopefuls looking to break and they're regulars at the club where Mark Rydell is the emcee. Field is a wife and mother with two girls and married to John Goodman. She's also been told she's funny and wants to see if she can make a living at it.

    Hanks is the son of a top flight doctor who has forced his son into going to medical school where he flunks out. There are some real issues here with Hanks desperate to succeed and get to the top of his own field as his father has done.

    Hanks best moment is when he does get to perform before some TV executives he breaks down completely on stage. It was a beautiful piece of acting.

    Punchline more than most films I've seen, shows that these funny people go through a lot of heartache to make it in that business. Hanks and Field are really good pair of leads and the rest of the cast, most of them playing the denizens of the comedy world lend wonderful support.

    If you think you might want to be a comedian, see this movie.
    helpful•6
    2
    • bkoganbing
    • Sep 29, 2019

    FAQ1

    • I just saw Punchline (1988) with Sally Field and Tom Hanks. The closing credits had a fabulous trumpet piece in the soundtrack, but I couldn't find where it was identified. What is the piece and who played the trumpet???

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Punch Line
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Fogwood
      • IndieProd Company Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,042,667
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $160,742
      • Oct 2, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,042,667
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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