Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis

Warren Schmidt is a retired insurance salesman, who at age 66 has no particular plans other than to drive around in the motor home his wife insisted they buy. He's not altogether bitter, but not happy...( read more  read more... ) either, as everything his wife does annoys him, and he disapproves of the man his daughter is about to marry. When his wife suddenly dies, he sets out to postpone the imminent marriage of his daughter to a man he doesn't like, while coping with discoveries about his late wife and himself in the process.

Flixster Users

63% liked it

30,647 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

195 critics

R, 2 hrs. 4 min.

Directed by: Alexander Payne

Release Date: December 13, 2002

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DVD Release Date: June 3, 2003

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Stats: 2,781 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,781)


  • September 28, 2009
    This is a fantastic comedy, it has to be one of Jack Nicholson?s best performances in ages. Brilliant.
  • April 18, 2009
    I dunno, it's fine. And sad.
  • March 21, 2009
    We were going to watch this when we go on our RV trip, but couldn't renew it from the library anymore. Just like Harry and Tonto this is a funny and sad movie. Jack doesn't act anything like the charismatic joker he often plays in movies. His voice doesn't sound exactly the sa...( read more)me, and you see him cry a couple times. Great use of the RV as a home away from home. Touching look at the next chapter in a retired widower's life who's only daughter is being married off. Funny and clueless how he writes about all his problems and upper-class financial successes to his sponsored child from Africa. But hey, he cares and it shows he has made some difference in the world. It also shows how much he doesn't understand other people's problems especially children in third world countries. And the movie should move people to not wait till the end of life to reach out and take an interest in helping people.
  • February 7, 2009
    a good film about retirement, life for those who can't relax and just don't fit into a niche. jack nicholson is good as always. also some witty dialogue. i think it's his best part to date
  • December 9, 2008
    This film oddly describes itself as a Comedy, but if you?re looking for a film to add some cheer to your day, this really isn?t it. It?s a depressing Drama with the odd comedy moment thrown in.

    Jack Nicholson does give (as always) a very good performance, as does Kathy Bates,...( read more) whom I really admire for doing the nude shot. It was the storyline, that for me really doesn?t appeal too much to anyone who isn?t in their age range.

    Being a bit of a Spiritual soul myself, I did find the spiritual part of the storyline very stereotyped, however, it probably was the most uplifting part of the film.
  • November 6, 2009
    Ma quanto è bravo Nicholson? Ma quanto?
  • October 17, 2009
    Very funny and very classy. I smile just thinking about this film.
  • October 15, 2009
    A wonderful movie on all levels - story, writing, directing, casting, acting, music. I found myself wishing it were longer. The underlying, and sometimes overt, humor blended with the seriousness of the character and his situations was astounding. Bravo.
  • October 10, 2009
    Divertida y emotiva; vale la pena verla porque garantiza un rato agradable, pero siento que es de estas peliculas que sin su protagonista, no llegarian a ser lo que son. La actuacion esta por encima de todo lo demas... Jack Nicholson es increible y tiene el poder de darle nombre ...( read more)a una pelicula en donde lo mejor y lo mas sobresaliente, es la actuacion.
  • October 3, 2009
    What I got from this film is just a night of depression and I won't ever give it a second watch even for a 1.000 bucks. That doesn't mean the film is bad, on the contrary, it was able to depress me because it was depressing, so the message has passed. Jack Nicholson delivers a s...( read more)tunning performance in a very annoying but good movie. After the retirement of Warren Schmidt and the sudden death of his wife, he has nothing but the road to ease his pain. We're constantly shown a sad man that's practically left with no options in life. The best thing in the movie were the letters sent to his foster son african kid Ndugu that replaced what we usually call a narrator. The technique was performed in a very simple way that showed originality. What I learnt that I really wouldn't stand bein Mr. Schmidt for one single day, so I'll start planning from now !!!

Critic Reviews


December 20, 2002
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

To see a master actor rejoicing in his craft -- and a character both simpler and more complex than most of the people we ever meet on screen -- About Schmidt is a worthy, artful journey. full review

December 20, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A seriously good movie, a challenge to viewers, a rebuke of the way many Americans live their lives. full review

December 20, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The movie isn't just about Schmidt as a personality, it's a portrait of his world, and Payne and co-writer Taylor show a rare compassion for the superficially comfortable. full review

December 20, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

That Jack Nicholson makes this man so watchable is a tribute not only to his craft, but to his legend. full review

December 19, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A quiet, heart-rending masterpiece, one with an actor's turn that people will remember, and rediscover, eons into the future. full review

December 13, 2002
David Edelstein, Slate

Payne's movie is flat, depressed, and at times -- given this director's talent -- disappointingly curdled. full review

November 20, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Nicholson's acting sets a new gold standard, making Schmidt a movie you won't forget. full review

November 4, 2002
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Nicholson has found his best character since Randle Patrick McMurphy. full review

View more About Schmidt reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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About Schmidt Trivia


  • Jack Nicholson & Kathy Bates starred together in which of these movies?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Kathy Bates play a divorcee who tries to seduce a widowed character played by Jack Nicholson?  Answer »
  • Which actress sold squirrels in the movie Rat Race? (Hint: other movies she's appeared in include Misery, Rumor Has It, The Water Boy & About Schmidt)  Answer »
  • In "About Schmidt", why does jack Nicholson's character drive across the country?  Answer »

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