Anna Nicole Smith, Bill Cobbs, Bruce Campbell

Set in New York circa 1958, a man quickly climbs his way up the corporate ladder at a conglomerate after starting in the mail room. He reaches the position of chairman after the boss takes a dive out ...( read more  read more... )the window.

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82% liked it

35,622 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

37 critics

PG, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Joel Coen

Release Date: January 1, 1994

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DVD Release Date: May 18, 1999

Stats: 2,057 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,057)


  • September 3, 2009
    An underrated Coen Brothers film, for me its definitely one of their funniest, assessable and stylish works. The performances are brilliant as our the over the top sets. It's one of their only 'family friendly' films, for adults and, you know, for kids! ;o)
  • June 2, 2009
    Considered a lesser Coen effort, I personally love this surreal fantastical fable on capitalism. The sets are beautifully designed and it feels like a kinder 'Brazil'.
  • February 15, 2009
    The Coens take on screwball comedies, crime and fantasy. If you're into all of that it's very entertaining.
  • January 6, 2009
    The Coen Brothers' tribute to '30s screwball comedies and '50s consumer faddism. When the president of Hudsucker Industries jumps off the 44th floor, the board of directors seeks to appoint an 'imbecile' as his replacement. The intention: to devalue their dearly departed founder'...( read more)s soon-to-be floated stock and snap it up themselves, for peanuts. Tim Robbins' ambitious innocent appears to fit the bill perfectly, but the board's plan goes awry when its puppet president's vanity project, the 'Hula Hoop', becomes a runaway success.

    Jennifer Jason Leigh's hard-boiled newshound and Robbins' good-natured patsy with a penchant for jumping off buildings immediately bring to mind Capra's Meet John Doe, but I found myself fondly recalling a host of other comedies along the way; everything from His Girl Friday to The Producers. Charles Durning's reappearance as a ukulele playing angel just about cancelled out my misgivings about the movie tipping over into outright fantasy toward the end. Not a great critical favourite, I actually prefer The Hudsucker Proxy to some of the Coens' acknowledged masterworks, perhaps because, besides all the trademark wordplay and boundless invention, this one's almost got a heart... almost!
  • October 12, 2008
    Norville: You know...for kids.

    From the Coen brothers, who developed this story with their friend Sam Raimi, this is a 50s screwball comedy featuring fantastic production values, despite having a story that is less interesting than the look of the film.

    Tim Robbins stars as No...( read more)rville Barnes, a recently graduated college boy who has just come to New York from his rural hometown and wants to become a success with an idea that he carries around in his shoe.

    The same day he gets a new job at Hudsucker Industries, the founder/president of the company, Mr. Hudsucker, played by Charles Durning, has jumped off the 44th floor of the building, leaving the board members concerned with their stock.

    Hudsucker's former right-hand man, Sydney J. Mussburger, played by Paul Newman, decides the best idea is to hire a patsy as the new president in order to avoid a complicated stock problem. Guess who they hire?

    Problems arise however, when Norville's idea actually takes off and the business remains very successful.

    [Norville Barnes introduces the "extruded plastic dingus" to the board members]
    Board Member 1: What if you tire before it's done?
    Board Member 2: Does it have rules?
    Board Member 3: Can more than one play?
    Board Member 4: What makes you think it's a game?
    Board Member 3: Is it a game?
    Board Member 5: Will it break?
    Board Member 6: It better break eventually!
    Board Member 2: Is there an object?
    Board Member 1: What if you tire before it's done?

    While Norville tries to do his best as president, he must also deal with his secretary Amy Archer, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, who is actually a news reporter in secret as well as Mussburger looking to do what is best for the company and himself.

    As mentioned, it is not the story that is the highlight, this is style over substance. That being said the cast is just right. Robbins is very likable. Leigh is fitting by channeling female screwball comedy leads. And Newman is always pretty cool. The film also has several Coen regulars in cameos, as well as a part for Raimi's partner in crime Bruce Campbell.

    As also mentioned, the movie looks absolutely wonderful. Elaborate sets and sharp costumes make a wonderful 50s world that is helped out by the mix of fast-paced and Coen style dialog.

    A bit hollow in its story, but still an entertaining watch.

    Amy Archer: I used to think you were a swell guy. Well, to be honest, I thought you were an imbecile. But then I figured out you WERE a swell guy... A little slow, maybe, but a swell guy. Well, maybe you're not so slow, But you're not so swell either. And it looks like you're an imbecile after all!"
  • November 2, 2009
    interesting feel to it, but it didn't complete the overall vision or satisfaction that the film was apt to convey
  • November 2, 2009
    A Capraesque Christmas work by Coen Brothers. Tim Robbins is great as usual ! And seeing Anna Nicole Smith -RIP- in the movie was a great surprise for me.
  • September 13, 2009
    One of the best Coen Brothers comedies
  • August 12, 2009
    The Hudsucker Proxy was an excellent satire on the 1950s. Jennifer Jason Leigh was great. Her voice, demeanor, and overall presence totally had me. And Paul Newman did a fine job at comically portraying an absolutely terrible human being.
  • August 4, 2009
    I gotta say this was a real surprise. I remember seeing this when it first came out and i wasn't that impressed. I thought it was just a stupid odd little comedy that i didn't find very funny. Watching it this time round and i was laughing from the start. Those brothers sure have...( read more) a unique style that only they can pull off. It looks fantastic,with these sets that set the 50s tone perfectly. The acting is hammy and very over the top,but not out of place in this world,it fits in very well.There are some wonderful eccentric characters,Buzz the Elevator Operator had me in stitches,and Jennifer Jason Leigh doing some kind of Katharine Hepburn impression.The ending was perfect, very Frank Capra,seeing Charles Duiring dressed as an Angel was joyful and very very funny. This might not be 100% Coen gold,but for me,it's sure not the stinker i thought it was. This was very funny,cooky comedy that i was glad to revisit.

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Not even the slightest attempt is made to suggest that the film takes its own story seriously. Everything is style. The performances seem deliberately angled as satire. full review

View more The Hudsucker Proxy reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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The Hudsucker Proxy Trivia


  • Who wrote and directed The Hudsucker Proxy, Blood Simple and Barton Fink?  Answer »
  • Which Coen brothers directed film starring Tim Robbins did Sam Raimi co-write?  Answer »
  • Which actor links the movies "Absence of Malice", "Hud", "Road to Perdition", "The Hudsucker Proxy", "Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "The Hustler"?  Answer »
  • Which of the following movies did not star both Paul Newman and Robert Redford?  Answer »

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