The Man Who Knew Too Little

The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

  • 42% of critics liked it
    (31 reviews)

  • 64% of users liked it
    (33,890 ratings)

Jon Amiel directed this satire on mistaken-identity thrillers and the spy genre, scripted by Robert Farrar, Tim John, and Oliver Butcher from Farrar's unpublished novel, Watch That Man. In the female lead, Joanne Whalley returned to films after a three-year absence, choosing to do so with… More

Play Trailer

PG,
Directed By
Written By
Robert Farrar, Howard Franklin
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Nov 14, 1997 Wide
On DVD
Mar 24, 1998
Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

    You have to be a Bill Murray fan, or in an especially generous mood, to find The Man Who Knew Too Little more than mildly amusing.

  • Dan Fienberg, Zap2it.com

    This is the kind of thing Murray and Amiel could do in their sleep. So they do.

  • Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com

    After a decade or so of lackluster, what-were-they-thinking? movies, Murray has finally come back to himself

  • Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

    Murray elevates the material in this amusing spy farce.

  • Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian

    A poor man's Being There, which still makes for a great time.

Read all 10 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Sophie B


    A decent semi-comedy that twists and turns until an ok but not terrific ending.

  • Lucas M


    The Man Who Knew Too Little is a one-gag movie that doesn't work for much time. Bill Murray always was a very funny actor and he try very hard to the film get work well, but the script just worse the picture. This Hitchcockian-Style satire, of course it's not the best of… More

  • Carlos M


    A one-joke comedy that wants to carry the absurdity of its premise throughout the entire plot. At first it is a funny idea but it wears out faster than expected, with not many smart twists to keep the story fresh. At least Bill Murray makes it an amusing experience.

  • AJ V


    Not Murray's best work. I'm not sure if this comedy is supposed to be a parody or satire or a remake or what. It just isn't funny enough. Murray tries hard, but the script fails him.

  • Melvin W


    Wallace: Please don't call me by my real name, it destroys the reality I'm trying to create.  "He's on a mission so secret, even he doesn't know about." The Man Who Knew Too Little is likable, but only because of a great premise and of course the one… More

Read all 18 featured audience ratings

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