The Stupids (1996)

21% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
34% of users liked it
(9,872 ratings)

This film is based on The Stupids series of children's books by Harry Allard and James Marshall, which are about a family that takes things very, very literally. In this film, the Stupids attempt to discover what happens to the garbage that disappears from their lawn every week (they think it has… More This film is based on The Stupids series of children's books by Harry Allard and James Marshall, which are about a family that takes things very, very literally. In this film, the Stupids attempt to discover what happens to the garbage that disappears from their lawn every week (they think it has been stolen) and accidentally save the world. The father, Stanley (Tom Arnold), goes undercover posing as a tree and unknowingly stumbles into an international arms-smuggling scheme. He believes that the garbage theft is perpetrated by his old enemy from the Post Office, "Sender" (Christopher Lee). His absence worries his equally befuddled children, who go looking for him. Meanwhile he is chased by both the weapons smugglers and beings from outer space. Directed by John Landis, known for his hit films Trading Places and The Blues Brothers. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: John Landis
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 30, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Feb 10, 2004
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Emily Blunt, Blunt Review
Really, didn't the title kind of leak the fore-thought to this mess?
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
If you're six, you'll think this is a cinematic gem, but even at seven you'll get bored and want to hurl the television out the window.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
The title says it all. Totally not funny.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Now I was stupid watching this
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Madcap fun. It's Tom Arnold's finest hour, though that's not saying much.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A family of idiots go around doing idiotic, unfunny things. I couldn't stand it, it was so stupid!
Coxxie M

haha yea thats exactly what the movie was.
Ken S

Way better than it has any right to be.
Lafe F

Very dumb. I didn't laugh very much.
Dillon L

Incredibly inept even for a kids movie.
Stephen E

Very interesting. This is the kind of film where you set all brain activity aside and just roll with the jokes, as often as they come. It's stupid and moronic in every way possible, but if you don't take it too seriously, it kind of comes off as an unintentional black… More
Very interesting. This is the kind of film where you set all brain activity aside and just roll with the jokes, as often as they come. It's stupid and moronic in every way possible, but if you don't take it too seriously, it kind of comes off as an unintentional black comedy.
Todd S

This is one of those movies that is so ridiculously stupid that you can't help but laugh. Tom Arnold knows he has a reputation of being an idiot and he so plays into it. The Stupids make Harry & Lloyd look like Einstein! While the movie has no real plot and is just about… More
This is one of those movies that is so ridiculously stupid that you can't help but laugh. Tom Arnold knows he has a reputation of being an idiot and he so plays into it. The Stupids make Harry & Lloyd look like Einstein! While the movie has no real plot and is just about really dumb people, I have to admit that I laughed until I cried! When Tom Arnold writes that song about being his own grandpa, I almost lost it. This is one of those movies that has nothing to say, no real plot, it's simply about laughing at the stupidity of others and it sure is fun!
Stephen E

I liked how "The Stupids" embraced such sheer stupidity with utmost enthusiasm. It doesn't accidentally become stupid; it tries to get as absurd as it can possibly get. How often do you a find a movie like that? Realize that I'm not upholding stupidity by saying… More
I liked how "The Stupids" embraced such sheer stupidity with utmost enthusiasm. It doesn't accidentally become stupid; it tries to get as absurd as it can possibly get. How often do you a find a movie like that? Realize that I'm not upholding stupidity by saying this. Stupidity, to me, is when a film does something stupid with the intention of being good: "The Stupids" is stupid with the intention of being stupid.
Sunil J

Silly shenanigans but it makes me laugh. Based on the frequently challenged books i read years ago.
Christopher B

I'm My Own Grandpa should've hit the top 40 if there was any justice in the world. A glimmer of hope for John Landis before he hit rock bottom with Blues Brothers 2000, this film has non-stop laughs and an excellent performance by Stanley Stupid himself, Tom Arnold. Landis… More
I'm My Own Grandpa should've hit the top 40 if there was any justice in the world. A glimmer of hope for John Landis before he hit rock bottom with Blues Brothers 2000, this film has non-stop laughs and an excellent performance by Stanley Stupid himself, Tom Arnold. Landis does a fantastic job transforming a childrens book's sensiblities into all out insanity. This family should be dead by now. Also, it was nice to see the great Christopher Lee as the terrifying Mr. Sender, before he got bogged down in boring roles in the Star Wars prequels and LOTRS. This film is truly insane and very bizarre and worth a rental if you enjoy this type of thing.
Haley A

The title says is all.