Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- raunchy
- witty
- melancholic
- comedies with emotional depth
- late night viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film emotionally mature and substantially deeper than a conventional comedy, while its long runtime and self-satisfied tone divided opinion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
George's terminal blood disorder is treated alongside jokes, club performances, and the comic routines of his colleagues.
George hires Ira as an assistant and friend, creating an uneven bond between a famous comedian and a struggling newcomer.
Ira works to find an onstage persona while George's professional world is shown through clubs, assistants, writing, and fellow comedians.
George's untreatable illness and less-than-one-year prognosis prompt him to confront his emotional isolation and past choices.
Films like Funny People, and why
The King of Comedy
shared blend of stand up comedy, male friendship, emotional vulnerability, and dramatic illness
Punch-Drunk Love
shared focus on comedians, professional insecurity, backstage performance culture, and uneasy humor
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
shared Judd Apatow-style mixture of raunchy comedy, friendship, romantic regret, and emotional self-examination
Lenny
shared comedy-drama tone, struggling performers, mortality, and bittersweet personal growth
Movie Details
- Director
- Judd Apatow
- Release Date
- 2009-07-30
- Runtime
- 146 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (1479)
Cast
- Adam Sandler
- Seth Rogen
- Leslie Mann
- Eric Bana
- Jonah Hill
- Jason Schwartzman
- Aubrey Plaza
- RZA
- Aziz Ansari
- Maude Apatow
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Funny People about?
- A celebrated comedian facing terminal illness hires a struggling younger comic, turning a professional arrangement into an unlikely reckoning with friendship and mortality.
- What is Funny People like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Funny People as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Funny People violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Funny People.
- What did critics think of Funny People?
- Critics generally found the film emotionally mature and substantially deeper than a conventional comedy, while its long runtime and self-satisfied tone divided opinion.
- Which films are like Funny People?
- Films with a similar feel include The King of Comedy, Punch-Drunk Love, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Lenny.
- How long is Funny People?
- Funny People runs 146 minutes.
- Where can I watch Funny People?
- In United States, Funny People streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
