Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- irreverent
- unsettling
- sardonic
- cult movie night
- 1990s nostalgia night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film’s subversive dark wit and Jim Carrey’s daring performance compelling but undermined by uneven storytelling and an uncomfortable tonal shift.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chip begins as an eccentric cable installer but turns his pursuit of Steven’s friendship into an assault on Steven’s personal life.
Chip’s cable access and television-centered worldview shape his attempt to manufacture closeness with Steven.
The premise moves from awkward buddy comedy into psychological thriller as Chip’s behavior becomes increasingly sinister.
Steven fakes interest in Chip’s work, while Chip treats the transaction as the beginning of an intense best friendship.
Films like The Cable Guy, and why
Swimming with Sharks
Shares dark comedy, obsessive friendship, escalating psychological menace, and a satirical view of contemporary social isolation.
Being John Malkovich
Combines absurd comedy with sinister behavior, unstable identity, and a protagonist trapped in an increasingly threatening relationship.
The King of Comedy
Shares blackly comic suburban unease, destructive obsession, and a tonal shift from eccentric humor toward thriller territory.
Observe and Report
Like this film, it uses comic discomfort, male insecurity, and escalating interpersonal conflict to expose modern loneliness.
Movie Details
- Director
- Ben Stiller
- Release Date
- 1996-06-10
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (2779)
Cast
- Jim Carrey
- Matthew Broderick
- Leslie Mann
- Jack Black
- George Segal
- Diane Baker
- Ben Stiller
- Eric Roberts
- Janeane Garofalo
- Andy Dick
Where to watch in United States
- 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 The Cable Guy about?
- A casual favor to an eager cable installer spirals into a darkly comic nightmare of obsessive friendship and private-life sabotage.
- What is The Cable Guy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Cable Guy as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Cable Guy violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Cable Guy as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Cable Guy?
- Critics broadly found the film’s subversive dark wit and Jim Carrey’s daring performance compelling but undermined by uneven storytelling and an uncomfortable tonal shift.
- Which films are like The Cable Guy?
- Films with a similar feel include Swimming with Sharks, Being John Malkovich, The King of Comedy, and Observe and Report.
- How long is The Cable Guy?
- The Cable Guy runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Cable Guy?
- In United States, The Cable Guy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
