The Odd Couple
A recently separated neat freak moves in with his carefree best friend, turning a rescue mission into a hilarious battle over how to live together.
Overview
Two mismatched roommates navigate the chaos of friendship and living together in New York City.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- comfort viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a very funny, expertly adapted comedy elevated by the universally strong chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Oscar's slovenly sociability repeatedly clashes with Felix's obsessive neatness after Felix moves in.
Oscar takes in the depressed Felix, but cohabitation strains their longstanding male friendship.
Critics specifically noted the Broadway origins, while Neil Simon adapted his own play for the screen.
The New York setting, weekly poker gathering, and roommate arrangement define the film's social world.
Films like The Odd Couple, and why
The Odd Couple II
ensemble domestic comedy built around sharply contrasting roommates and escalating household conflict
Grumpy Old Men
warm, witty male friendship comedy driven by mismatched personalities and domestic friction
The Sunshine Boys
Neil Simon-style urban comedy emphasizing divorce, companionship, and verbal sparring
The Goodbye Girl
classic roommate comedy with broad character contrast, comic incompatibility, and New York energy
Movie Details
- Director
- Gene Saks
- Release Date
- 1968-05-16
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (678)
Cast
- Jack Lemmon
- Walter Matthau
- John Fiedler
- Herb Edelman
- David Sheiner
- Monica Evans
- Carole Shelley
- Iris Adrian
- Billie Bird
- Angelique Pettyjohn
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, 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 Odd Couple about?
- A recently separated neat freak moves in with his carefree best friend, turning a rescue mission into a hilarious battle over how to live together.
- What is The Odd Couple like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Odd Couple as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Odd Couple violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Odd Couple.
- What did critics think of The Odd Couple?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a very funny, expertly adapted comedy elevated by the universally strong chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.
- Which films are like The Odd Couple?
- Films with a similar feel include The Odd Couple II, Grumpy Old Men, The Sunshine Boys, and The Goodbye Girl.
- How long is The Odd Couple?
- The Odd Couple runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Odd Couple?
- In United States, The Odd Couple streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
