Best in Show
An affectionate mockumentary turns a prestigious dog show into a showcase for competitive obsession, eccentric personalities, and impeccably deadpan American comedy.
Overview
A hilarious look at the quirky world of dog shows and the eccentric owners who love them.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- deadpan
- irreverent
- lazy sunday
- group movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an expertly improvised mockumentary with an appealing premise and exceptionally talented comic ensemble.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
A purported documentary crew records dog owners, commentators, and competitors at the Mayflower Dog Show.
The prestigious dog show turns breed expertise, preparation, and winning into targets of affectionate comic scrutiny.
Gerry and Cookie Fleck, Harlan Pepper, anxious attorneys, a gay couple, and commentator Buck Laughlin receive interwoven attention.
The participants' neurotic preparation and extravagant devotion to their dogs are presented through restrained documentary observation.
Films like Best in Show, and why
Waiting for Guffman
shares Christopher Guest-style mockumentary structure, improvisational ensemble comedy, and affectionate satire of competitive subcultures
A Mighty Wind
shares deadpan observational humor, eccentric ensemble characters, and documentary-style satire of an American community
Theater Camp
shares workplace and hobbyist absurdity, improvisational performances, and tightly observed ensemble farce
Movie Details
- Director
- Christopher Guest
- Release Date
- 2000-09-29
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (703)
Cast
- Bob Balaban
- Jennifer Coolidge
- Christopher Guest
- John Michael Higgins
- Michael Hitchcock
- Eugene Levy
- Jane Lynch
- Michael McKean
- Catherine O'Hara
- Parker Posey
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium 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 Best in Show about?
- An affectionate mockumentary turns a prestigious dog show into a showcase for competitive obsession, eccentric personalities, and impeccably deadpan American comedy.
- What is Best in Show like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Best in Show as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Best in Show violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Best in Show.
- What did critics think of Best in Show?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an expertly improvised mockumentary with an appealing premise and exceptionally talented comic ensemble.
- Which films are like Best in Show?
- Films with a similar feel include Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, and Theater Camp.
- How long is Best in Show?
- Best in Show runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Best in Show?
- In United States, Best in Show streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
