← Back to results
Man on the Moon
1999 118 min United States of America, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom R 18+
★7.1
Comedy, Drama, History
Director: Milos Forman
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
The story of the life and career of eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.
Budget:
$82M
US Gross:
$34.61M
Worldwide:
$47.43M
Starring
Jim Carrey
Actor
Danny DeVito
Actor
Gerry Becker
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2000
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Berlin International Film Festival 2000
— Silver Bear – Best Director
Golden Globe 2000
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Berlin International Film Festival 2000
— Golden Bear
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2000
— Best Actor
Berlin International Film Festival 2000
— Silver Bear – Best Director
Key opinion
Man on the Moon is a polarizing biopic that succeeds primarily through Jim Carrey’s total, immersive transformation into Andy Kaufman. While many praise the film for its technical precision and thematic depth, it remains a challenging experience that often alienates viewers unfamiliar with Kaufman’s specific brand of 1970s American anti-humor.
| Acting | Jim Carrey delivers a virtuosic, uncannily accurate physical and psychological embodiment of Andy Kaufman. | |
| Direction | Miloš Forman’s direction leans into the surreal, mirroring the subject's own penchant for blurring the lines between performance and reality. | |
| Adaptation | The film functions as an effective, meticulously detailed biopic for those interested in Kaufman’s specific life and legacy. | |
| Accessibility | The narrative's reliance on obscure 1970s cultural references and avant-garde comedy makes it inaccessible to global audiences unfamiliar with the era. | |
| Theme | The film's tone oscillates between admiration for Kaufman’s genius and disdain for his manipulative, self-absorbed persona, leaving viewers divided on the likability of the protagonist. | |
| Pacing | The contemplative, meta-fictional pacing is hailed by some as a brilliant stylistic choice, while others find it self-indulgent and boring. |