Punch-Drunk Love | Rotten Tomatoes

Punch-Drunk Love

R

Released Oct 11, 2002

1 hr. 35 min.

Romance

Comedy

TRAILER

for Punch-Drunk Love: Trailer 1

List

79%

199 Reviews

Tomatometer

77%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Although susceptible to violent outbursts, bathroom supply business owner Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) is a timid and shy man by disposition, leading a lonely, uneventful life -- partly due to the constant berating he suffers from his seven sisters. However, several events transpire that shake up Egan's mundane existence, one of which is falling in love with one sister's co-worker, Lena Leonard (Emily Watson). But the romance is threatened when Egan falls victim to an extortionist.

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Critics Consensus

Odd, touching, and unique, Punch-Drunk Love is also delightfully funny, utilizing Adam Sandler's comic persona to explore the life of a lonely guy who finds love.

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peter S

Punch drunk stupid. This does not make any sense as a movie. Characters do not make any sense. They do not a have a life story or if they do it is not supported by what we see. The characters speak nonsense. Even their love is based on such nothingness than superficial would be too deep to describe it. But the worst part is that this movie is incredibly boring. The only surprise is that they made Emily Watson look ugly.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

Full Review

Kyle C

Okay, I mean, that was weird. There were a lot of great, funny parts. Also lots of weird, slow, artsy parts that really tried to keep my attention but didn't succeed that often. As my partner put it, it felt "Wes-Anderson-adjacent". It has a peculiar way of wriggling itself into your brain with its camera work and sound design. It's very unique; I'll give it that. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I'll watch it again.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/24

Full Review

Jacob T

This is a Amazing Film, Amazing Message, Great Characters, the Visuals are Beautiful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/27/24

Full Review

Ian W

Adam Sandler has a proven track record of awful films. But after Hidden Gems (where he was brilliant), I thought "what the hell, let's give another one a go". A very messy film that didn't know what its message was. Borderline idiot with psychotic tendencies is pursued by relatively attractive high flier. Eh? Why? And why was the phone sex scam gang sent from Utah to beat him up for $500? Why bother? That wouldn't even cover expenses. All in all, it's a stupid film. If you really want to root for a mentally challenged, unstable, dangerous man, then this could be the film for you. If not, avoid at all costs.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

Dave C

WTAF?! I couldn't even fight my way through 20mins!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/14/24

Full Review

Chris O

This should be 100% score. Best thing Sandler ever did.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Director

Adam Sandler

Barry Egan

Emily Watson

Lena Leonard

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Dean Trumbull

Luis Guzmán

Lance

Mary Lynn Rajskub

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Punch-Drunk Love: Trailer 1

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Odd romantic journey for adults and older teens.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

It's a romantic comedy on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

The film looks good and has its funny moments, but too often one senses Anderson straining to impress...

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A romantic comedy that operates by the rules of its own self-contained universe.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 20, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

There’s also no overestimating how jarring it was at the time for Sandler to appear in a film like this- not only a non-comedy but something with such a weird, unconventional tone and pace (20th anniversary)

Rated: 4/5

Nov 8, 2022

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Punch-Drunk Love marks an evolution in Adam Sandler's career because it showed that he was capable of more than just the typical comedy fare that he was in at the time.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 12, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Although susceptible to violent outbursts, bathroom supply business owner Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) is a timid and shy man by disposition, leading a lonely, uneventful life -- partly due to the constant berating he suffers from his seven sisters. However, several events transpire that shake up Egan's mundane existence, one of which is falling in love with one sister's co-worker, Lena Leonard (Emily Watson). But the romance is threatened when Egan falls victim to an extortionist.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Ghoulardi Film Company, Revolution Films
Rating: R (Strong Language|Scene of Sexual Dialogue)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 11, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 15, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.8M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby EX, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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