

Hardly Working
“The world's funniest funny man is back!”
Synopsis
In Jerry Lewis's first film in a decade, he plays Bo Hooper, an unemployed circus clown who can't seem to hold down a job. The film opens with a brief montage of clips from past Lewis movies. He then moves into a succession of jobs that he gets himself fired from including a gas station attendant and a mailman - all with disastrous results.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
HARDLY WORKING | Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2016-07-05
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Release History & Theatrical Window
April 3, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3.4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$49M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
14.41x
+$45.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jerry Lewis
- Screenplay & Story
- Jerry Lewis, Michael Janover
- Original Score
- Morton Stevens
- Original Title
- Hardly Working
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Budget
- $3.4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $49M
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox, Hardly Working
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis, Michael Janover
Morton Stevens
James Pergola
Michael Luciano
Igo Kantor, James J. McNamara, Mickey Blowitz
Department Leadership Roster
Jerry Lewis
Director
Michael Luciano
Editor
Jerry Lewis
Screenplay
Michael Janover
Screenplay
Morton Stevens
Original Music Composer
James Pergola
Director of Photography
Igo Kantor
Producer
James J. McNamara
Producer
Mickey Blowitz
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Hardly Working.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Hardly Working.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hardly Working
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Hardly Working about?
In Jerry Lewis's first film in a decade, he plays Bo Hooper, an unemployed circus clown who can't seem to hold down a job. The film opens with a brief montage of clips from past Lewis movies. He then moves into a succession of jobs that he gets himself fired from including a gas station attendant and a mailman - all with disastrous results.
Who directed Hardly Working?
Hardly Working was directed by Jerry Lewis.
Who stars in Hardly Working?
The principal cast of Hardly Working includes Jerry Lewis, Susan Oliver, Roger C. Carmel, Deanna Lund, Harold J. Stone.
When was Hardly Working released and how long is it?
Hardly Working was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
What was the box office and production budget of Hardly Working?
Hardly Working had a reported production budget of $3.4M and grossed $49M at the worldwide box office (14.41 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Hardly Working?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Hardly Working was composed by Morton Stevens.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Hardly Working?
Hardly Working holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).
