Take It or Leave It
“Madness, Madness, they call it Madness.”
Synopsis
Take It or Leave It is an autobiographical account of the cult '80s British pop group Madness, with members of the group playing themselves, charting their rise from humble beginnings as pub band The Invaders to chart success and their first overseas tour. The film follows the ups and downs of individual members of the group, and features all of their early hits including The Prince, One Step Beyond, Baggy Trousers, and Night Boat to Cairo.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K restoration | Official UK TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-07-30
Top Cast
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Suggs
Suggs
Mark Bedford
Bedders
Lee Thompson
Lee Thompson
Chas Smash
Carl
Dan Woodgate
Woody
Chris Foreman
Chris
Mike Barson
Barso
John Hasler
Hasler
Simon Birdsall
Simon
Andrew Chalk
Chalky
Ian Tokins
Toks
Gerard Kelly
Dick the Ted
Alfie Curtis
Vicar
Ted Burnett
Vicar
Arthur Whybrow
Foreman #1
Keith Bell
Foreman #2
Barry Linehan
Dublin Castle Manager
Doreen Keogh
Manager's Wife
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 8, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Dave Robinson
- Screenplay & Story
- Dave Robinson, Philip McDonald, Suggs, Mike Barson, Lee Thompson, Chris Foreman, Mark Bedford, Dan Woodgate, Chas Smash
- Original Title
- Take It or Leave It
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 23m
- Production Studios
- Nutty Stiff Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Dave Robinson
Dave Robinson, Philip McDonald, Suggs, Mike Barson, Lee Thompson, Chris Foreman, Mark Bedford, Dan Woodgate, Chas Smash
Nicholas D. Knowland
Department Leadership Roster
Greg Powell
Stunt Coordinator
Dave Robinson
Writer
Dave Robinson
Director
Philip McDonald
Writer
Nicholas D. Knowland
Director of Photography
Suggs
Writer
Mike Barson
Writer
Lee Thompson
Writer
Chris Foreman
Writer
Mark Bedford
Writer
Dan Woodgate
Writer
Chas Smash
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Take It or Leave It.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Take It or Leave It.
500 best 81's movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About Take It or Leave It
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Take It or Leave It about?
Take It or Leave It is an autobiographical account of the cult '80s British pop group Madness, with members of the group playing themselves, charting their rise from humble beginnings as pub band The Invaders to chart success and their first overseas tour. The film follows the ups and downs of individual members of the group, and features all of their early hits including The Prince, One Step Beyond, Baggy Trousers, and Night Boat to Cairo.
Who directed Take It or Leave It?
Take It or Leave It was directed by Dave Robinson.
Who stars in Take It or Leave It?
The principal cast of Take It or Leave It includes Suggs, Mark Bedford, Lee Thompson, Chas Smash, Dan Woodgate.
When was Take It or Leave It released and how long is it?
Take It or Leave It was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 23m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Take It or Leave It?
Take It or Leave It holds official age classifications: GB: A; US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).