The Jerk
“A rags to riches to rags story.”
Synopsis
After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
Part of the The Jerk Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-12-05
Top Cast
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Steve Martin
Navin R. Johnson
Bernadette Peters
Marie Kimble Johnson
Catlin Adams
Patty Bernstein
Mabel King
Mother
Richard Ward
Father
Carl Gottlieb
Iron Balls McGinty
Dick Anthony Williams
Taj
Bill Macy
Stan Fox
M. Emmet Walsh
Madman
Dick O'Neill
Frosty
Maurice Evans
Hobart
Helena Carroll
Hester
Ren Woods
Elvira
Pepe Serna
Punk #1
Sonny Terry
Blues Singer
Brownie McGhee
Blues Singer
Jackie Mason
Harry Hartounian
Sharon Johansen
Lenore Hartounian
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 14, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$100M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
25x
+$96M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Carl Reiner
- Screenplay & Story
- Carl Gottlieb, Steve Martin, Michael Elias
- Original Score
- Jack Elliott
- Original Title
- The Jerk
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Budget
- $4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $100M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures, Aspen Film Society
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Carl Reiner
Carl Gottlieb, Steve Martin, Michael Elias
Jack Elliott
Victor J. Kemper
Bud Molin, Ron Spang
David V. Picker, William E. McEuen
Department Leadership Roster
Carl Gottlieb
Screenplay
Jack Elliott
Original Music Composer
Bud Molin
Editor
Carl Reiner
Director
Steve Martin
Screenplay
Conrad E. Palmisano
Stunt Coordinator
Michael Elias
Screenplay
Ron Spang
Editor
David V. Picker
Producer
Theadora Van Runkle
Costume Design
Victor J. Kemper
Director of Photography
Jack T. Collis
Production Design
William E. McEuen
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 12 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Jerk.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Jerk.
Movie Collection
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
Movies
***Retro***
vison of mind
Imported from MUBI list: https://mubi.com/en/lists/vison-of-mind
Now Showing at Cain Cinema
Cain Cinema features a 4K UHD picture on a 120" (16:9) screen, and a 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos audio experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Jerk
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Jerk about?
After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
Who directed The Jerk?
The Jerk was directed by Carl Reiner.
Who stars in The Jerk?
The principal cast of The Jerk includes Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King, Richard Ward.
When was The Jerk released and how long is it?
The Jerk was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Jerk?
The Jerk had a reported production budget of $4M and grossed $100M at the worldwide box office (25 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Jerk?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Jerk was composed by Jack Elliott.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Jerk?
The Jerk holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: 12 (Suitable only for 12 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).