Overview
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.
Fun facts
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Box office
Grossed $100M worldwide, about 25.0 times its $4M budget
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Setting
Set in Mississippi
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Collection
Part of The Jerk Collection
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Music
Music by Jack Elliott
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Cinematography
Cinematography by Victor J. Kemper
Details
- Director
- Writers
- Carl GottliebScreenplay
- Steve MartinScreenplay
- Michael EliasScreenplay
- Status
- Released
- Release date
- December 14, 1979
- Original language
- English
- Budget
- $4M
- Revenue
- $100M
- Countries
- United States of America
- Collection
- The Jerk Collection
Streaming on
In the United States
Availability data byJustWatch, opens in a new tab
All options, opens in a new tabProduction
Cast
Steve MartinNavin R. Johnson
Bernadette PetersMarie Kimble Johnson
Catlin AdamsPatty Bernstein
Mabel KingMother
Richard WardFather
Carl GottliebIron Balls McGinty
Dick Anthony WilliamsTaj
Bill MacyStan Fox
M. Emmet WalshMadman
Dick O'NeillFrosty
Maurice EvansHobart
Helena CarrollHester
Ren WoodsElvira
Pepe SernaPunk #1
Sonny TerryBlues Singer
Brownie McGheeBlues Singer
Jackie MasonHarry Hartounian- Sharon JohansenLenore Hartounian
Gene LeBellCon Man
Carl ReinerCarl Reiner the Celebrity
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