Cold Turkey

Play trailer

Cold Turkey

PG-13,

1971,

1h 39m,

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

57%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In the depressed town of Eagle Rock, Reverend Brooks (Dick Van Dyke) spearheads his community's effort to rise to the Cold Turkey challenge. The Valiant Tobacco Company has promised a $25,000 cash prize to any town in America that can quit smoking for 30 days. So Brooks leads the charge in this Battle of the Butts, hoping to become the local hero in the process. However, when ad executive Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart) shows up to undermine his efforts, this wicked comedy kicks into high gear.

Margaret Hinxman

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Mar 17, 2020

The special agony that grips Cold Turkey by the windpipe is how to stop smoking. And the film is funniest when it concentrates on that monumental exercise in will-power beside which the Perils of Pauline pale into minor irritants.

Go to Full Review

Stefan Kanfer

TIME Magazine

Mar 23, 2015

An extended sitcom loaded with the kind of jokes that induce canned laughter.

Go to Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Irritation mounts as tiresome running gags run the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal into the ground.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Aug 11, 2021

3/4

The script for Cold Turkey is fairly ragged, but the movie deserves credit for its willingness to wallow in the murky depths of black comedy.

Go to Full Review

Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Jun 26, 2020

4/5

Lear's vision of consumers, marketers, and politicians all in bed together is as relevant now as it was then.

Go to Full Review

Dilys Powell

Sunday Times (UK)

Mar 17, 2020

A sustained joke about a serious subject -- deplorable taste, and good luck to it; the joke is extremely funny in the old Hollywood style, using the idiosyncrasies of the members of a group, drawing farce from straight-faced desperation.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Luke W

Sep 16, 2018

Very funny movie with a great cast that most people probably have never heard of.

Kylo S

Sep 18, 2017

What a laugh riot fest filled with inappropriate Historical Sexism. you need to see to believe and REMEMBER, lest you forget.

See more

George M

Jun 9, 2017

70's concept comedy with great cast. Smoking was ingrained in the culture at this time, so it resonates more with boomers.

See more

Read all reviews

Norman Lear

Director

Dick Van Dyke

Rev. Clayton Brooks

Pippa Scott

Natalie Brooks

Tom Poston

Mr. Stopworth

Edward Everett Horton

Hiram C. Grayson

Bob Elliott

Hugh Upson

The Book of Life

86%

71%

The Book of Life

Watchlist

The Loved One

50%

76%

The Loved One

Watchlist

Too Much Sleep

67%

67%

Too Much Sleep

Watchlist

...And God Spoke

100%

33%

...And God Spoke

Watchlist

Grateful Dawg

71%

82%

Grateful Dawg

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the depressed town of Eagle Rock, Reverend Brooks (Dick Van Dyke) spearheads his community's effort to rise to the Cold Turkey challenge. The Valiant Tobacco Company has promised a $25,000 cash prize to any town in America that can quit smoking for 30 days. So Brooks leads the charge in this Battle of the Butts, hoping to become the local hero in the process. However, when ad executive Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart) shows up to undermine his efforts, this wicked comedy kicks into high gear.

Director: Norman Lear
Production Co: Tandem Productions, DFI
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|Smoking Content Throughout)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 19, 1971, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 17, 2017
Runtime: 1h 39m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings