The Fortune Cookie

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The Fortune Cookie

1966,

2h 5m,

Comedy/

Drama/

Romance

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96%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

While taping a football game, cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) ends up slightly injured after a collision with star player "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich). When Hinkle's scheming brother-in-law, lawyer Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau), catches wind of the incident, he wants Hinkle to feign paralysis to scam the insurance company. Hinkle agrees to the plan, if only to win back his ex (Judi West). But Hinkle's growing friendship with a guilt-ridden Jackson has him questioning the ploy.

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Critics Consensus

Uniting Jack Lemmon and a never-better Walter Matthau on the screen for the first time, The Fortune Cookie continues director Billy Wilder's winning streak of sweet comedies with a nice snap.

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

Oct 22, 2018

Matthau, with the role of a lifetime at his hands, seizes it and makes it wonderful. As the incompetent shyster, Matthau snarls, cajoles, is breezy and sniveling by turns.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Aug 15, 2007

...another bittersweet comedy commentary on contemporary US mores.

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Aug 15, 2007

Wildly funny in spots...

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Aug 11, 2025

3/4

Though it unfolds with sitcom logic, Matthau in particular gives an outstanding performance, loading up his grandstanding with quietly hilarious little moments.

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

Aug 27, 2021

B+

... the team of Wilder, and his equally insightful collaborator I.A.L. Diamond, who manage to shine a light on the nasty and dark side of human nature, as well as race issues. And boy does it feel so very modern.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 13, 2020

3.5/4

The first joint Lemmon-Matthau effort might be the funniest.

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Finn W

Apr 5, 2019

There's a lot of unrealized potential here but it's worth seeing for Matthau's fantastic performance.

Feb 1, 2019

The best comedy movie ever made!

Hagrid P

Feb 24, 2018

Walter Matthau got an Oscar for his epic portrayal of a sleazy, ambulance chasing lawyer who sees a big payday when his schlub brother-in-law (Lemmon) gets creamed while filming a pro-football game, and the action sizzles whenever he's onscreen. The two subplots don't fare as well: the football player who does the damage, drowning in guilt, and the stereotypical scheming ex-wife who returns for the money. As usual with Billy Wilder, it's the cynical view of the modern man blues that provides the comedy.

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Albus S

Jan 14, 2011

I wish they colorized this movie, the black and white tone, seems to be one of very things hurting this movie. Otherwise, very funny, but a little drawn out.

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Billy Wilder

Director

Jack Lemmon

Harry Hinkle

Walter Matthau

Willie Gingrich

Ron Rich

Luther "Boom Boom" Jackson

Cliff Osmond

Purkey

Judi West

Sandy Hinkle

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Synopsis

While taping a football game, cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) ends up slightly injured after a collision with star player "Boom Boom" Jackson (Ron Rich). When Hinkle's scheming brother-in-law, lawyer Willie Gingrich (Walter Matthau), catches wind of the incident, he wants Hinkle to feign paralysis to scam the insurance company. Hinkle agrees to the plan, if only to win back his ex (Judi West). But Hinkle's growing friendship with a guilt-ridden Jackson has him questioning the ploy.

Director: Billy Wilder
Producer: Billy Wilder
Production Co: Mirisch Company
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2019
Runtime: 2h 5m

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