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Flirting with Disaster

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
20K
YOUR RATING
Patricia Arquette, Téa Leoni, and Ben Stiller in Flirting with Disaster (1996)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:57
2 Videos
42 Photos
Dark ComedyRoad TripComedy

A young man, his wife, and his incompetent case worker travel across country to find his birth parents.A young man, his wife, and his incompetent case worker travel across country to find his birth parents.A young man, his wife, and his incompetent case worker travel across country to find his birth parents.

  • Director
    • David O. Russell
  • Writer
    • David O. Russell
  • Stars
    • Ben Stiller
    • Patricia Arquette
    • Téa Leoni
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David O. Russell
    • Writer
      • David O. Russell
    • Stars
      • Ben Stiller
      • Patricia Arquette
      • Téa Leoni
    • 119User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 10 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Watch Official Trailer
    Flirting With Disaster
    Trailer 1:53
    Watch Flirting With Disaster

    Photos42

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    + 36
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    Top cast27

    Edit
    Ben Stiller
    Ben Stiller
    • Mel Coplin
    Patricia Arquette
    Patricia Arquette
    • Nancy Coplin
    Téa Leoni
    Téa Leoni
    • Tina Kalb
    Mary Tyler Moore
    Mary Tyler Moore
    • Pearl Coplin
    George Segal
    George Segal
    • Ed Coplin
    Alan Alda
    Alan Alda
    • Richard Schlichting
    Lily Tomlin
    Lily Tomlin
    • Mary Schlichting
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Paul Harmon
    Josh Brolin
    Josh Brolin
    • Agent Tony Kent
    Celia Weston
    Celia Weston
    • Valerie Swaney
    Glenn Fitzgerald
    Glenn Fitzgerald
    • Lonnie Schlichting
    Beth Stern
    Beth Stern
    • Jane
    • (as Beth Ostrosky)
    Cynthia LaMontagne
    Cynthia LaMontagne
    • Sandra
    • (as Cynthia Lamontagne)
    David Patrick Kelly
    David Patrick Kelly
    • Fritz Boudreau
    John Ford Noonan
    John Ford Noonan
    • Mitch
    Charlet Oberly
    • B&B Lady
    Nadia Dajani
    Nadia Dajani
    • Jill
    Don Creech
    Don Creech
    • Cop #1
    • Director
      • David O. Russell
    • Writer
      • David O. Russell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Lily Tomlin, Ben Stiller and David O. Russell did not get along and had many heated arguments.
    • Goofs
      Cameraman visible in mirror in detectives office.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Coplin: San Diego has a big carjacking problem. They bump you, and when you stop, they mutilate you and take your car.

    • Alternate versions
      The VHS and laserdisc versions (but not the DVD release) feature additional scenes during the end credits, not included in the original theatrical cut, showing the whereabouts of Tina and Tony and Paul.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Diabolique/It's My Party/Flirting with Disaster/Girl 6/Little Indian, Big City (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Anything But Love
      Written by Don Raleigh/Squirrel Nut Zippers
      Performed by Squirrel Nut Zippers

    User reviews119

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    Outstanding black comedy; one of Stiller's best

    FLIRTING WITH DISASTER (1996) **** Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, Tea Leoni, Alan Alda, Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal, Lily Tomlin, Richard Jenkins, Josh Brolin. Hilarious and wickedly sharp satire about a young man (Stiller in a memorable turn) searching for his identity by trying to locate his biological parents while alienating his neglected and lovely wife (the yummy Arquette) and Leoni (simply wonderful) as his adoption broker. Fine ensemble cast (especially Moore in an inconoclastic poke at her image) and Alda (ditto). Subversive good, clean fun and seriously dysfunctional family values (thank God!) from filmmaker David O. Russell beating the Sophomore Jinx (in this his second turn at the helm).
    • george.schmidt
    • Mar 12, 2003
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Flirting with Disaster?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 12, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Біда біду тягне
    • Filming locations
      • Tucson, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • Miramax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,702,438
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $164,458
      • Mar 24, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,702,438
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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