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IMDbPro

What's the Worst That Could Happen?

  • 2001
  • PG-13
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
18K
YOUR RATING
Danny DeVito and Martin Lawrence in What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
Home Video Trailer from MGM
Play trailer0:55
3 Videos
36 Photos
CaperHeistComedyCrime

A rich man catches a thief burglarizing his home and steals the thief's lucky ring; the thief then tries to get it back.A rich man catches a thief burglarizing his home and steals the thief's lucky ring; the thief then tries to get it back.A rich man catches a thief burglarizing his home and steals the thief's lucky ring; the thief then tries to get it back.

  • Director
    • Sam Weisman
  • Writers
    • Donald E. Westlake
    • Matthew Chapman
  • Stars
    • Martin Lawrence
    • Danny DeVito
    • John Leguizamo
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    18K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Weisman
    • Writers
      • Donald E. Westlake
      • Matthew Chapman
    • Stars
      • Martin Lawrence
      • Danny DeVito
      • John Leguizamo
    • 93User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
    • 37Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    Trailer 0:55
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    Trailer 0:55
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    Trailer 0:55
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?
    Trailer 0:57
    What's The Worst That Could Happen?

    Photos36

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    Top cast71

    Edit
    Martin Lawrence
    Martin Lawrence
    • Kevin Caffery
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Max Fairbanks
    John Leguizamo
    John Leguizamo
    • Berger
    Glenne Headly
    Glenne Headly
    • Gloria Sidell
    Carmen Ejogo
    Carmen Ejogo
    • Amber Belhaven
    Bernie Mac
    Bernie Mac
    • Uncle Jack
    Larry Miller
    Larry Miller
    • Earl Radburn
    Nora Dunn
    Nora Dunn
    • Lutetia Fairbanks
    Richard Schiff
    Richard Schiff
    • Walter Greenbaum
    William Fichtner
    William Fichtner
    • Detective Alex Tardio
    Ana Gasteyer
    Ana Gasteyer
    • Ann Marie
    Sascha Knopf
    Sascha Knopf
    • Tracey Kimberly
    Siobhan Fallon Hogan
    Siobhan Fallon Hogan
    • Edwina
    • (as Siobhan Fallon)
    GQ
    GQ
    • Shelly Nix
    Lenny Clarke
    Lenny Clarke
    • Windham
    Robin Brown
    • Auctioneer
    Mike Moyer
    Mike Moyer
    • Large Man at Auction
    Darra Herman
    • Auction Bidder
    • Director
      • Sam Weisman
    • Writers
      • Donald E. Westlake
      • Matthew Chapman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews93

    5.517.7K
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    Featured reviews

    mattkratz

    great!

    This movie was refreshingly funny, as Martin Lawrence and Danny De Vito give great comic performances. De Vito steals Lawrence's ring as the latter is caught burglarizing the former's house, and Lawrence spends the majority of the film trying to get it back.

    A funny film all around, and the scene where De Vito is testifying before a senate committee is not to be missed.

    *** out of ****
    vabarnamees

    Worst things have happened than this!

    Well, I couldn't avoid the inevitable pun, so I thought I'd get it over with right in the beginning. As for this movie, it's pretty useless as entertainment in terms of humor, fascination and escapism. It definitely doesn't belong among the worst Hollywood comedies of late, as there is only a single fart joke and a single kicked-in-the-groin joke. That's pretty civilized for an American "comedy" nowadays, I am sorry to admit. So the problem here is not vulgarity, just boredom.

    Although I greatly admire the talent of both Danny DeVito and Martin Lawrence (yes, you heard correctly - I thought he was excellent in Bad Boys), the combination of the two seems to lack something vital here. Upon a closer examination it is quite clear what this missing ingredient is: a good script. Instead of genuine amusement, this it-takes-a-crook-to-catch-a-thief story line becomes weary and repetitive fairly quickly. Add to this a couple of increasingly annoying supporting characters and numerous inconsistencies - it is one to avoid.

    I would also like to add that the only really convincing performance comes from Richard Schiff as DeVito's long-suffering lawyer who experiences a moment of personal triumph. I really loved this scene. Unfortunately, it can't save this movie, which was doomed at birth. A 2 out of 10 from me.
    6MovieDave

    It's just plain funny !

    Just the name Martin Lawrence kind of makes me laugh, and this movie with Danny DeVito will give you several good belly laughs. Plain and simple, the formula for a good comedy is not all that complex, as this film clearly shows. There's no gross-out humor, or excessive vulgar language needed to make this movie a fun couple of hours. I also genuinely liked John Leguizamo's character throughout the movie. All in all this movie is a barrel of laughs from start to finish.
    7boblipton

    Disorganized Crime

    When billionaire Danny DeVito catches burglar Martin Lawrence robbing his house, he holds him at gunpoint until the police arrive, then takes Lawrence's ring. Because it was a gift from his girlfriend, Carmen Ejogo, Lawrence wants to get it back.... and he has a large network of skilled but inept criminals to call on for help: once, that is, they stop laughing at him.

    It's based on Donald Westlake's Dortmunder novel of the same name, and like most movie versions of Westlake's sad-sack crime comedies, some peculiar choices were made. The Westlake characters are all shlubs, with Dortmunder's brilliant plans being confounded by their bad luck and mistakes. Lawrence is good, and Bernie Mac is outstanding as the fence who bankrolls the operations, but while the comic actors are superb, it lacks the the disorganized doggedness of Westlake. Even so, the story is a good one, Devito plays his role right in the middle of his comfort spot, and even if you know Westlake, it's impossible to figure out what's going to happen next.
    jimbo700

    Who will be the Lord Of The Ring?

    Generally speaking, I agree with the masses on the IMDb but in this case I must protest. This movie deserves a much higher rating than a 5. I would personally give it a 7. After viewing several mundane comedies, I found "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" to be refreshing. A quick summary of the plot: Kevin Caffrey (Martin Lawrence) attempts to burglarize billionaire Max Fairbanks' (Danny Divito) home. Max turns out to be in the house and holds Kevin at gunpoint until the police arrive. He then tells the cops that the ring on Kevin's hand belongs to him and the cops force Kevin to cough it up. The problem is that Kevin's new girlfriend had just given it to him. The rest of the movie deals with Kevin trying to get the ring back. Danny DeVito is hilarious and this is my favorite Martin Lawrence movie yet.

    The plot is original and I thought the supporting actors were great. I would have given William Fichtner a bit more of a roll. He really had little to do with the plot yet I found his portrayal of gay Detective Alex Tardio to be one of the funniest parts of the movie. I read the book and will admit that the book's ending is a bit more satisfying but not a major issue. I have never seen a group of criminals and scoundrels more likable than the group in the movie. Everyone in the movie; the thief, the rich guy, the politicians, the judges and everyone in the periphery seems to be morally depraved. I guess that is what makes this movie so funny. If you enjoyed "Blue Streak" then you're going to love "What's the Worst That Could Happen?".

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    Related interests

    Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, and Elliott Gould in Ocean's Eleven (2001)
    Caper
    Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer in Heat (1995)
    Heist
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally a project for Heath Ledger.
    • Goofs
      When homes are broken into, it is burglary, not robbery. This is referenced several times throughout the movie. However, since the victim was home at the time of the burglary it is in fact called a robbery.
    • Quotes

      Detective Alex Tardio: Come on boys, pull daddy like a chariot.

      Berger: This is straight out of a Hitchcock movie. I think I'm feeling vertigo.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: What's the Worst That Could Happen?/Pearl Harbor/The Anniversary Party/Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Wooden Horse
      Written by Craig Mack (as Craig James Mack), Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen

      Performed by Craig Mack

      Courtesy of NY.LA Music

      Contains samples from "High Hopes"

      Performed by Frank Sinatra

      Courtesy of Capitol Records

      Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • American Sign Language
    • Also known as
      • Гірше не буде
    • Filming locations
      • Presidential Suite, Charles Hotel - One Bennett Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Turman/Morrissey Company
      • Hyde Park Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $32,269,834
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,049,114
      • Jun 3, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,464,131
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 34m(94 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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