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IMDbPro

Bad Words

  • 2013
  • R
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
57K
YOUR RATING
Jason Bateman in Bad Words (2013)
40-year-old Guy Trilby finds a loophole in the rules of the National Quill Spelling Bee and decides to cause trouble by hijacking the competition. Contest officials, outraged parents, and overly ambitious 8th graders are no match for Guy, as he ruthlessly crushes their dreams of victory and fame. As a reporter attempts to discover his true motivation, Guy finds himself forging an unlikely alliance with a competitor: awkward 10-year old Chaitanya, who is completely unfazed by GuyÂ’s take-no-prisoners approach to life.
Play trailer1:39
33 Videos
58 Photos
Dark ComedyQuirky ComedyComedyDrama

A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.A spelling bee loser sets out to exact revenge by finding a loophole and attempting to win as an adult.

  • Director
    • Jason Bateman
  • Writer
    • Andrew Dodge
  • Stars
    • Jason Bateman
    • Kathryn Hahn
    • Allison Janney
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    57K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jason Bateman
    • Writer
      • Andrew Dodge
    • Stars
      • Jason Bateman
      • Kathryn Hahn
      • Allison Janney
    • 176User reviews
    • 125Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos33

    Trailer #2
    Trailer 1:39
    Trailer #2
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    Clip
    Clip 0:52
    Clip
    Clip
    Clip 0:56
    Clip
    Clip
    Clip 0:51
    Clip
    Bad Words: Nipples
    Clip 0:52
    Bad Words: Nipples

    Photos58

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    + 53
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    Top cast61

    Edit
    Jason Bateman
    Jason Bateman
    • Guy Trilby
    Kathryn Hahn
    Kathryn Hahn
    • Jenny Widgeon
    Allison Janney
    Allison Janney
    • Dr. Bernice Deagan
    Rohan Chand
    Rohan Chand
    • Chaitanya Chopra
    Philip Baker Hall
    Philip Baker Hall
    • Dr. Bowman
    Ben Falcone
    Ben Falcone
    • Pete Fowler
    Steve Witting
    Steve Witting
    • Proctor at Spelling Bee
    Beth Grant
    Beth Grant
    • Bedazzled Judge
    Gwen Parden
    • Brace Faced Girl
    Anjul Nigam
    Anjul Nigam
    • Sriram Chopra
    Allan Miller
    Allan Miller
    • Bald Glasses Judge
    Bob Stephenson
    Bob Stephenson
    • Bill Murhoff
    Patricia Belcher
    Patricia Belcher
    • Ingrid
    Matthew Zhang
    • Braden Aftergood
    Madison Hu
    Madison Hu
    • Ling Quan
    Michael Patrick McGill
    Michael Patrick McGill
    • Beet Red Father
    Judith Hoag
    Judith Hoag
    • Petal Dubois
    Rachael Harris
    Rachael Harris
    • Eric Tai's Mother
    • Director
      • Jason Bateman
    • Writer
      • Andrew Dodge
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews176

    6.657.2K
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    Featured reviews

    7ganpier218

    Off-color, refreshing, and gutsy

    I feel compelled to review this because I believe some took this movie too personally, and thus rated it poorly.

    If you are easily offended, you might be shocked or uncomfortable on several occasions. If you understand this is an artistic work of fiction, or if you like dark, sinister comedy, you can laugh at how this movie relentlessly pummels you with awkward moments. My advice is to cast away your moral standings in reality, and try see this movie from another perspective.

    To be vague, it turns out there's a method to the madness towards the end. And for me, the underlying message made it worthwhile. Jason Bateman was incredibly convincing in this role!
    8JR541

    Sad that some people don't get it.

    This is indeed racist and it's also misogynistic. Does this mean that a movie with those qualities can't be funny? The movie knows it's racist and (wow this word is overused lately) misogynistic . It's also extremely funny. If you know you can't see past certain things like that then I suggest you don't watch this movie. It's mean and and very crude and hilarious.

    I was actually ashamed that I laughed at some of the jokes as I consider myself to be a good person but they are so shamelessly delivered by Bateman I just couldn't help myself. Young Rohan Chand was very likable and held his own with Bateman who knows first hand about what it takes to be a child actor. Turn off your media forced judgment and just enjoy the movie. Even assholes can be funny.
    Dr_Sagan

    G-O-O-D M-O-V-I-E (No, wait! That's a sentence!)

    This a good movie. Ignore other reviews that want you to believe is bad.

    I'm not a fan of Jason Bateman. I don't even like him. And seeing that he is not only the star but also the director and producer of this, makes it even worst.

    Surprisingly enough this is a movie worth seeing. I'm with the professionals critics (Entertainment Weekly, Chicago Sun-Times) who gave it 3.5/4 stars or A- . I wasn't too hasty to hate it, and believe me, by the end of it, the chances are that you might actually like it.

    The star of this is an anti-hero. A man who lacks the conventional heroic attributes. This movie isn't about idealism, or courage or morality. Basically it's a movie about bitterness.

    The main protagonist has his own reasons to be bitter and a cynic. In a way the whole movie is his little revenge. But in his little voyage to that dark destination, he does find the good in his heart, plus an unlikely friend.

    Although it starts like a comedy (and with some crude humor), the movie builds in emotions especially towards the end.

    Overall: Check-it out.
    6Fluke_Skywalker

    Not 'Bad'

    With a premise and character right in his wheelhouse, first time director and star Jason Bateman takes a script that could've been undermined by its clichés in the hands of a lesser talent and delivers an almost-winner with 'Bad Words'.

    On paper, Guy Trilby is one of the most unlikeable protagonists in recent film history, but Bateman is so skillful at these kinds of characters that you find yourself liking him despite your self. Talented co-star Kathryn Hahn provides a nice foil, and newcomer Rohan Chand is a dazzling breath of unpretentious fresh air as Guy's rival and eventual protégé.

    Though it never quite gels into something special, 'Bad Words' is a solid directorial debut for Bateman, and I look forward to seeing what he does next.
    9AllieRubyStein

    Solid comedy- incredibly underrated

    Its story can be a bit formulaic- but its charm unmeasurable- Bad Word is a hilarious and surprisingly entertaining little comedy that truly belongs in the hands of Bateman. Let me just start off by saying I absolutely loved Jason Bateman in this movie. He is so incredibly cruel and mean-spirited, and yet somehow manages to make his character so enjoyable to watch on screen- and I don't think a single other actor could have done that. Not to mention he also directed the film, which honestly, without his touch, could have been a lot more bland- and I love the way he balanced the script's themes throughout. Andrew Dodge wrote the script for this film and though its structurally a little bland- the dialogue is often genius and I loved every wisecracking minute it showed on screen. The cinematography is also quite unique as well, and the cast is all pretty solid. It may be obvious, but the film also does have a heart in the center of its hard core- and honestly surprised me by how much it was able to make me care for the characters at hand given the subject matter. It's a peculiar concept and a brilliant execution- Bateman makes this film what it is- and i'm so glad I finally gave it the chance it deserved.

    My Rating: 9.3/10.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Bud Cort, Anjelica Huston, Michael Gambon, Noah Taylor, Matthew Gray Gubler, Seu Jorge, and Waris Ahluwalia in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
    Quirky Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Directorial debut of Jason Bateman.
    • Goofs
      The definition for "Infinitesimally" is wrong. The word is an adverb; the definition given is for the adjective.
    • Quotes

      Guy Trilby: [to a mother who swore in the presence of Chai] Why don't you take your potty mouth, go locate your pre-teen cock-sucking son and stuff him back up that old blown-out sweat sock of a vagina and scoot off back to whatever shit-kicking town you came from!

    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #8.38 (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21, 1. Adagio Molto; Allegro Con Brio
      Performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic

      Written by Ludwig van Beethoven

      Courtesy of Sony Masterworks

      By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Bad Words?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 28, 2014 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Juegos de palabras
    • Filming locations
      • Sportsmen's Lodge - 12825 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA(hotel)
    • Production companies
      • Aggregate Films
      • Darko Entertainment
      • Digital Image Associates
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,779,614
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $113,301
      • Mar 16, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,804,337
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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