---
title: "About Schmidt"
year: 2002
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/about-schmidt"
fi1m_id: "about-schmidt"
imdb_id: "tt0257360"
tmdb_id: 2755
wikidata_id: "Q179460"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 68
critics_reviews: 8
published: "2026-09-14"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:28.525518+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# About Schmidt (2002)

Directed by Alexander Payne · 2h 05m · MPA R · Drama, Comedy

## Identity

About Schmidt

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/about-schmidt
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** about-schmidt
- **IMDb ID:** tt0257360
- **TMDB ID:** 2755
- **Wikidata ID:** Q179460
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257360/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2755, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q179460

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 68 from 8 reviews

*In a sentence:* Jack Nicholson makes retirement look like a job he was never trained to do

> Jack Nicholson makes Alexander Payne’s uneven retirement comedy worth the evening. His restrained performance gives Warren Schmidt a sadness the film earns, even when its jokes about the people around him come too easily.

## Synopsis

Retirement leaves Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) with time to consider what his working life has amounted to and little sense of what should follow it. A road trip and a series of sponsorship letters give him occasions to take stock, while encounters with family and in-laws draw him out of his private thoughts. Kathy Bates plays Roberta Hertzel, with Hope Davis as Jeannie Schmidt, Dermot Mulroney as Randall Hertzel and June Squibb as Helen Schmidt. Directed by Alexander Payne, the comedy-drama follows Warren as he tries to understand his place among other people.

## Review

Alexander Payne’s *About Schmidt* is a good, uneven comedy built around Jack Nicholson’s patient attention to an unexceptional retiree. It is funny, observant and sometimes needlessly pleased with its own jokes about other people’s taste. Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor ask what happens when a man can no longer introduce himself by saying what he does for a living. They spend a long time with Warren Schmidt, and his unhappiness becomes harder to shrug off as we get to know him.

Nicholson keeps Warren’s self-importance visible without making every moment an invitation to laugh at him. The sponsorship letters give Warren a listener he does not have to face, and the device lets Nicholson be confiding without becoming ingratiating. Warren has the opportunity to explain himself at length. What emerges is a man whose habits of thought have not prepared him for much beyond the life he already knows. That is a narrow part to sustain, and Nicholson finds more variation in it than the writing always provides.

Kathy Bates, as Roberta Hertzel, provides a useful change in the in-laws scenes. Her directness puts pressure on Warren’s reserve, and the film becomes funnier when another person can interrupt his private account of things. We laughed at his discomfort, then felt rather mean: Nicholson makes that stiffness look like something he cannot switch off. Bates gives these encounters a welcome energy, though Payne’s enjoyment of their broad comedy can make the surrounding loneliness seem briefly forgotten.

James Glennon’s road-trip photography gives us space after so much time with Warren’s complaints, and the journey benefits from being allowed to look ordinary. There is no need to make the landscape promise a cure. Jane Ann Stewart’s production design supplies plenty of social detail, but its emphasis on tackiness occasionally encourages us to inspect the surroundings for further reasons to laugh. The places feel inhabited; the trouble is the suggestion that their inhabitants ought to have chosen better.

Kevin Tent’s editing gives the uncomfortable comedy time to develop, sometimes more time than it needs. The movement between private misery and broad farce can be bumpy, and several passages repeat a point we have already understood. Rolfe Kent’s music is less persuasive when it seems to underline a mood Nicholson has already made clear. At those points we wanted the film to leave its leading actor alone, because his performance needs so little help.

The familiar temptation in a late-life road film is to make every encounter improve the traveller. Payne keeps returning to Warren’s awkwardness and self-absorption, even when it would be easier to give us somebody more likeable. He takes seriously the possibility that having time to reflect will not make a person better at it. What holds the film back is the uneven treatment of the people around Warren, who are not always granted the patience Nicholson receives.

Choose this for an evening when there is room for discomfort as well as laughter. Expect a slow film, and do not expect retirement to make Warren suddenly wise or agreeable. Go for Nicholson, and allow for a director who sometimes keeps a joke at someone else’s expense longer than he should.

*Fi1m score 77, published 14 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to About Schmidt, with praise clustering around Jack Nicholson’s restrained performance as a retiree confronting an unfulfilled life. The reviews repeatedly single out his dry comic timing and ability to suggest sorrow beneath an unexceptional exterior, giving the film much of its humour and poignancy. Admirers also credit Alexander Payne with finding tenderness in awkward encounters and ordinary Midwestern lives, without softening the black comedy.

The spread is wide, however, and the disagreement concerns Payne’s attitude towards his characters as much as the uneven storytelling. Several reviews find the shifts between satire, broad comedy and poignant drama cumbersome, even while admiring Nicholson. Slant Magazine offers the sharpest dissent, finding condescension and scorn where The New York Times sees an even-handed portrait of Middle American life; the central divide is over whether the film understands these people or looks down on them.

## Straight answers

**Is About Schmidt worth watching?**

*About Schmidt* is worth an evening for anyone who can sit with a slow, uncomfortable comedy about a man who does not improve much, and we scored it 77. Jack Nicholson's restrained performance as a retiree with nothing to say about himself carries it; the jokes at other people's expense are the weak part.

**How long is About Schmidt, and what is it rated?**

*About Schmidt* runs 2h 05m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a drama and comedy film.

**Where can I watch About Schmidt in the US?**

*About Schmidt* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and The Roku Channel in the US, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. It leaves The Roku Channel on 1 October. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is About Schmidt, and is it suitable for children?**

*About Schmidt* is not violent or frightening, but its UK 15 certificate reflects adult language and adult themes, and it is not a film for children. It is a slow, sometimes sad comedy about retirement and loneliness, so teenagers may find it dull rather than disturbing. The squeamish have nothing to worry about.

**How does About Schmidt compare to The Straight Story?**

*About Schmidt* is the funnier and more uneven of the two, while [*The Straight Story*](https://film.one/film/the-straight-story) is the gentler and more patient. Both follow an old man on an American road trip, but Payne keeps laughing at the people Warren meets, where Lynch takes them seriously. Choose Payne for sharp discomfort, Lynch for warmth.

**What should I watch after About Schmidt?**

After *About Schmidt*, try [*The Straight Story*](https://film.one/film/the-straight-story) (1999, Fi1m 88): Another American journey that finds feeling in stubbornness, age and unfinished family business. Then [*Ikiru*](https://film.one/film/ikiru) (1952, Fi1m 92): A working life comes under scrutiny, with greater urgency and less mockery; and [*Wild Strawberries*](https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries) (1957, Fi1m 88): An older traveller confronts himself, with dreams interrupting the journey.

### Reviews we read (15)

- **The Guardian**, Philip French (90/100, inferred): The critic hails Alexander Payne’s film as a tender, acrid comic masterpiece and an American classic in the making. He singles out Jack Nicholson’s gamey, ripe and irresistible performance as the repressed widower Warren Schmidt. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/jan/24/artsfeatures2)
- **Empire** (80/100, inferred): The review highlights the thoughtful black comedy and Nicholson's nuanced portrayal of a retiree confronting his life, calling it a superb follow-up to Election. It notes Payne taps into Nicholson's dry comic talents effectively. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/schmidt-review/)
- **Radio Times**, Jason Caro (4/5): An endearing tragicomedy elevated by Nicholson's exceptionally good, restrained performance as an unexceptional everyman navigating late-life disconnection and new beginnings through quirky, poignant moments. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-t5bthr/about-schmidt/)
- **Evening Standard**, Alexander Walker (70/100, inferred): The critic praises Jack Nicholson's masterful performance as the key reason to see the film, noting how he balances broad comedy and inner bleakness. The narrative is described as bumpy and uneven with some crude elements, though rich in detail. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/jack-revels-in-older-role-7428556.html)
- **Time Out**, GA (70/100, inferred): The satire of Midwestern manners is droll and somewhat ponderous but comes alive with the in-laws scenes and Bates' performance; the sponsor letters add energy despite a false redemptive note at the end. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/about-schmidt)
- **The New Yorker**, Anthony Lane (50/100, inferred): Lane views the film as overly focused on its inert protagonist and ultimately more farcical than profound, missing a Chekhovian depth. He singles out the road-trip visuals and the final letter scene for providing some genuine emotional resonance amid the ambivalence. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/12/16/looking-back-7)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (1/4): Payne condescends to the Midwest with tacky disdain for its characters and settings. The film is a legacy of scorn rather than genuine insight or generosity. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/about-schmidt/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Manohla Dargis: Dargis calls the film a gutsy, truthful humanist triumph and a deeply rooted vision of ordinary American life. She singles out Alexander Payne's direction and Jack Nicholson's performance for perfectly balancing comedy and tragedy while granting the character a rare glimpse beyond self-absorption. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-13-et-dargis13-story.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert: Ebert finds the film a tragicomic portrait of an empty, unfulfilled retiree whose life lacks purpose or connection. He singles out Jack Nicholson's restrained, self-effacing performance for making the limited character watchable and poignant. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/about-schmidt-2002)
- **Screen Daily**: A remorselessly interior, pessimistic dramedy narrower in focus than Payne's earlier films, anchored by Nicholson's commanding and naked performance; it earns artistic credit by avoiding sentimentality but is unlikely to be a big breakout. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/review-about-schmidt/409398.article)
- **Sight and Sound**, Xan Brooks: Nicholson's central performance is strong and restrained, but the film is a less successful, frustrating patchwork than Payne's prior work, mixing poignant drama, satire and broad comedy unevenly. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/1479)
- **The AV Club**, Scott Tobias: Payne offers a nuanced, ambivalent portrait of Midwestern life that balances tackiness with warmth. Nicholson's performance creates one of the richest characters of his career. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/about-schmidt-1798198125)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Michael Rechtshaffen: The film is a blisteringly funny and moving tragicomedy that marks a step forward for Payne. Jack Nicholson's lead performance is commanding and sublime. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/schmidt-review-2002-movie-1166888/)
- **The New York Times**, Stephen Holden: Holden praises the film as an expansive, even-handed vision of contemporary Middle American life centered on an ordinary man's existential drift. He highlights Jack Nicholson's astonishing transformation into the staid, sorrowful protagonist as one of his most emotionally deep performances. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/13/movies/film-review-just-average-guy-overcoming-obstacles-helping-keep-earth-well-salted.html)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (4/5): The critic finds About Schmidt an extraordinary, uncompromising film about wasted lives with dark humor that makes one laugh guiltily at the characters rather than with them. Nicholson's performance is singled out for praise as one of acute observation and razor-sharp timing, worth queuing to see. [Read](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/about-schmidt-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** Alexander Payne
- **Director:** Alexander Payne
- **Screenplay:** Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
- **Cinematography:** James Glennon
- **Editor:** Kevin Tent
- **Music:** Rolfe Kent
- **Production design:** Jane Ann Stewart
- **Costume design:** Wendy Chuck
- **Producer:** Harry Gittes, Michael Besman
- **Cast:** Jack Nicholson as Warren Schmidt; Kathy Bates as Roberta Hertzel; Hope Davis as Jeannie Schmidt; Dermot Mulroney as Randall Hertzel; June Squibb as Helen Schmidt; Howard Hesseman as Larry Hertzel; Harry Groener as John Rusk; Connie Ray as Vicki Rusk
- **Runtime:** 2h 05m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 13 December 2002
- **Genres:** Drama, Comedy
- **Also in:** [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 2002)
- **Budget:** $30 million
- **Box office:** $106 million

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: add-on
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd, leaving 2026-10-01
- Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd
- Apple TV: buy $9.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $9.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-14.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, CA, CH, CL, CO, DE, DK, FI, GB, IE, IT, JP, MX, NO, NZ, PA, RO, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2003: Best Actor (nominated); Best Supporting Actress (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Straight Story* (1999), Fi1m 88: Another American journey that finds feeling in stubbornness, age and unfinished family business. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-straight-story.md)
- *Ikiru* (1952), Fi1m 92: A working life comes under scrutiny, with greater urgency and less mockery. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ikiru.md)
- *Wild Strawberries* (1957), Fi1m 88: An older traveller confronts himself, with dreams interrupting the journey. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries.md)
- *Still Walking* (2008): Family politeness conceals old grievances in a quieter, more evenly compassionate comedy-drama.
- *The Visitor* (2007): Another withdrawn man discovers how little his settled routine has given him.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/about-schmidt