Man on the Moon

1999
R
1h 58m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

139K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:25

Docudrama Showbiz Drama Biography Comedy Drama

The life and career of legendary comedian Andy Kaufman.The life and career of legendary comedian Andy Kaufman.The life and career of legendary comedian Andy Kaufman.

Director
- Milos Forman
Writers
- Scott Alexander
- Larry Karaszewski
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

139K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,447

1,210

Director
- Milos Forman
Writers
- Scott Alexander
- Larry Karaszewski
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 5 wins & 25 nominations

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
A man impersonating Gary Oldman discussed the project with an unsuspecting Danny DeVito for months and even submitted an audition tape to Milos Forman. The real Gary Oldman had passed on the role of Andy Kaufman months earlier, and became aware of the scam after he found his name listed as one of the actors auditioning for the part.

Goofs
Andy is playing a Ms. Pac-Man (1982) arcade machine, when George tells him that the producers of Taxi (1978) agreed to his terms. That's three years before the game came out.

Quotes
George Shapiro: Andy, you have to look inside and ask this question: who are you trying to entertain - the audience or yourself?

Crazy credits
The credits lists Tony Clifton as himself. Tony Clifton was a character created by Andy Kaufman, and was portrayed by Andy or Bob Zmuda in real life (and by Jim Carrey in the movie).

Alternate versions
Several scenes were shot but cut. These include:
The cast of Taxi rehearsing with a stand-in substituting for Andy.
Andy responding to fan mail from some attractive girls.
Andy taking a girl out on a date and acting so weird she asks to go home.
After the Tony Clifton fiasco on the Taxi set, Andy calling Ed Weinberger and thanking him for playing along so convincingly.
A scene backstage after Andy "hurts" his neck at the wrestling match where his worried parents come to see if he is okay.
A scene towards the end of the movie at the Improv Club where Andy resurrects his Foreign Man routine and is "heckled" by Zmuda posing as an audience member.

Connections
Edited into Funny or Die Presents...: Fifty Shades of DeVito (2018)

Soundtracks
Also Sprach Zarathustra
Written by Richard Strauss
Arranged by Charlie Brissette

A stunning film, with an equally stunning performance by Jim Carrey

I saw a special sneak preview of "Man on the Moon" last week in Boston. Quite simply, the film is magnificent, and truly provides the audience with a glimpse into the genius of Andy Kaufman. There are moments of true hilarity, and moments that will break your heart.

Of course, this film would be nothing without the inspired performance by Jim Carrey. Within the first moments of the film, you completely forget that it is Jim Carrey on screen. Rarely have I seen an actor truly transform into the persona that he is portraying. Jim Carrey was Andy Kaufman.

At the very least, Mr. Carrey is deserving of every honor that is given in acting. No other performance this year comes even close to this. Without question, this is a film for the ages, and gives everyone a look into the mind of a genius.