Principal cast
Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Shirley Knight
Film 393 of 498 on the Screen Path
As Good as It Gets
A comedy from the heart that goes for the throat.
About the film
As Good as It Gets at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1997 film at stop 393 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
A misanthropic author, a single mother and waitress, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.
Key craft credits
John Bailey (director of photography), Richard Marks (editor), Hans Zimmer (original music composer), James L. Brooks (screenplay) and Mark Andrus (screenplay)
- Director
- James L. Brooks
- Release
- 1997-12-19
- Runtime
- 139 minutes
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy and Romance
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 20 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 20 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
20 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Jack NicholsonCharacter: Melvin Udall
- Helen HuntCharacter: Carol Connelly
- Greg KinnearCharacter: Simon Bishop
- Cuba Gooding Jr.Character: Frank Sachs
- Shirley KnightCharacter: Beverly Connelly
- Jesse JamesCharacter: Spencer Connelly
- Yeardley SmithCharacter: Jackie Simpson
- Lupe OntiverosCharacter: Nora Manning
- Skeet UlrichCharacter: Vincent Lopiano
- Harold RamisCharacter: Dr. Bettes
- Lawrence KasdanCharacter: Dr. Green
- Bibi OsterwaldCharacter: Neighbor Woman
Full crew
Full crew
- James L. BrooksCredits: Director, Screenplay, Producer
- Mark AndrusCredits: Screenplay, Story
- Felipe SavahgeCredits: Stunts
- Phil O'DellCredits: Stunts
- Armen KsajikianCredits: Musician
- Mark WadeCredits: Property Master
- Ray QuirozCredits: Script Supervisor
- Walter ScottCredits: Stunt Coordinator
- Aldric La'Auli PorterCredits: Associate Producer, First Assistant Director
- Maria KavanaughCredits: Associate Producer
- John D. SchofieldCredits: Co-Producer, Unit Production Manager
- Richard MarksCredits: Co-Producer, Editor
- Richard SakaiCredits: Executive Producer
- Laurence MarkCredits: Executive Producer
- Laura ZiskinCredits: Executive Producer
- Bridget JohnsonCredits: Producer
- Kristi ZeaCredits: Producer
- Ken FritzCredits: Stunt Coordinator
- John 'Jake' JacobsonCredits: Unit Production Manager
- William M. ConnorCredits: Second Assistant Director
- David GiammarcoCredits: Supervising Sound Editor
- Masako MasudaCredits: Assistant Art Director
- Brana RosenfeldCredits: Assistant Set Decoration
- John NaehrlichCredits: Leadman
- John H. MaxwellCredits: Set Dresser
- Bart C. HubenthalCredits: Set Dresser
- Scott G. JonesCredits: Set Dresser
- John MaskovichCredits: Set Dresser
- Renée TondelliCredits: ADR Supervisor
- Patrick DrummondCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Cindy MartyCredits: Sound Effects Editor
- Nicholas KordaCredits: ADR Editor
- Jonathan KleinCredits: Foley Editor
- Christopher FlickCredits: Foley Editor
- Zigmund GronCredits: Music Editor
- Galen GoodpasterCredits: First Assistant Sound Editor
- Kira EdmundsCredits: Assistant Sound Editor
- Bill WardCredits: Assistant Sound Editor
- Chris JenkinsCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Ron BartlettCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Mark SmithCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
- Andy MalcolmCredits: Foley Artist
- Richard DuarteCredits: Foley Mixer
- Thomas J. O'ConnellCredits: ADR Mixer
- Jeff GomillionCredits: ADR Mixer
- Rudy PiCredits: Sound Recordist
- Matt ColleranCredits: Sound Recordist
- Jeffrey PollackCredits: Music Supervisor
- Jeff WexlerCredits: Sound Mixer
- Don CoufalCredits: Boom Operator
- Gary HollandCredits: Cableman
- Mike MoyerCredits: Chief Lighting Technician
- David BurnettCredits: Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
- Michael M. KrevittCredits: Key Grip
- Thomas WazneyCredits: Best Boy Grip
- Michael ConnorsCredits: Dolly Grip
- William B. DoaneCredits: Special Effects Coordinator
- Donna Casey-AiraCredits: Assistant Costume Designer
- Elaine RamiresCredits: Wardrobe Supervisor
- Mary Elizabeth StillCredits: Costumer
- James LapidusCredits: Costumer
- Michèle BurkeCredits: Makeup Supervisor
- Linda ArnoldCredits: Hair Supervisor
- Ralph ColemanCredits: Location Manager
- S. Todd ChristensenCredits: Assistant Location Manager
- Gary DeatonCredits: Construction Coordinator
- Yvonne YaconelliCredits: Production Office Coordinator
- Martin CharlesCredits: Graphic Designer
- George MerkertCredits: Visual Effects Producer
- Theresa Repola MohammedCredits: Negative Cutter
- Dale E. GrahnCredits: Color Timer
- Owen WilsonCredits: Associate Producer
- John BaileyCredits: Director of Photography
- Francine MaislerCredits: Casting
- Bill BrzeskiCredits: Production Design
- Philip ToolinCredits: Art Direction
- Clay A. GriffithCredits: Set Decoration
- Carrie AnglandCredits: Makeup Artist
- Susan PerlmanCredits: Other
- Karen E. EtcoffCredits: Casting, Extras Casting
- Julie AnsellCredits: Thanks
- Michael BesmanCredits: Thanks
- Bruce FowlerCredits: Orchestrator
- Gena BleierCredits: Assistant Editor
- Ralph Nelson Jr.Credits: Still Photographer
- Chester E. Tripp IIICredits: Stunts
- Dennis DrummondCredits: Supervising Sound Editor
- Greg AddisonCredits: Lighting Technician, Chief Lighting Technician
- Gene LeBellCredits: Stunts
- Hans ZimmerCredits: Original Music Composer
- BJ DavisCredits: Stunt Double
- Julia DavisCredits: Stunt Coordinator, Stunt Double
- Hilary SchroederCredits: Assistant Editor
- Denise Lynne RobertsCredits: Stunts
- Barbara HarrisCredits: ADR Voice Casting
- Pablo FerroCredits: Title Designer
- Tim McGovernCredits: Visual Effects Supervisor
- Molly MaginnisCredits: Costume Designer
- Bryce GregoryCredits: Stunts
- B.J. DavisCredits: Stunts
- Pete TurnerCredits: Stunts
- Lori C. IngleCredits: Associate Editor
- Denise SirkotCredits: Executive In Charge Of Production
- Todd JacquesCredits: Set Dresser
- Gary RizzoCredits: Set Dresser
- Rochelle S. AllenCredits: Art Department Assistant
- Jeffrey MachalaCredits: Assistant Property Master
- Rick TschudinCredits: "B" Camera Operator
- Richard TurnerCredits: "B" Camera Operator
- Paul PlannetteCredits: First Assistant "B" Camera
- Steve CraftCredits: Second Assistant "B" Camera
- Michael StoneCredits: "A" Camera Operator
- Donald E. Thorin Jr.Credits: First Assistant "A" Camera
- Michael MartinezCredits: Second Assistant "A" Camera
- Jeffrey FordCredits: First Assistant Editor
- Sarah ThiessenCredits: Assistant Editor
- Heather HughesCredits: Assistant Editor
- Tony SolomonsCredits: Assistant Editor
- Laura CongletonCredits: Assistant Editor
- Marisa MorabitoCredits: Editorial Production Assistant
- Kim HavesCredits: Dialogue Editor
- Darren KingCredits: Dialogue Editor
- George CamposCredits: Apprentice Sound Editor
- Adam Milo SmalleyCredits: Music Editor
- Harry Gregson-WilliamsCredits: Conductor
- Lucas RichmanCredits: Conductor
- Alan MeyersonCredits: Scoring Mixer
- Felix OjedaCredits: Compositor
- Megan OmiCredits: Compositor
- Guy T. WiedmannCredits: Visual Effects Editor
- Hal MilesCredits: Rotoscoping Artist
- Lisa KahatriyaCredits: Rotoscoping Artist
- Mark DornfeldCredits: Imaging Science
- Kathryn EisensteinCredits: Casting Associate
- Karen R. JonesCredits: Unit Publicist
- Vince del CastilloCredits: Transportation Captain
- Richard McLaughlinCredits: Transportation Co-Captain
- Shari HangerCredits: Second Second Assistant Director
- Marguerite RowlandCredits: Production Accountant
- Giela FredmanCredits: Assistant Accountant
- George A. DavisCredits: Production Secretary
- Amy HermanCredits: Unit Production Manager
- Deirdre CookCredits: Production Coordinator
- Miriam SchapiroCredits: Assistant Production Coordinator
- James BartolomeoCredits: Second Assistant Camera
- Gábor KövérCredits: "B" Camera Operator
- Jeff HandCredits: First Assistant "B" Camera
- Al RodgersCredits: Second Assistant "B" Camera
- Allen WeisingerCredits: Makeup Artist
- Heidi ShulmanCredits: Costume Supervisor
- Daniel J. AdkinsCredits: Costume Supervisor
- John DolanCredits: Key Grip
- Declan BaldwinCredits: Location Manager
- Trish AdlesicCredits: Assistant Location Manager
- Jerome R. VitucciCredits: Sound Mixer
- Kathleen KingCredits: Boom Operator
- Al GriswoldCredits: Special Effects Coordinator
- Teresa Carriker-ThayerCredits: Art Direction
- Robert Griffon Jr.Credits: Property Master
- Jacqueline Jacobson ScarfoCredits: Set Decoration
- Philip CanfieldCredits: Leadman
- Edward O'DonnellCredits: Transportation Captain
- Patrick KingCredits: Transportation Co-Captain
- Demmie ToddCredits: Still Photographer
- Mike RevellCredits: Production Accountant
- Susanna HorngCredits: Production Secretary
- David YangCredits: Producer's Assistant
- Petra AlexandriaCredits: Executive Producer's Assistant
- Felicia NalivanskyCredits: Executive Producer's Assistant
- Diane KrakowerCredits: Actor's Assistant
- Stacey BernsCredits: Actor's Assistant
- Debbie ModrowCredits: Actor's Assistant
- Shawn SuttlesCredits: Actor's Assistant
- Dr. David A. KipperCredits: Medical Consultant
- Scott MeyersCredits: Production Assistant
- Kristen PlouchaCredits: Production Assistant
- Michael TubreCredits: Production Assistant
- Chad AhrendtCredits: Production Assistant
- Brian BlackCredits: Production Assistant
- Ted SrokaCredits: Production Assistant
- Chad WoelkiCredits: Production Assistant
- Eric MentionCredits: Production Assistant
- Chris PalzisCredits: Production Assistant
- Andy MensingCredits: Production Assistant
- Jason RubensteinCredits: Production Assistant
- John ShawCredits: Production Assistant
- Alex FernandezCredits: Production Assistant
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.