A Fish Called Wanda
A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda

1988Movie109 minEnglish

While a diamond advocate attempts to steal a collection of diamonds, troubles arise when he realises he’s not the only one after the collection.

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Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes96%
Metacritic82/100
Google Users86%
Director: Charles CrichtonGenres: Comedy, Crime

Plot Summary

A group of jewel thieves, led by the cunning Wanda and her dim-witted accomplice Otto, plan a heist in London. However, their intricate plan begins to unravel when betrayal, greed, and misunderstandings arise among the group. As they try to double-cross each other and evade the authorities, a series of chaotic and hilarious events ensue, culminating in a desperate search for the stolen diamonds.

Critical Reception

A Fish Called Wanda was a critical and commercial success, widely praised for its witty script, sharp performances, and hilarious blend of caper and farce. Critics lauded its clever plotting and the comedic chemistry between its ensemble cast, particularly Kevin Kline's Oscar-winning performance. It remains a beloved classic of British comedy.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its sharp wit and clever, intricate plot.
  • Celebrated for its outstanding ensemble cast, especially Kevin Kline's comedic tour-de-force.
  • A perfect blend of sophisticated caper and laugh-out-loud farce.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly enjoyed A Fish Called Wanda, citing its brilliant humor, unpredictable plot, and the memorable performances of the main cast. Many highlighted Kevin Kline's standout role and the film's rewatchability.

Awards & Accolades

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Kevin Kline), BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Michael Palin), Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Kevin Kline).

Fun Fact

The famous scene where Otto (Kevin Kline) repeatedly crushes Archie's (John Cleese) fingers with a door was initially written with him crushing his own fingers. Kline suggested crushing Cleese's instead, believing it would be funnier and more shocking.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**A light comedy that works reasonably well, but ends up being forgettable.** I saw this film when I was younger, fifteen or twenty years ago, and I really liked it. However, time passes, we change, and when I saw him last night I couldn...
The Movie Diorama

The Movie Dioram...

A Fish Called Wanda swimmingly sails through a screenplay fishing for eccentricity. You may or may not already know, that comedies are not my genre of choice. The heartless individual that I am fails to grasp humour in its entirety, finding...