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Get Shorty

Play trailer Poster for Get Shorty R 1995 1h 45m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami mobster who gets sent by his boss, the psychopathic Bones Barboni (Dennis Farina), to collect a bad debt from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a Hollywood producer who specializes in cheesy horror films. When Chili meets Harry's leading lady (Rene Russo), the romantic sparks fly. After pitching his own life story as a movie idea, Chili learns that being a mobster and being a Hollywood producer really aren't all that different.
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Get Shorty

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Critics Consensus

With a perfect cast and a sly twist on the usual Hollywood gangster dynamic, Get Shorty delivers a sharp satire that doubles as an entertaining comedy-thriller in its own right.

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Critics Reviews

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David Hunter The Hollywood Reporter Oct 25, 2019
How cool can a mere movie be? A perfect cast and great script, based on a hilariously witty best seller, are key elements. When you add a talented director and let the magic of Hollywood take over, the result is Get Shorty. Go to Full Review Manohla Dargis Spin Oct 25, 2019
Like the Elmore Leonard novel it adapts, Get Shorty is fast, very funny, minorly caustic, and about as consequential and lasting as the movies Chili himself tries to green-light. Go to Full Review Carol Buckland CNN.com Jan 5, 2018
It's terrifically entertaining. Go to Full Review Margaret A. McGurk Cincinnati Enquirer Aug 19, 2021
3.5/4
DeVito's wicked version of a self-absorbed superstar is worth the price of admission alone. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Sep 13, 2020
9/10
The screenplay is brilliant (based on the novel by Elmore Leonard), interweaving fast-paced dialogue with sharp editing and plenty of humor. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jan 12, 2019
4/4
Get Shorty - for all its critical and commercial acclaim - has never received its due as one of the funniest Hollywood films of modern times. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 4 days ago Get Shorty = a *4* star Movie! See more Jeff C @RT75481995 May 8, 2026 I love this movie. I’ve seen it so many times . Every role perfectly cast. Every performance great. It’s fun and cool and hip and I love it. ( Did I mention I love this movie?) See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 27, 2025 It was a good watch. I didn't really understand was going on, but I just watched anyway. I have no regrets. Fun cast for sure. See more Miracle C @RT41482817 Nov 15, 2025 One of the best satires of modern times with a fantastic script. Gene Hackman delivers as always as a self absorbed, clueless director and is worth the price of admission alone. See more nick s @Nick_S Nov 9, 2025 Great cast, sure, but the plot was quite pedestrian and I lost interest in it. To be fair I only got a bit over half way. Not a particularly tight or memorable story. See more Matheus F @matheusf_neto Aug 28, 2025 John Travolta is superb as Chili Palmer. I love many DeVito's projects of the 90s, and Get Shorty is easily one of them. See more Read all reviews
Get Shorty

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Barry Sonnenfeld

Director

John Travolta

Chili Palmer

Gene Hackman

Harry Zimm

Rene Russo

Karen Flores

Danny DeVito

Martin Weir

Dennis Farina

Ray 'Bones' Barboni

Movie Clips

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Get Shorty

Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili Surprises Harry Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili Surprises Harry 2:23 Now Playing Get Shorty: Official Clip - E.g. vs. I.e. Get Shorty: Official Clip - E.g. vs. I.e. 1:55 Now Playing Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili and Bo Talk Screenwriting Get Shorty: Official Clip - Chili and Bo Talk Screenwriting 2:12 Now Playing Get Shorty: Official Clip - Martin's Motivation Get Shorty: Official Clip - Martin's Motivation 2:23 Now Playing Get Shorty: Official Clip - Making the Movie Get Shorty: Official Clip - Making the Movie 1:33 Now Playing Get Shorty: Official Clip - The Cadillac of Minivans Get Shorty: Official Clip - The Cadillac of Minivans 0:40 Now Playing Get Shorty: Official Clip - Look at Me Get Shorty: Official Clip - Look at Me 2:49 Now Playing View more videos

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Get Shorty

Get Shorty (1995) Get Shorty (1995) Get Shorty (1995) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami mobster who gets sent by his boss, the psychopathic Bones Barboni (Dennis Farina), to collect a bad debt from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a Hollywood producer who specializes in cheesy horror films. When Chili meets Harry's leading lady (Rene Russo), the romantic sparks fly. After pitching his own life story as a movie idea, Chili learns that being a mobster and being a Hollywood producer really aren't all that different.
Director
Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer
Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Danny DeVito
Screenwriter
Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Production Co
Jersey Films, Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 20, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 21, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$68.8M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround
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