The Ref

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1:46

The Ref

R

1994

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.

Critics Consensus

Undeniably uneven and too dark for some, The Ref nonetheless boasts strong turns from Denis Leary, Judy Davis, and Kevin Spacey, as well as a sharply funny script.

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Kelly Vance

Chicago Reader

06/06/2022

3/4

Demme and the screenwriters take care to fill out the scenario with vividly drawn characters such as Raymond J. Barry’s sardonic police chief and Robert Steinmiller Jr.’s Jesse.

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

01/04/2017

It's not just a Denis Leary vehicle. It's a real movie, with drama and grace and intelligence (and slapstick and drunk Santa gags and crude laughs).

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Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

12/06/2013

3/4

It's miraculous casting, and the Australian Davis -- for my money the finest actress around, bar none -- is simply uncanny in her command of East Coast gentility combined with razor-sharp timing and comedic expression.

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Jeff Simon

Buffalo News

02/29/2024

3.5/5

No matter how clever the script sometimes is, the laughs elicited by this movie are cheap, tinny sitcom laughs.

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Patrick McDonald

HollywoodChicago.com

12/17/2023

3.5/4

Often cited by many as a favorite Christmas film. Why? Because it depicts family ties at its most honest and painful, which is closest to the truth of what and who we are, especially in the midst of fake cheer of the holidays. W/Pat&Ken At the Holidays!

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

03/21/2019

C+

If you are in the mood for something different at Christmas than The Ref might be a fun choice for you.

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Susie G

@Creamcheese Dec 29

Loved it but we love Spacey and Baranski. Almost as good and dark as Bad Santa.

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Tom F

@RT79860688 Nov 29

There are a few good laugh lines but then it grinds to a halt as it gets all serious. The pacing absolutely stinks for a comedy. And I'm writing this review before it's even over, that's how little I care.

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Ricky D

@RT63853400 12/25/2024

I absolutely enjoyed this movie. One of my favorites Christmas movies full of laughs but it’s hard to find.

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03/12/2024

Denis Leary is the ref but not a very good one it seems He plays a burglar Gus, it's Christmas time and he's in the middle of robbing a mansion in Connecticut But what he didn't count on was running into a bickering couple Lloyd and Caroline Gus not only has to make them hostages but also deal with their relatives and their many issues Some nice co-stars include Kevin Spacey, Judy Davis, and Christine Baranski I didn’t like a single character in this, mainly it’s so much bickering back and forth with minor subplots that never flesh out but at least Leary is keeping the whole thing together reading these lines in quick flawless succession

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Rich G

@Rich0826 12/12/2023

Had become one of my favorite holiday movies. Some seriously funny lines.. good fun!

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Renay M

@RenayEmm 12/08/2023

Slap happy comedy that has some real depth. Leary was made for this role.

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Ted Demme

Director

Denis Leary

Gus

Judy Davis

Caroline Chasseur

Kevin Spacey

Lloyd Chasseur

Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.

Jesse Chasseur

Glynis Johns

Rose Chasseur

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The Ref: Trailer 1

1:46

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Synopsis

Bickering spouses (Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey) annoy the cat burglar (Denis Leary) who takes them hostage in their Connecticut home.

Director: Ted Demme
Producer: Ronald M. Bozman, Richard LaGravenese, Jeff Weiss
Screenwriter: Marie Weiss, Richard LaGravenese
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 9, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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