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The Grand

The Grand

A comedy about the fine art of losing.

2007104 minRMidcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Director
Zak Penn
Starring
Woody Harrelson, Werner Herzog, Dennis Farina, David Cross

The Grand is in the tradition of improvisational comedies like Best In Show and This Is Spinal Tap. The story is set in the world of professional poker and follows six players who reach the final table of the world’s second most famous high stakes tournament, the Grand Championship of Poker.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Grand?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list The Grand on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Reception

Is The Grand worth watching?

The Grand's Midcredits score is the 41st percentile of all films, from 8.5K ratings across 5 sources. 43% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

41st percentile

Better received than 41% of films

47th percentile among Comedy40th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)41st
Approval (how many liked it)42nd

59 /100

41st percentile of all films

46th percentile among Comedy41st percentile among 2000s

Critics 57 · Audience 59

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.2 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

43% liked it

42nd percentile of all films

47th percentile among Comedy40th percentile among 2000s
43% rated it 7–1057% rated it 1–6

Critics 40% · Audience 43%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

81st percentile

8.5K ratings across platforms

78th percentile among Comedy73rd percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 32% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$5.4M
Opening weekend$26K
Domestic gross$116K
Worldwide gross$116K

Returned 0.0× its budget — 24th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both fans and detractors agree the film is an improvisational mockumentary about a poker tournament with an eclectic ensemble cast.

Fans praised

  • Improvisational cast chemistry and witty ad-libs
  • Chris Parnell and David Cross as standout comic performers
  • Mockumentary format captures poker subculture with affection

Detractors panned

  • Uneven improvisation with little direction or script
  • Poker scenes lack tension and credibility
  • Comedy misfires with long stretches of unfunny material

What stands out

ActingDivisive65

Cast praised for chemistry but some performances uneven

CharactersDivisive60

Quirky player archetypes fun but one-dimensional

DialogueDivisive55

Improvised wit lands inconsistently

HumorDivisive50

Hit-or-miss, poker in-jokes land with fans

AtmosphereDivisive50

Captures Vegas and poker tourney vibe adequately

OriginalityDivisive40

Close derivative of Christopher Guest mockumentaries

PacingDivisive35

First half funny, second half drags

Plot and story30

Thin tournament framework, predictable arc

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Grand like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Easy laugh: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something light that makes you laugh and does not take itself seriously.

It leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Easy laugh.

Moods
AbsurdTenseManic
Heaviest: late
Satirical humor
Register
Wry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.Absurdist · 7% of films: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.Satirical · 5% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its absurd characters and situations with a straight face, letting the comedy emerge naturally from the improvisational performances within a mockumentary-style framework.
The rideThe film balances absurd comedy with the underlying tension of the poker tournament, leading to a climactic final stretch.
StructureThe story unfolds around the central poker tournament, following the contestants from introduction to final showdown in a conventional narrative arc.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

FunWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves a light, entertaining aftertaste, with a hint of nostalgia for the quirky, competitive spirit of the characters.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11% (this title): Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% (this title) · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Buddy comedy: A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).

11% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film follows a group of eccentric characters competing in a poker tournament; the competitive dynamic drives the narrative, but the structure is loose and episodic.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFameSociety
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% (this title) · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% (this title) · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9% (this title): Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% (this title) · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Society

Fame · 3% of filmsGreed · 3% of filmsAmbition · 7% of films
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the allure of fame and fortune in the high-stakes world of professional poker, where characters are defined by their public personas and their drive to win.
StanceThe film satirizes the world of competitive poker and its larger-than-life characters, mocking their obsessions and pretensions.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalJazzBackground music · original score
SettingA high-stakes poker tournament in Las Vegas
MusicLikely features a light, jazzy score to accompany the comedic tone.

Content guide

Is The Grand okay for kids?

R

The Grand is rated R: “Rated R for language and some drug content” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its sexual content at minimal (0/100). It has too few votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Germany16
  • FranceU
Overall
needs 3 or more scored categories
not ranked
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Overall standing needs at least three scored categories; this title has 1.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Grand have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Grand?

Cast

Woody Harrelson
as One Eyed Jack Faro
Werner Herzog
as The German
Dennis Farina
as LBJ 'Deuce' Fairbanks
David Cross
as Larry Schwartzman
Cheryl Hines
as Lainie Schwartzman
Richard Kind
as Andy Andrews
Chris Parnell
as Harold Melvin
Jason Alexander
as Dr. Yakov Achmed
Ray Romano
as Fred Marsh
Mike Epps
as Reggie Marshall

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Grand?

Movies like The Grand include What Planet Are You From? (2000), Ace High (1968) and Dumb and Dumber To (2014). Of the 10 closest matches, half are films set in Texas and the Southwest, and several are buddy comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

3 of these 10 share its character type: rivals. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Grand?

456 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: mockumentary. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.