Punchline

Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.

Duration: 123 min
Release date: 1988-10-07
IMDB

Lilah Krytsick is a mother and housewife who's always believed she could be a stand-up comedian. Steven Gold is an experienced stand-up seemingly on the cusp of success. When the two meet, they form an unlikely friendship, and Steven tries to help the untried Lilah develop her stage act. Despite the objections of her family and some very wobbly beginnings, Lilah improves, and soon she finds herself competing with Steven for a coveted television spot.

Comedy Drama

Punchline

Videos

Punchline

Watch Providers

Tubi TV

Casting arrow_drop_down

Sally Field
Sally Field
as Lilah Krytsick
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
as Steven Gold
John Goodman
John Goodman
as John Krytsick
Mark Rydell
Mark Rydell
as Romeo
Kim Greist
Kim Greist
as Madeline Urie
Paul Mazursky
Paul Mazursky
as Arnold
Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans
as Percy
Taylor Negron
Taylor Negron
as Albert Emperato
Pam Matteson
Pam Matteson
as Utica Blake
George McGrath
George McGrath
as Brian, the Singing Nun
Barry Neikrug
Barry Neikrug
as Krug
Ángel Salazar
Ángel Salazar
as Rico
Joycee Katz
Joycee Katz
as Joycee
Mac Robbins
Mac Robbins
as Billy Lane
Max Alexander
Max Alexander
as Mister Ball
Paul Kozlowski
Paul Kozlowski
as Jerry Petroviak
Barry Sobel
Barry Sobel
as Robyn Green
Marty Pollio
Marty Pollio
as Juggling Comic
Katie Rich
Katie Rich
as Eve
Charles David Richards
Charles David Richards
as Maitre D'
Casey Sander
Casey Sander
as Ernie the Bartender
Michael Pollock
Michael Pollock
as Piano Player
Wanda Balay
Wanda Balay
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Tiffany Terry
Tiffany Terry
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Christiane Eden
Christiane Eden
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Renna Bogdanowicz
Renna Bogdanowicz
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Susan Michael
Susan Michael
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Kimberly L. Ryusaki
Kimberly L. Ryusaki
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Consuela Nance
Consuela Nance
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Barbara Collier
Barbara Collier
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Darunee Doa Hale
Darunee Doa Hale
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Andrea Adams
Andrea Adams
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Marcy Del Campos
Marcy Del Campos
as Waitress of the Gas Station
Candace Cameron Bure
Candace Cameron Bure
as Carrie Krytsick
Laura Jacoby
Laura Jacoby
as Jenny Krytsick
Bianca Rose
Bianca Rose
as Heidi Krytsick
Ron Ulstad
Ron Ulstad
as Madeline's Boss
Howard Weller
Howard Weller
as Crew-Cut Talent Scout
Richard Parker
Richard Parker
as Talent Scout with Glasses
George Wallace
George Wallace
as Man with Arm in Cast
Andrew Parker
Andrew Parker
as Boy on Gurney
Randy Fechter
Randy Fechter
as Young Doctor
Angela Bennett
Angela Bennett
as Nurse
Bob Zmuda
Bob Zmuda
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Mark Eric Charbonneau
Mark Eric Charbonneau
as Audience Participants and Hecklers (as Mark Helm)
John Kirby
John Kirby
as Marketing Man
George D. Wallace
George D. Wallace
as Doctor Wishniak (as George D. Wallace)
Sam H. Ginsburg
Sam H. Ginsburg
as Sam, The Laughing Patient
Cameron Thor
Cameron Thor
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
James C. Lewis
James C. Lewis
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
George Novogroder
George Novogroder
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Suzanne Rains
Suzanne Rains
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Susan Avants
Susan Avants
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Scott Williams
Scott Williams
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Carin Badger
Carin Badger
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Sharon Stein
Sharon Stein
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Eva Dunlap
Eva Dunlap
as Audience Participants and Hecklers
Robina Suwol
Robina Suwol
as Buffy
Robert Britton
Robert Britton
as Murray
Mark Goldstein
Mark Goldstein
as Mark
Melissa Tufeld
Melissa Tufeld
as Mark's Wife
Dottie Archibald
Dottie Archibald
as Mrs. Ball
Susie Essman
Susie Essman
as Lilah's Hairdresser
Joey Vega
Joey Vega
as Waiter in Coffee Shop
Ben Hartigan
Ben Hartigan
as Older Clergyman
Jimmy Brogan
Jimmy Brogan
as Younger Clergyman
Crane Jackson
Crane Jackson
as Second Faculty Examiner
Rich Ramirez
Rich Ramirez
as Taxi Driver
Mike Starr
Mike Starr
as Man with Bullhorn
arrow_drop_down

Crew arrow_drop_down

Recomendation Films

  • And So It Goes
  • You're Never Too Young
  • Colour Me Kubrick
  • Congo
  • Frantic
  • Turner & Hooch
  • Big
  • Bedtime Stories
  • Christopher Robin
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit
  • Bad Boys
  • Ford v Ferrari
  • Gladiator
  • Joker
  • Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
  • Oppenheimer
  • Pulp Fiction
  • 올드보이
  • Avatar

Similar Films

  • Man on the Moon
  • Kill Tony: Kill or Be Killed
  • Big Jay Oakerson: Them
  • Jellyfish
  • Comic 8
  • Road Hard
  • Big Jay Oakerson: They
  • Jean-François Mercier: Subtil, sensible, touchant
  • An Audience with Jackie Mason
  • Lenny
  • Behind the Smile
  • Heckler
  • Rosebud Baker: Whiskey Fists
  • Marcella Arguello: Bitch, Grow Up!
  • Wyatt Cenac: Brooklyn
  • El Comediante
  • Comic 8: Casino Kings - Part 1
  • Paul Reiser: 3 1/2 Blocks from Home

NextFilm 2026