| Jerry Maguire | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Cameron Crowe |
| Written by | Cameron Crowe |
| Based on | Leigh Steinberg |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Janusz Kamiński |
| Edited by | Joe Hutshing |
| Music by | Nancy Wilson |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $50 million[1] |
| Box office | $273.6 million[1] |
Jerry Maguire is a 1996 Americansportsromantic comedy film directed and written byCameron Crowe. It was produced by Crowe andJames L. Brooks, respectively forVinyl Films andGracie Films and distributed bySony Pictures Releasing under theTriStar Pictures label. It starsTom Cruise as the titularsports agent character, alongsideCuba Gooding Jr.,Renée Zellweger,Kelly Preston,Jerry O'Connell,Jay Mohr,Bonnie Hunt andRegina King. It was released in North American theaters on December 13, 1996.
Jerry Maguire was inspired by an experience the sports agentLeigh Steinberg, a technical consultant for the film, had with the clientTim McDonald (who makes a cameo appearance in this film) during the1993 NFL season whenfree agency was introduced.[2][3][4] The film was also partly inspired by a 28-page memo written atDisney in 1991 byJeffrey Katzenberg.[5]
Jerry Maguire received positive reviews for its performances and screenplay. It grossed more than $273 million worldwide against its $50 million budget.[1] It was theninth-highest-grossing film of 1996. It was nominated for fiveAcademy Awards, includingBest Picture andBest Actor for Cruise, withCuba Gooding Jr. winningBest Supporting Actor. It received nominations for three Golden Globes, with Cruise winning forBest Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and threeScreen Actors Guild Awards, with Gooding winning Best Supporting Actor.
Jerry Maguire gained acult following and has spawned several catchphrases into popular culture, such as "you had me at 'hello'", "you complete me" and "show me the money".[6][7]
Jerry Maguire is a slick 35-year-oldsports agent working for Sports Management International (SMI). After criticism from an injured player's son triggers an epiphany, he writes amission statement about perceived dishonesty in business and his desire to work with fewer clients to produce a better, more caring personal relationship with them.
In response, SMI management sends Bob Sugar, Jerry's protégé, to fire him. This spurs both men to race to call every one of Jerry's clients to retain them. Jerry speaks toArizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell, a smaller client who is disgruntled with his pay. Rod tests Jerry's resolve through a long tirade on his lack of contract extension. By the conclusion of the conversation, Jerry has retained Rod but lost his other clients to Bob.
Leaving the office, Jerry loudly announces that he will start his own agency and asks if anyone will join him, to which only 26-year-oldsingle mother Dorothy Boyd agrees. Frank "Cush" Cushman, a superstarquarterback prospect who is expected to be the number one pick in theNFL draft, initially says he will also stay with Jerry after he makes a personal visit to the Cushman home. Frank's father insists on a handshake deal based on his word instead of a signed contract, but Jerry eventually realizes that Frank and his father have secretly signed with Bob the night before the draft after seeing Jerry spend time introducing Rod to other football executives.
Jerry breaks up with his disgruntled fiancée Avery after she becomes emotionally unsupportive. He then turns to Dorothy, becoming closer to her young son Ray, and eventually starts a romantic relationship with her.
Jerry concentrates all his efforts on Rod, now his only remaining client, who turns out to be difficult to satisfy. In need of money, Jerry calls in a favor to get a contract extension from Rod's current team, the Cardinals, but receives a lowball offer. Rod and his wife decide to reject a $10 million deal to support their family despite Jerry's warning that if Rod gets injured, he will receive nothing.
Without any money coming in, Dorothy knows that Jerry cannot afford payroll, so she decides to move to San Diego for a more secure job offer with health benefits. Afraid of losing Dorothy, Jerry proposes marriage to share health benefits, and as she is smitten, she agrees.
Over the next several months, Rod and Jerry grow closer through a series of open and difficult conversations as they struggle to secure him a contract; Rod tells Jerry that he wants him to be honest, while Jerry tells Rod, "Help me, help you," convincing him to stop complaining and start playing with his heart. Rod takes Jerry's advice, playing well and advancing the Cardinals. Jerry's marriage with Dorothy struggles, however, so she suggests they amicably separate before losing too much of their lives to each other.
During a Christmas DayMonday Night Football game between the Cardinals and theDallas Cowboys, Rod catches a winning touchdown that secures the playoffs for the Cardinals, but appears to receive a seriousinjury. After a few minutes, he regains consciousness and celebrates with adance for the cheering crowd. After the scare and the widely televised recovery, Jerry and Rod embrace in front of the media and show how their relationship has progressed from strictly business to a close personal one, which was a point Jerry made in his mission statement.
Triggering a realization, Jerry immediately flies home, finding Dorothy in a meeting of her sister Laurel's divorcee support group. The group watches as Jerry gives an impassioned speech telling Dorothy he needs her, to which she responds, "Shut up… you had me at hello."
Rod appears onUp Close, where he learns Jerry has secured him a massive $11.2 million contract with the Cardinals, allowing him to finish his career inArizona. Rod breaks down and thanks everyone, extending warm gratitude to Jerry. Jerry and Dorothy celebrate as Jerry is introduced to other pro athletes who have seen his work with Rod.
Jerry and Dorothy are then seen walking with Ray, discussing Ray's future as a baseball player after noticing his strong throw.
As themselves:
Cameron Crowe originally wrote the screenplay forTom Hanks. Crowe took so long to write the screenplay that by the time the film was ready to be made, Hanks turned down the role as he was more interested in directingThat Thing You Do!.[8][9]Woody Harrelson was offered the role but turned it down. Rod Tidwell was partially modeled afterCharley Taylor.[10]
Janet Jackson auditioned and was initially accepted for the role of Marcee Tidwell, though it later went toRegina King, who previously co-starred in Jackson's debut filmPoetic Justice.[11][12] Jackson is referenced twice in the film, with a Janet poster seen hanging in Teepee's room andCuba Gooding Jr.'s character Rod Tidwell asking "What Have You Done for Me Lately?", paying homage to Jackson's hit of the same name.[13][14]
Artie Lange filmed a scene for the movie but it was edited out of the final cut.[13]
Patricia Arquette,Kate Beckinsale,Bridget Fonda,Winona Ryder,Marisa Tomei,Cameron Diaz,Gwyneth Paltrow,Uma Thurman andJennifer Lopez were all considered for the part of Dorothy.[8][9]Mira Sorvino was also considered for Dorothy but the producers would not meet her quote.[8] The producers also consideredJaneane Garofalo for the role of Dorothy but she was deemed too old for the part.[15]Connie Britton auditioned for the role of Dorothy,[16] and the choice was narrowed down to Zellweger and Britton, with Zellweger winning the part.[17]Damon Wayans andMykelti Williamson were considered for the role of Rod Tidwell.[8]Jamie Foxx unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Rod Tidwell.[18]Diane Lane was considered for the role of Avery Bishop; however, the role was eventually given toKelly Preston.[8]Billy Wilder was considered for the part of Jerry's mentor Dicky Fox.[8][9]
Jerry Maguire was scored by Crowe's then-wife,Nancy Wilson, a member of the rock bandHeart. The songwriterAimee Mann recorded a song, "Wise Up", for the film, but Crowe felt it did not fit. According to Crowe, he had used Mann's original version, a simple demo piano, in a scene in which Jerry Maguire is moving through an airport. Mann's final version was "larger, more lush, more of a personal epic, and quite incredible... suddenly it was too big for the scene it was meant for." He said not being able to use it was "heartbreaking".[19] Though it was not used in the film, "Wise Up" was included on theJerry Maguire soundtrack album and later used in the 1999 filmMagnolia.[20]
"Secret Garden", originally aBruce Springsteen track from 1995, was re-released in 1997 after its exposure in the film and on the soundtrack, and reached No. 19 on theBillboard Hot 100.[21][22]
TriStar received merchandise and marketing services of over $1.5 million fromReebok in exchange for incorporating acommercial into the film and depicting the Reebok brand within certain agreed-upon standards; when the film was theatrically released, the commercial had been left out and a tirade including "broadsides against Reebok" was included.[23] When the film aired on television, the Reebok commercial had been embedded into the film as originally agreed upon.[23] The "Special Edition"DVD release of the film, which has the film's theatrical edit, includes the commercial as bonus content.
Jerry Maguire debuted at number one aboveMars Attacks! and101 Dalmatians, earning $17,084,296 during its opening weekend.[24][25] The film would earn the second-highest December opening weekend at the time of its release, behindStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.[24] While it was overtaken byBeavis and Butt-Head Do America in its second weekend, it still collected $13.1 million, outgrossing newcomersScream andOne Fine Day in the process.[26] It eventually grossed $153,952,592 inNorth American box office and approximately $119.6 million internationally for a $273,552,592 worldwide total, on a budget of $50 million.[1]It was theninth top-grossing film of 1996 and the fourth highest-grossing romantic drama film of all time.[27]
OnRotten Tomatoes,Jerry Maguire has an approval rating of 85% based on reviews from 91 critics, with an average score of 7.8/10. Its consensus states: "Anchored by dazzling performances from Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Renée Zellweger, as well as Cameron Crowe's tender direction,Jerry Maguire meshes romance and sports with panache."[28] OnMetacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on reviews from 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[29] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[30]
Cuba Gooding Jr. won anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Rod Tidwell, theArizona Cardinalsfootball player who sticks with Maguire. Cruise was also nominated forBest Actor in a Leading Role and the movie markedRenée Zellweger's breakout role. The film was nominated forBest Picture, and crew members on the film were nominated forBest Original Screenplay andBest Film Editing awards.
Roger Ebert of theChicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars, writing that there "are so many subplots thatJerry Maguire seems too full" and also commented that the film "starts out looking cynical and quickly becomes a heartwarmer."[31]Todd McCarthy ofVariety wrote "An exceptionally tasty contempo comedic romance,Jerry Maguire runs an unusual pattern on its way to scoring an unexpected number of emotional, social and entertaining points. Smartly written and boasting a sensational cast, Cameron Crowe's shrewdly observed third feature also gives Tom Cruise one of his very best roles..."[32]
FormerGreen Bay Packers vice president Andrew Brandt said that the film "accurately portrayed the cutthroat nature of the agent business, especially the lengths to which agents will go to retain or pilfer clients. It also captured the financial, emotional and psychological investment that goes far beyond negotiating contracts."[33]
The film's screenplay was later voted the 66th greatest ever written in a poll by the Writers Guild of America.[35]
Jerry Maguire was first released onVHS andLaserDisc on May 29, 1997, byColumbia TriStar Home Video.[citation needed]
Over 3 million copies were sold during its first week of release. It was re-released on VHS in the late 1990s. In its first week of release on VHS to stores and video stores in 1997, it made $80 million in sales and $7.6 million in rentals. The $80 million was split between video dealers and Columbia TriStar Home Video.[36][37]
The film was first released ontoDVD on June 24, 1997, and around 2002 respectively in both a standard edition and a two-disc "Special Edition". While the standard edition contains no special features, the two-disc edition primarily includes deleted scenes, commentary tracks, featurettes, and a music video forBruce Springsteen's "Secret Garden". The film was later released onBlu-ray on September 9, 2008, with the same special features found on the second disc of the "Special Edition" DVD.[38] In 2008, the film was triple-packed withA Few Good Men andBorn on the Fourth of July bySony Pictures Home Entertainment/Universal Pictures Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom only. The film was double-featured withCliffhanger via DVD in 2008 and also double-featured withA Few Good Men via DVD on December 29, 2009. The film was also chosen to be released in 4K as part of the Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 14K Ultra HD box set alongsideMr. Smith Goes to Washington,Dr. Strangelove,Lawrence of Arabia,Gandhi, andA League of Their Own on June 16, 2020.
Jerry Maguire spawned several popular quotations, including "Show me the money!" (shouted repeatedly in a phone exchange between Rod Tidwell and Jerry Maguire), "You complete me" , "Help me help you," "The key to this business is personal relationships" and "You had me at 'hello'" (said byRenée Zellweger's Dorothy Boyd after a lengthy romantic plea by Jerry Maguire), and "Kwan," a word used by Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Tidwell meaning love, respect, community, and money (also spelled "quan" and "quawn") to illustrate the difference between himself and other football players: "Other football players may have the coin, but they won't have the 'Kwan'." These lines are largely attributed toCameron Crowe, director and screenwriter of the film. Zellweger said of filming the famous "hello" line, "Cameron had me say it a few different ways. It's so funny, because when I read it, I didn't get it–I thought it was a typo somehow. I kept looking at it. It was the one thing in the script that I was looking at going, 'Is that right? Can that be right? How is that right?' I thought, 'Is there a better way to say that? Am I not getting it? I just don't know how to do it.'"[6] Brandt stated in 2014 that "I definitely noticed an uptick of young people becoming interested in the agent business afterJerry Maguire".[33] "Some of what happened to the agent industry would have happened without 'Jerry,' but definitely not as fast as it did," notedPeter Schaffer, who has been a sports agent since 1988.[39]
In June 2008, AFI revealed its"Ten Top Ten"—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community.Jerry Maguire was acknowledged as the tenth best film in thesports genre.[40][41] It was also voted by AFI as #100 on itslist of 100 Passions.[42] The quotes "Show me the money!" and "You had me at 'hello'" were also ranked by AFI on itslist of 100 Movie Quotes, ranked No. 25 and #52 respectively.[43]
American Film Institute Lists
In June 2010,Entertainment Weekly namedJerry Maguire one of the 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years.[44]
The Los Angeles-based artists collectiveEverything Is Terrible! has amassed the largest collection ofJerry MaguireVHS tapes, observing that, "there seems to be nothing but justJerry Maguire tapes filling our nation's thrift stores. I have no idea why."[45] VHS tapes are largely sent in by fans of the group who collect them.[46][47] In 2017, Everything Is Terrible! opened a pop-up video store inEcho Park that exclusively stocked copies of the film from their collection of (at the time) 14,000 tapes. However, no copies were permitted to leave the store.[48] The group has stated that their ultimate goal is to build a pyramid ofJerry Maguire tapes, which they refer to as "Jerrys," in the desert.[49] As of 2023, Everything Is Terrible! had over 40,000 VHS copies of the film.[50] The decision to collect Jerry Maguire tapes is due in part to the distinctive red VHS box design, which is easily noticed among thrift store shelves.[45] Reflecting on the collection, one member of the group commented, "It's bright red, it's beautiful. There are just so many of them."[48]
In 2017, theNFL produced two "A Football Life"mockumentaries to commemorate the film's 20th anniversary edition; they portray the careers of Rod Tidwell and Frank Cushman after the events of the film.Beau Bridges,Jay Mohr,Jerry O'Connell, andAries Spears reprised their roles from the film, along withRoy Firestone and several real-life sports figures, includingShaquille O'Neal. According to the fictional history, Cushman retired after only four years due to a severe case ofathlete's foot, and devoted himself to charity work with children with the same affliction; Tidwell was offered an even more lucrative contract, but declined, declaring that the "quan" was not there, and he preferred to devote more time to his family. The Tidwell mockumentary also features an adult Ray Boyd, inspired by Jerry and Rod to own his own boxing gym.
In a February 2021 interview, Crowe said he had considered making a sequel toJerry Maguire and that he had been approached several times about making a TV series adaptation of the film. In both cases, he felt that any continuation of the film's story should focus on Rod Tidwell and his family life with wife Marcee.[51][52]
Reebok provided TriStar with more than $1.5 million worth of merchandise, marketing, and other goodies to basically be one of the stars of the 1996 sports filmJerry Maguire. According to Reebok, there was a specific agreement for how the brand would be portrayed, and a full commercial for Reebok was supposed to be embedded in the film. That commercial, which showcases the company in a positive light, ended up on the cutting room floor, while an angry tirade that included broadsides against Reebok was kept in. Reebok took the case to court and got an undisclosed amount of money in an out-of-court settlement. When the film aired on TV, the commercial was back in.
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| Conference championships (1) | |
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