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Hysterical

Play trailer 0:35 Poster for Hysterical 2021 1h 27m Documentary Comedy Stand-Up Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Stand-up comedy had always been a male domain. Only a tiny handful of women have broken out of the brutal world of comedy clubs to become household names. After decades of fighting for a place in the spotlight, things have finally shifted. Hysterical, a feature documentary from director Andrea Nevins (Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie), journeys backstage and on the road with veteran comedians, rising stars and novices to discover how an intrepid group of boundary-breaking females are changing the game and exploring what it takes to become the voices of their generation and their gender. Hysterical takes an intimate look behind the velvet curtains and beer-soaked clubs of the comedy scene into the lives of the women shattering comedy's glass ceiling with raucous laughter and perfectly timed punch lines. From newcomers to super stars, the funniest women in comedy drop the mic with their heartfelt struggles, personal stories and hilariously bold opinions.
Hysterical

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Hysterical may not probe systemic disadvantages as deeply as it could have, but it excels as a frank and sometimes joyous celebration of very funny women who have made their mark in an industry that often marginalizes their achievements.

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Critics Reviews

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Ro White Autostraddle 05/13/2021
In a documentary that overwhelmingly features white cis women, there's little room left to explore what comedy is like for women who hold multiple marginalized identities... Despite its flaws, Hysterical makes a few smart moves. Go to Full Review Robyn Bahr The Hollywood Reporter 04/01/2021
Nevins instead hopes her film will serve as a nourishing broth extracted from the wisdom of veteran comics and newcomers alike. Frankly, though, I wanted something a little meatier. Go to Full Review Carla Meyer San Francisco Chronicle 04/01/2021
3/4
Griffin and Cho are highly composed and insightful here. Who would have thought these outrageous comics would someday be so sage? Go to Full Review Danilo Castro Next Best Picture 05/17/2022
7/10
Hysterical may initially seem like a loose collection of jokes and anecdotes, but the power of the film comes through when you realize it has a tightly-defined structure. Go to Full Review Kate Robertson The Post NZ 08/13/2021
The lack of commentary around the conditions of grimy comedy clubs and sleazy managers makes the film all the more insightful, made even better thanks to insight from comedic legends Margaret Cho, Marina Franklin and Fortune Feimster, among others. Go to Full Review Sean L. McCarthy Decider 04/12/2021
If you're not already a comedy nerd and need an awakening, this is a good start. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Fernando C @FernandoConti 10/23/2022 I love this documentary so much, super powerful and empowering! So many great rolemodels and tons of wisdom, just amazing. See more 04/12/2021 It was great insight into the way that female comics are treated vs. their male counterparts. See more 04/08/2021 These women are genuinely funny, but in this documentary-style, it's 70% of them talking about life/comedy being harder for women. Perhaps, but it's nothing we haven't heard before and it's really tedious. Don't believe the critic score; it's a virtue signal. Should have been a performance film. See more dan c @cinemacriterion 04/05/2021 Pretty standard comedy documentary with nothing new to add, wish it went a bit deeper into some issues but over all an enjoyable time and worth a watch. See more Read all reviews
Hysterical

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Cast & Crew

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Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

Director

Kelly Bachman

Actor

Margaret Cho

Actor

Fortune Feimster

Actor

Rachel Feinstein

Actor

Marina Franklin

Actor

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Hysterical

Hysterical: Sneak Peek - Nikki Glaser & Margaret Cho On Beauty and Comedy Hysterical: Sneak Peek - Nikki Glaser & Margaret Cho On Beauty and Comedy 0:35 Hysterical: Trailer 1 Hysterical: Trailer 1 1:55 View more videos
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Hysterical

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Movie Info

Synopsis Stand-up comedy had always been a male domain. Only a tiny handful of women have broken out of the brutal world of comedy clubs to become household names. After decades of fighting for a place in the spotlight, things have finally shifted. Hysterical, a feature documentary from director Andrea Nevins (Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie), journeys backstage and on the road with veteran comedians, rising stars and novices to discover how an intrepid group of boundary-breaking females are changing the game and exploring what it takes to become the voices of their generation and their gender. Hysterical takes an intimate look behind the velvet curtains and beer-soaked clubs of the comedy scene into the lives of the women shattering comedy's glass ceiling with raucous laughter and perfectly timed punch lines. From newcomers to super stars, the funniest women in comedy drop the mic with their heartfelt struggles, personal stories and hilariously bold opinions.
Director
Andrea Blaugrund Nevins
Producer
Ross M. Dinerstein, Rebecca Evans, Carolina Groppa
Genre
Documentary, Comedy, Stand-Up
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 3, 2021
Runtime
1h 27m