Punchline_
"Dying is easy. Comedy is hard."
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.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
S
Sony One Amazon Channel
4 countries
Joyn
FREE
2 countries
Prime Video
1 country
Tubi
FREE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Punchline earned $21.0M worldwide on a $15.0M budget — a 40% return on investment.
David Seltzer →
Year context
Punchline was released 38 years ago in 1988.
CAST (20)
Sally Field
Lilah Krytsick
Tom Hanks
Steven Gold
John Goodman
John Krytsick
Mark Rydell
Romeo
Kim Greist
Madeline Urie
Paul Mazursky
Arnold
Damon Wayans
Percy
Taylor Negron
Albert Emperato
PM
Pam Matteson
Utica Blake
George McGrath
Brian, the Singing Nun
BN
Barry Neikrug
Krug
Ángel Salazar
Rico
JK
Joycee Katz
Joycee
MR
Mac Robbins
Billy Lane
Max Alexander
Mister Ball
PK
Paul Kozlowski
Jerry Petroviak
Barry Sobel
Robyn Green
MP
Marty Pollio
Juggling Comic
Katie Rich
Eve
Charles David Richards
Maitre D'
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$15.0M
Budget
$21.0M
Revenue
+40%
ROI
BREAK EVEN
Verdict
STUDIOS (1)
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
123 min (2h 3m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
5.5/10 (147 votes)
Popularity
4
Budget
$15,000,000
Box Office
$21,032,267
Profit
+$6,032,267
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Punchline about?
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.
How long is Punchline?
Punchline has a runtime of 123 minutes (2h 3m).
Who directed Punchline?
Punchline was directed by David Seltzer.
Who stars in Punchline?
The cast of Punchline includes Sally Field, Tom Hanks, John Goodman, Mark Rydell, Kim Greist.
How much did Punchline make at the box office?
Punchline earned $21,032,267 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $15,000,000.
What is the rating of Punchline?
Punchline has a rating of 5.5 out of 10 based on 147 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (2)
Comedy
Drama
KEYWORDS (1)
stand-up comedian
