Is Anything Else Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, Anything Else is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 108 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Anything Else Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2003, Anything Else emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Comedy, Romance domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Jerry Falk, an aspiring writer in New York, falls in love at first sight with a free-spirited young woman named Amanda. Unlike standard genre fare, Anything Else attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Anything Else features a noteworthy lineup led by Jason Biggs . Supported by the likes of Christina Ricci and Woody Allen , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Anything Else (2003) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.1/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Anything Else Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: Anything Else is a Drama, Comedy, Romance film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Jerry Falk, an aspiring writer in New York, falls in love at first sight with a free-spirited young woman named Amanda. He has heard the phrase that life is like "anything else," but soon he finds that life with the unpredictable Amanda isn't like anything else at all. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's themes.
Anything Else Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: Anything Else concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Anything Else reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Anything Else?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Anything Else Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $18.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $13.6M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Anything Else Budget
The estimated production budget for Anything Else is $18.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of Anything Else
- Jason Biggs – Jerry Falk
- Christina Ricci – Amanda Chase
- Woody Allen – David Dobel
- Stockard Channing – Paula Chase
- Danny DeVito – Harvey Wexler
Top Highlights
Jason BiggsJerry Falk
Christina RicciAmanda Chase
Woody AllenDavid Dobel
Stockard ChanningPaula Chase
Danny DeVitoHarvey Wexler
Jimmy FallonBob
Anthony ArkinPip's Comic
David ConradDr. Phil Reed
Adrian GrenierRay Polito
William HillPsychiatrist
Where to Watch Anything Else Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
fuboTV
Netflix Standard with Ads
Amazon Prime Video with Ads🎟️ Rent on
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home🏷️ Buy on
Amazon VideoApple TVGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At HomeParents Guide & Age Rating
Anything Else is rated R. Parents should be aware that it contains romantic content. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.1/10, and global collection metrics, Anything Else stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2003 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anything Else movie hit or flop?
Anything Else has received mixed reviews with a 6.1/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is Anything Else worth watching?
Anything Else is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Comedy, Romance movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch Anything Else online?
Anything Else is currently available for streaming on Netflix. You can also check for it on platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads depending on your region.
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How Anything Else Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Anything Else
_**What it's like to have a nutty, morally loose girlfriend in New York City**_ Jerry (Jason Briggs) is a fledgling writer in the Big Apple with an inept agent (Danny DeVito). As Jerry starts a relationship with a loose girl (Christina Ricci) he gets counsel from an older writer with a great vocabulary named Dobel (Woody Allen), usually while walking Central Park. Stockard Channing plays the girl's irritating mother and a young Jimmy Fallon has a cameo. Written & directed by Woody Allen, "Anything Else" (2003) is a dialogue-driven romantic comedy that reflects on the mysteries, absurdities and ironies of life while focusing on the attraction and power of a nubile woman. Briggs is a quality protagonist and I enjoyed Jerry and Dobel's mentee/mentor relationship. Dobel uses a lot of obscure terminology so I recommend using the subtitles to keep up with it, as well as the low-key humor, which is quite entertaining. It's also nice to see Erica Leerhsen in a small role. Christina looks great and is a fit as can be, but her morally loose character is a mass of conflicting impulses. Her actions are controlled by whether or not she's excited by her sexual partner and, of course, only a new partner excites her, which means no sexual relations with a man once he becomes "old hat." While she's looking to find excitement elsewhere Jerry does everything he can to keep the relationship going, which is hard to do when the girl's obnoxious mother is living in the same apartment. Not only is it frustrating for Jerry to deal with this situation, it's frustrating for the viewer as well. No doubt these types of aggravating people and relationships are the point of the movie, and it IS amusing to a point, but it naturally makes the viewing experience aggravating as well. Plus sympathy for Jerry only goes so far; after all, he's the fool who dropped his perfectly suitable mate (KaDee Strickland) to pursue the sexy-but-unfaithful new girl. In short, he's sleeping in the bad he made. Nevertheless, the movie’s witty, thought-provoking, well made and performed. It’s one of Tarantino’s 20 favorite flicks from 1992-2009. The film runs 108 minutes and was shot entirely in New York City. GRADE: B-
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
