Performance & Direction: Hardly Working Review
Last updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Hardly Working (1980) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 4.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Hardly Working features a noteworthy lineup led by Jerry Lewis . Supported by the likes of Susan Oliver and Roger C. Carmel , 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 Hardly Working (1980) is negative. With an audience rating of 4.6/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Hardly Working
Quick Plot Summary: Hardly Working is a Comedy film that brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Hardly Working
Ending Breakdown: Hardly Working attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, 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 comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Hardly Working reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Hardly Working?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Comedy films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Hardly Working
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $3.4M |
| Worldwide Gross | $49.0M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Hardly Working Budget
The estimated production budget for Hardly Working is $3.4M. 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.
Top Cast: Hardly Working
All Cast & Crew →
Hardly Working Parents Guide & Age Rating
1980 AdvisoryWondering about Hardly Working age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Hardly Working is 91 minutes (1h 31m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 4.6/10, and global collection metrics, Hardly Working stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1980 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hardly Working worth watching?
Hardly Working is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 4.6/10 and stands as a AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Hardly Working parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Hardly Working identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Hardly Working?
The total duration of Hardly Working is 91 minutes, which is approximately 1h 31m long.
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Critic Reviews for Hardly Working
I thought _Hey! Jerry Lewis is funny right? How bad could this be?_ It's horrible. Fifteen minuets in and I am not even cracking a smile. Believe me, I like a good classic comedy. Especially some good tame light-hearted humor. But this was just horrendous. The movie is essentially a bad sketch comedy film with various scenes of Jerry Lewis making a jackass out of himself. He stars as an out of work circus clown looking to fulfill various odd jobs. Each ending in disaster. Much like the disaster that this movie ended up becoming. It's horribly dated, horribly offensive, horribly under-funded, horribly acted and written. It's just plain horrible. It might be the worst movie of 1980 and it's only my second feature in. Jerry Lewis is way past his prime and just can't find the groove. I read that the producers had actually wanted to market this as competition for the superior Steve Martin picture, _The Jerk_. Taglines were actually written as _The Original Jerk_. Can you believe that! _THE ORIGINAL JERK__!_
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
