The House
Performance & Direction: The House Review
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The House (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 5.6/10. 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 The House features a noteworthy lineup led by Amy Poehler . Supported by the likes of Will Ferrell and Jason Mantzoukas , 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 The House (2017) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.6/10, it stands as a decent one-time watch.
Story & Plot Summary: The House
Quick Plot Summary: The House is a Comedy, Crime 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.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. When Scott and Kate Johansen’s daughter gets into the college of her dreams it’s cause for celebration. That is, until Scott and Kate learn that the scholarship they were counting on didn’t come through, and they’re now on the hook for tuition they can’t begin to afford. With the help of their friend and neighbor Frank also in need of a major payday they decide to open an illegal casino in his suburban house, risking everything together on a Vegas-style bacchanal where money flows, inhibitions are checked at the door, and all bets are off. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: The House
Ending Breakdown: The House 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 The House reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
The House Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
The House incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a comedy, crime film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: The House adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch The House?
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: The House
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $40.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $34.2M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The House Budget
The estimated production budget for The House is $40.0M. 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.
Top Cast: The House
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The House Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
JioHotstarThe House Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about The House age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The House is 88 minutes (1h 28m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 5.6/10, and global performance metrics, The House is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The House worth watching?
The House is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 5.6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The House parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The House identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The House?
The total duration of The House is 88 minutes, which is approximately 1h 28m long.
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Critic Reviews for The House
**There's always an alternate way to deal with everything issue!** One of those comedies that every year makes out. Despite not the best film, still fun to watch. But the thing is it is not a big screen film. I mean for todays world, watching this kind in cinemas, totally useless. On the weekends, watching it with a bunch of friends on the streaming platform or television would do better. The story was much better than I anticipated. It was about the parents who lost their daughter's college scholarship, now wants an alternative solution, so they decide to go illegal. I mean gamble and then they make one, a gambling house. The consequence of it haunts them and what happens later is the film's end. The screenplay writer's directional debut. The cast was just good. The runtime was even better, less than 90 minutes. So there's no drag, except a few unavoidable cliches in such comedy. Jeremy Renner's cameo was good. Overall, watch and forget kind film. But the idea looked nice, so I won't be surprised if they make a sequel to it. If a crappy comedy like 'Neighbors' makes one, then why not this! But I'm not in favour, unless they come up with a better storyline. _6/10_
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.
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