Is Why Him? Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, Why Him? is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies.
It features a runtime of 111 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Why Him? Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2016, Why Him? emerges as a significant entry in the Comedy domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter's young rich boyfriend. Unlike standard genre fare, Why Him? attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Why Him? features a noteworthy lineup led by Bryan Cranston . Supported by the likes of James Franco and Zoey Deutch , 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 Why Him? (2016) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.4/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Why Him? Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: Why Him? is a Comedy film that brings laughter through clever writing and comedic timing, offering both entertainment and social commentary. 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. A dad forms a bitter rivalry with his daughter's young rich boyfriend. 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: 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 comedic climax ties together running gags and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Why Him? Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: Why Him? concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. 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 Why Him? reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Why Him??
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Why Him? Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $38.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $118.1M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Why Him? Budget
The estimated production budget for Why Him? is $38.0M. 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 Why Him?
- Bryan Cranston – Ned Fleming
- James Franco – Laird Mayhew
- Zoey Deutch – Stephanie Fleming
- Megan Mullally – Barb Fleming
- Griffin Gluck – Scotty Fleming
Top Highlights
Bryan CranstonNed Fleming
James FrancoLaird Mayhew
Zoey DeutchStephanie Fleming
Megan MullallyBarb Fleming
Griffin GluckScotty Fleming
Keegan-Michael KeyGustav
Kaley CuocoJustine (voice)
Cedric the EntertainerLou Dunne
Zack PearlmanKevin Dingle
Jee Young HanMarnie Dingle
Where to Watch Why Him? Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Cinemax Amazon Channel
Cinemax Apple TV Channel🎟️ 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
Why Him? is rated R. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.4/10, and global collection metrics, Why Him? stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2016 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Why Him? movie hit or flop?
Why Him? has received mixed reviews with a 6.4/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is Why Him? worth watching?
Why Him? is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Comedy movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch Why Him? online?
Why Him? is currently available for streaming on Cinemax Amazon Channel. You can also check for it on platforms like Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV Channel depending on your region.
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Critic Reviews for Why Him?
**Printing biz meets the app biz! Paper versus digital!** This is not the theme something you could see for the first time. I have seen many classics, probably you would have as well. But the difference is it was a different cast and a bit modernised. Modernised means just the story set in the todays technological trend world like almost everything that related to AI we use in our daily life. It's yet to be a lifestyle, I mean new norm. So you can see a few people who had already progressed like we say Silicon/IT guys. That's the background and with the same old concept that the parents, particularly the father of the girl meets her boyfriend. When they do, those misunderstanding, generation gap and what else, all hell breaks loose. The comedies were okay. In some places it was too much. Instead of a laugh, it only annoyed. Though there were some good jokes, except I hardly had any good laugh in my entire watch. I remind you again that it was an okay film. Some people might find it good, some won't. Still a watchable film for the good performances. It's a face-off between James Franco and Bryan Cranston as expected. Elon Musk was a surprise. It had several opportunities to be better like turnaround its narration, yet they stuck with the same concept for the whole film. So other than mild entertainment, there's nothing in it to laud. I hope it all had ended here. Please, no sequel. _5/10_
movieMx Verified
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
