*Meet the Parents*

*Meet the Parents*
Name	Meet the Parents
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Jay Roach
Producer	Nancy Tenenbaum, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal
Writer	Jim Herzfeld, John Hamburg
Starring	Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Owen Wilson
Music	Randy Newman
Cinematography	Peter James
Editing	Jon Poll
Studio	DreamWorks Pictures, Nancy Tenenbaum Productions, TriBeCa Productions
Distributor	Universal Pictures
Released	6 October 2000
Runtime	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$55 million
Gross	$330.4 million

*Meet the Parents* is a 2000 American comedy film directed by Jay Roach and starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. The plot centers on a male nurse who endures a weekend of humiliation and interrogation by his girlfriend's intimidating former CIA operative father. A critical and commercial success, the film spawned a major franchise and became a cultural touchstone for its portrayal of familial anxiety.

Plot

Greg Focker, a Chicago nurse, travels to Long Island with his girlfriend Pam Byrnes to attend her sister's wedding and meet her family. Her father, Jack Byrnes, a stern ex-agent of the Central Intelligence Agency, subjects Greg to a series of tests and background checks, viewing him with intense suspicion. A cascade of disasters ensues, including the loss of a beloved cat, the destruction of an expensive wedding altar, and the accidental flooding of a prized garden, all exacerbated by the presence of Pam's seemingly perfect ex-boyfriend, Kevin Rawley. The chaotic weekend culminates in Greg's arrest by the New York City Police Department at John F. Kennedy International Airport, seemingly ending his relationship before a final reconciliation is achieved.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast led by Robert De Niro as the intimidating patriarch Jack Byrnes. Ben Stiller portrays the hapless protagonist Greg Focker, with Teri Polo as his girlfriend Pam Byrnes. Blythe Danner plays the sympathetic mother, Dina Byrnes, while Owen Wilson appears as the charismatic ex-boyfriend Kevin Rawley. Notable supporting roles include James Rebhorn as Dr. Larry Banks, Jon Abrahams as Denny Byrnes, and Phyllis George as Linda Banks. The family cat, Mr. Jinx, is portrayed by a Himalayan cat trained by Boone Narr.

Production

Development began with a script by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg, based on a story by Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke. Jay Roach, fresh from the success of the *Austin Powers* series, was hired to direct. DreamWorks Pictures financed and co-produced the project with Robert De Niro's TriBeCa Productions. Principal photography occurred in 1999 on location in New York City, Long Island, and at Silvercup Studios in Queens. Key scenes were shot at a private residence in Old Westbury and at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The score was composed by Randy Newman.

Release

The film premiered on October 6, 2000, in the United States under distribution by Universal Pictures. Its marketing campaign heavily emphasized the comedic clash between Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. It performed strongly at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival and other preview screenings. The home media release on DVD and VHS in 2001 was a major success, topping sales charts and contributing significantly to the film's overall revenue. Subsequent releases included Blu-ray and digital formats.

Reception

Upon release, the film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at the performances of Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller and its relatable comedic premise. It was a major box office hit, grossing over $330 million worldwide against a $55 million budget. The film was nominated for several awards, including a MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance for Ben Stiller and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination for Robert De Niro. Critical analysis often compared its themes of masculine insecurity to other works like *The Graduate*.

Legacy

The film's success led to two direct sequels, *Meet the Fockers* (2004) and *Little Fockers* (2010), forming a lucrative trilogy. It cemented Jay Roach as a director of major studio comedies and influenced a wave of anxiety-driven family comedies throughout the 2000s. Phrases like "I have nipples, Greg, can you milk me?" entered the popular lexicon. The dynamic between De Niro and Stiller became iconic, and the film is frequently referenced in popular culture, including on television shows like *Saturday Night Live* and in discussions of wedding-related stress. It remains a staple of cable television programming.

Category:2000 films Category:American films Category:Comedy films