The Cable Guy (1996): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
The Cable Guy is a 1996 drama thriller starring Matthew Broderick, Leslie Mann and Jack Black. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $102.8 million worldwide on a $47 million budget. Critics gave it 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Stream it on Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- Budget
- $47M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Cable Guy About?
The premise of The Cable Guy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
While installing cable for his neighbor Steve, Chip becomes increasingly obsessed with forming a friendship, offering him a wide array of premium television channels. When Steve declines Chip’s unwanted attention, the initially helpful installer’s behavior turns sinister. Chip’s persistent advances escalate into a dangerous obsession, and as Steve tries to alert others to the threat, Chip’s descent into madness accelerates, creating a truly warped and unsettling situation.
The Cable Guy Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- television
- obsession
- friendship
- kidnapping
- stalking
- cameo appearance
- 1990s
- apartment
- friend
- frame up
- home invasion
- rescue
+38 more Show fewer
- manipulation
- satellite dish
- peephole
- director cameo
- watching tv
- false identity
- falling from height
- mysterious man
- insanity
- villain as protagonist
- dark comedy
- psychopath
- basketball
- speech impediment
- stalker
- architect
- title spoken by character
- younger version of character
- battle
- rain
- telephone call
- horseback riding
- stolen property
- nameless character
- revenge
- trial
- narcissistic personality disorder
- three word title
- studio logo segues into film
- father son relationship
- mother son relationship
- waitress
- hostage
- prisoner
- prison
- blonde
- sabotage
- bribery
Where to Watch The Cable Guy
Stream it on Paramount Plus Essential and Paramount Plus, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 6
Paramount Plus Essential 
Paramount Plus Premium 
Paramount+ Amazon Channel 
Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel 
Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel 
YouTube Free 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
The Cable Guy Cast
Matthew Broderick leads the cast, with Leslie Mann and Jack Black.
Also Starring in The Cable Guy
· 6 moreThe Cable Guy Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Cable Guy 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.
-
IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 56 Metascore
User score 6.9
See on Metacritic
The Cable Guy Plot Summary
What happens in The Cable Guy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Architect Steven Kovacs (Matthew Broderick) experiences a turbulent period after a failed marriage proposal to his girlfriend Robin Harris (Leslie Mann). Seeking advice from his well-meaning but reckless friend Rick (Jack Black), Steven resorts to bribing cable installer Ernie “Chip” Douglas (Jim Carrey) in exchange for complimentary movie channels. However, Chip’s arrival is anything but timely—he shows up several hours late while Steven is in the shower, and it’s revealed that Robin has forced Steven out of his home, which Chip discovers through the change in billing.
Full summary
The whole story of The Cable Guy, scene by scene
The Cable Guy Box Office & Budget
The Cable Guy grossed $102.8 million worldwide on a $47 million budget, 2.2 times what it cost. $60.2 million came from the US and Canada and $42.6 million (41%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$102.8M
2.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $60.2M
- International
- $42.6M
- Budget
- $47M
The Cable Guy Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer, 3 clips and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Clip The Cable Guy (1/8) Movie CLIP - Cable Install Time (1996) HD
- Clip The Cable Guy (5/8) Movie CLIP - Prison Visit (1996) HD
- Clip Funny Scene from The Cable guy
- Behind the Scenes The Making of THE CABLE GUY (1996)
How Well Do You Know The Cable Guy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What leads Steven Kovacs to meet Chip Douglas?
Cars in The Cable Guy
18 cars on screen, including the 1992 GMC Vandura and the 1984 Jeep Cherokee.
-
1992 GMC Vandura Important role -
1984 Jeep Cherokee Important role -
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role -
1992 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
The Cable Guy Also Known As
36 alternative titles, including “El doctor cable” and “Opravár”.
- Also known as
-
- El doctor cable
- Opravár
- Kablo Ustası
- 鬼線人
- The Cable Guy - Die Nervensäge
- Момак из кабловске
- Cable Guy - Die Nervensäge
- Il rompiscatole
- Кабельщик
- Un loco a domicilio
- Disjoncté
- Baş Belası
+24 more Show fewer
- O Melga
- A kábelbarát
- ケーブルガイ
- Hybridmanden
- Tipu' de la cablu
- Sähköputkimies
- Telemaniak
- כייבל גאי
- 케이블 가이
- O Pentelho
- Кабелджията
- Un boig a domicili
- Dr. Cable: El desastre llama a la puerta
- 王牌特派員
- 王牌特派员
- Кабельник
- Prielipa
- Le Gars du Câble, კაბელის ხელოსანი
- เป๋อ จิตไม่ว่าง
- پسر کابلی
- Nepodnošljivi gnjavator
- Gã thợ cáp
- 衰鬼線人
- Цревна напаст
Seen The Cable Guy?
Movies Like The Cable Guy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Broadcast Signal Intrusion and Trapped by Television.
The Cable Guy FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Cable Guy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Cable Guy?
The Cable Guy runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was The Cable Guy released?
The Cable Guy was released on June 14, 1996.
Who is in the cast of The Cable Guy?
The Cable Guy stars Matthew Broderick, Leslie Mann and Jack Black, among 10 credited actors.
Where can I watch The Cable Guy?
In the US, The Cable Guy is streaming on Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus and Paramount+ and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did The Cable Guy make at the box office?
The Cable Guy grossed $102.8 million worldwide ($60.2 million domestic, $42.6 million international) on a budget of $47 million.
How is The Cable Guy rated?
The Cable Guy has 6.1/10 on IMDb and 56 on Metacritic.
Does The Cable Guy have a post-credit scene?
No. The Cable Guy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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