The film had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 11, 2016, and was released by Sony Pictures Classics on December 9, 2016. The film opened to negative reviews from critics.
Jackie (Robert De Niro) is an aging comic icon, determined to reinvent himself after growing frustrated with audiences only wanting him to reenact jokes and scenes from a cult classic TV show he starred in decades earlier as a beloved main character.
He attends a comedy club for nostalgia night at Governor's Comedy ClubinLevittown, New York (near Hicksville, New York), hosted by Jimmie Walker. After punching out an audience member trying to film his routine, Jackie is sentenced to 30 days in jail. During his 100 hours of community service he meets Harmony Schiltz (Leslie Mann), who works at a soup kitchen as part of her community service.
In October 2016, Sony Pictures Classics acquired U.S distribution rights to the film, with plans to release the film in December, in order to qualify for awards.[8] The film had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 11, 2016.[9] It hit theaters in a limited release on December 9, 2016, with a wide opening on February 3, 2017.[10][11] It was originally scheduled to open on January 13, but was pushed back to February 3.[12][13]
In North America, The Comedian was released alongside Rings and The Space Between Us, and was projected to gross $1–3 million from about 800 theaters in its opening weekend.[14] It ended up debuting to just $892,021, finishing 21st at the box office. Deadline Hollywood attributed the film's poor opening to negative critical reception and lack of award buzz, similar to Gold the week prior.[15]
Onreview aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 24% based on 109 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Comedian boasts an incredibly talented cast, but they're put to poor use in an aimless rom-com whose handful of memorable moments never add up to a compelling story."[16]OnMetacritic, the film has a score of 40 out of 100, based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17]
