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Patch Adams

Laughter is contagious.

1998 · 115 min · Comedy
9.4 Modest
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Comedy Drama

The true story of Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, who in the 1970s found that humor is the best medicine, and was willing to do just anything to make his patients laugh—even if it meant risking his own career.

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
1998
Studio
Universal Pictures · Bungalow 78 Productions · Blue Wolf · Farrell/Minoff

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Origins

The film is loosely based on the life of real-life doctor Hunter 'Patch' Adams and the book Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter, written by Adams and Maureen Mylander.

Reception

Despite grossing $202.3 million worldwide against a budget of $50–90 million, the film received largely negative reviews, holding just a 21% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes and 26/100 on Metacritic.

Reception

Roger Ebert gave the film one-and-a-half stars, writing that it made him want to spray the screen with Lysol, while co-host Gene Siskel later named it the worst film of 1998.

Reception

Patch Adams achieved the highest Christmas opening weekend at the time of its release, a record it held until Cast Away surpassed it in 2000.

Reception

The real Hunter 'Patch' Adams has been openly critical of the film, telling critic Roger Ebert 'I hate that movie' and stating it reduced his life's work to portraying him as merely a funny doctor.

Reception

Adams noted that none of the film's profits ever went toward building his hospital, pointing out that Robin Williams earned $21 million for the role while the free hospital Adams runs remained unfunded by the production.

Reception

After Robin Williams's death in 2014, Adams said he was enormously grateful for the performance, acknowledging it had allowed the Gesundheit Institute to continue and expand its work.

Music

Marc Shaiman composed the film's score, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score.

Memorable quotes

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You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win, no matter what the outcome.

Patch Adams Explaining the true goal of medicine to medical students.

Our job is improving the quality of life, not just delaying death.

Patch Adams On the purpose of being a doctor.

We need to start treating the patient as well as the disease.

Patch Adams Advocating for holistic patient care.

You're focusing on the problem. If you focus on the problem, you can't see the solution. Never focus on the problem!

Arthur Mendelson Teaching about perspective and problem-solving.

See what no one else sees. See what everyone chooses not to see... out of fear, conformity or laziness. See the whole world anew each day!

Arthur Mendelson On breaking free from conformity and seeing the world differently.

I wanted to become a doctor so I could serve others. And because of that, I've lost everything. But I've also gained everything.

Patch Adams Reflecting on sacrifice and gain in pursuing his calling.

Lesbian, airhead, ballbuster, whichever one of these disgusts you the most, take your pick. Please spread the word: I'm not here to date. I'm not here to flirt. I'm here to study.

Carin Fisher Setting boundaries about her presence in medical school.

I'm really starting to love the back of your head.

Patch Adams A flirtatious comment to someone.

How the community felt

😵 Shocked 100%
🥹 Moved 100%

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