Grumpy Old Men Becomes a Surprise Free-Streaming Hit Three Decades After Its Release

The classic 1993 comedy Grumpy Old Men has found fresh popularity after landing at #7 on Pluto TV, a free ad-supported streaming platform. This unexpected resurgence comes more than thirty years after the film first won over audiences during its original holiday release on December 25, 1993.

The movie stars Jack Lemmon as John Gustafson and Walter Matthau as Max Goldman, two longtime neighbors whose friendship soured when John married Max’s high-school sweetheart. Their decades-long feud fuels a steady stream of insults and pranks, keeping both men busy during their lonely retirement years.

Things take a new turn when Ariel Truax, played by Ann-Margret, moves into the neighborhood and catches the interest of both men. Their rivalry becomes even more personal as they each try to win her attention, leading to moments that mix gentle humor with heartfelt warmth.

Alongside the leads, the film features Daryl Hannah as John’s daughter and Kevin Pollak as Max’s son, who have their own budding romance mirroring the older generation’s complicated history. The cast also includes Burgess Meredith as John’s sharp-tongued elderly father, Ossie Davis as a friendly bait shop owner, and Buck Henry as an IRS agent constantly pestering John.

Grumpy Old Men became an unexpected box-office success, earning $80 million USD on a $35 million USD budget. The film’s performance was especially notable because Matthau initially hesitated to join the project, reportedly accepting the role partly to help settle gambling debts, according to remarks shared by co-star Pollak.

Lemmon and Matthau had a long history of on-screen chemistry, beginning with The Fortune Cookie in 1966 and solidifying their iconic pairing in The Odd Couple in 1968. They reunited several times through the years in films such as The Front Page, Buddy Buddy, The Grass Harp, Out to Sea, and the later sequel The Odd Couple II.

The success of Grumpy Old Men led to a 1995 sequel titled Grumpier Old Men, which brought back the original cast and introduced Sophia Loren as Maria Ragetti. In the sequel, John and Max shift their shared irritation toward Maria when she attempts to turn their beloved bait shop into an Italian restaurant, only for new romantic complications to arise when Maria and Max fall in love.

For anyone curious to revisit the original film, Grumpy Old Men is currently available to stream for free on Pluto TV. You can check the film’s streaming availability through JustWatch using this link: Where to Watch Grumpy Old Men.

The continued appeal of Grumpy Old Men highlights the timeless charm of Lemmon and Matthau’s partnership, which remains one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedic pairings. Their final collaboration was The Odd Couple II in 1998, as Matthau passed away in 2000 and Lemmon in 2001, marking the end of a remarkable era of cinematic friendship.

Even decades later, viewers are still discovering—or rediscovering—the irresistibly cranky energy that made Grumpy Old Men a hit in 1993 and a streaming success in 2024. Pluto TV currently hosts the film here: Watch Grumpy Old Men on Pluto.