Oh, God! poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

George Burns, John Denver, Teri Garr, Donald Pleasence, Ralph Bellamy ... see more see more... , William Daniels , Barnard Hughes , Paul Sorvino , Barry Sullivan , Jeff Corey , George Furth , Titos Vandis , Carl Reiner , John Ashton , Moosie Drier , Murphy Dunne , Jerry Dunphy , Dennis Kort , Jane Lambert , Mario Machado , Bob McClurg , Kres Mersky , Héctor Morales , Connie Sawyer , Dinah Shore , Wonderful Smith , David Ogden Stiers , Zane Buzby , Byron Paul , Donald Pleasance

Adapted by Larry Gelbart from the novel by Avery Corman, the film stars John Denver as Jerry Landers, the assistant manager of a grocery store who is chosen by God (George Burns) to spread the Word to... read more read more... the rest of the world. Not surprisingly, Jerry is soon labelled a basket case: even his loving wife Bobbie (Teri Garr) doubts her husband's sanity. But there's enough evidence on Jerry's side for a panel of prominent clerics to demand that the hapless fellow prove in court that he's the agent of God. Donald Pleasence was supposed to have an extended supporting role in the film, but the first cut ran too long, and Pleasence's dialogue was eliminated -- but not Pleasence himself, who retains his prominent billing and is seen doing precisely nothing in several scenes. Netting $30 million on its first run, Oh God was followed by two lesser sequels, both featuring Burns. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

59% liked it

7,921 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

24 critics

PG, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Carl Reiner

Release Date: October 7, 1977

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 9, 2002

Stats: 309 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Oh, God!
Upload a Photo | View All Oh, God! Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (309)

  • ajv2688
    January 5, 2011
    ajv2688
    A very funny and meaningful film, after laughing you start to think. I really liked this movie, and I highly recommend it, the story is great, and the actors are too.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 26, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A classic movie with George Burns as God, and John Denver (bless his soul) as the chosen messenger for God's message. It's an enjoyable little movie. It sort of reminds me as "Miracle on 34th Street".
  • garyX
    May 7, 2007
    garyX
    A vacuous little feelgood fantasy that sees god visiting Earth in the form of likeable veteran comic George Burns. It's a little inconsequential for adults, but kids will enjoy it.
  • phantopp
    May 11, 2011
    phantopp
    "Jerry Landers" (John Denver) is a family man with a steady job at a grocery store. One day, he gets a weird letter telling him to go to a building for a meeting with "God" (George Burns in one of his most famous roles). "God" asks him to get His message out to the world.

    "Lan... read moreders", who is skeptical of the kindly old man who asks for his help, and a non-believer in God, tries to get out the message by any means. He eventually gets on national television, and in front of a panel of religious leaders, who ask him to have "God" answer a list of questions, written in an ancient and extinct language.

    Now, "Landers" has to prove to the court of the existance of "God", while trying to defend himself in a slander suit filed against him by a televangelist over comments "Landers" credits to "God", who claims the televangelist is a fraud.

    Let me say that, when I first saw this, I thought it was funnier. Having seen it all these years later, the jokes fell flat in my opinion. However, I was not once offended by any joke in the film. The humor targets a lot of questions believers and non-believers of the Almighty ask when questioning their beliefs, but not once is offensive. If you ask me now, the jokes are worth a couple of chuckles.

    For anybody who is a hardcore believer, who will walk up to a stranger to give his or her testimony and try to convert the person, I can guarantee you that you will not be offended with this movie at all. The subject matter is handled with extreme care, and is handled perfectly by Denver, and especially Burns.

    The performances in this movie are pretty good if you ask me. Terri Garr, who portrays Denver's wife, plays her character as a woman who is skeptical of her husband's believe that he was visited by God, but supports him no matter what. Denver was pretty good in his role, never missing a beat as Burns straight man, and handled his character's transformation in the film nicely.

    Burns though is easily the star of this film, and made "God" one of his most memorable roles in his career. Anybody who has seen this movie, or its two sequels have never forgotten Burns in this role. To his fans, this and his role with the love of his life, Gracie Allen, is fondly remembered.

    This film is perfect for families, as their is no violence or swearing. Younger children may not understand the message of the film, but might enjoy some of the jokes. Older kids will understand the message, and may have questions about their own faith.

    The supporting cast is not well developed in this film, especially the televangelist, who was the most vocal in the counsel that asked "Landers" to have "God" answer the questions they gave him. Personally, I would have liked to have seen the televangelist go to his flock and the media to try to discredit "Landers" in his believe he saw "God". Just having "God" tell "Landers" to call the guy a fraud to help set up the court scene was a bit weak in my opinion.

    There is some special effects in this film, but you can tell they were all done by editing. They just don't hold up after all these years. The soundtrack was completely forgettable as well.

    In my opinion, this movie is not bad. I would suggest to watch it on television if there is nothing else on.
  • psyclock7
    March 11, 2011
    psyclock7
    And thus started the series of cutesy movies...They were funny with the what if built in kinda' thang'. A classic and one to watch...Cool thing is you don't have to bored to see either in this series..."
  • kcddck
    November 23, 2009
    kcddck
    With as little screen time that George Burns had and the overabundance of John Denver, this was still a pretty likable flick. George Burns really brought a lot of charm and really is one of the few people who could really portray God and make it fun, but not too blasphemous. For ... read morethe first half of the movie, I really couldn't stand all the whining that John Denver's character was doing, but in the second half he wasn't so bad. Cute little movie and a decent watch. Teri Garr really reminded me of Sarah Michelle Gellar at times. She did a great job as well. Lots of recognizable faces and only two lines from Donald Pleasance. That was a surprise.
  • braddad68
    November 8, 2009
    braddad68
    I still love this movie! George Burns was perfect! The overall message of loving one another and cleaning up the mess we've made of this planet applies even more I think today!
  • firstamb
    August 3, 2008
    firstamb
    The hilarious but dated George Burns comedy where he plays God is actually fun to watch. Burns was a classic old school comedian.
  • laney33
    June 25, 2008
    laney33
    These movies were terrific. I remember watching them in elementary school and loving them. George Burns was the best!!
  • TomySky
    April 27, 2008
    TomySky
    I despise films that attempt to be religious with absolutely no real religious input. Critiques are one thing, but this is something else entirely.

    If you want to give a closer view of God, do so accurately (a la "Bruce Almighty").

View All Oh, God! Reviews

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin
May 9, 2005
Janet Maslin, New York Times

An uneasy amalgam or inconsistent attitudes, without enough humor or zaniness to divert attention from its questionable premise. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Carl Reiner's Oh, God! is a treasure of a movie: A sly, civilized, quietly funny speculation on what might happen if God endeavored to present himself in the flesh yet once again to forgetful Man. Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

George Burns seems to be warming up for a good Second City sketch on God's return to earth as a rumpled vaudevillian, but it soon becomes clear that director Carl Reiner isn't kidding -- he really thi... Full Review

March 19, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Reiner does one of his best directing jobs and never resorts to some of the silliness he's demonstrated in other films. Denver is very affable and could have had a good movie career given the right ma... Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

The result plays like an over-extended version of the Reiner/Mel Brooks 2000-Year-Old Man sketches. Full Review

Steve Crum
August 1, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Burns is the Lord, Denver is a store clerk. Yet it all works, thank God.

Clint Morris
April 25, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Comedy gold....Burns at his best!

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
May 23, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

This wonderful comedy salutes human responsibility for making the world a better place and takes justifiable pot-shots at holier-than-thou hotshots. Full Review

Rob Vaux
October 3, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

Somewhere deep down, I think we all hope that God turns out to be like George Burns.

John J. Puccio
July 18, 2002
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

Burns is everything we could hope for in a benevolent God--a kindly, reassuring voice; a sympathetic smile; a modest, unassuming manner; everyone's favorite uncle. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Paper Man
    Paper Man (100%)
  • Dear God
    Dear God (100%)
  • Little Nicky
    Little Nicky (100%)
  • Oh God! Book II
    Oh God! Book II (100%)

More Movies like Oh, God!

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • God: The last miracle I did was the 1969 Mets. Before that, I think you have to go back to the Red Sea.
Submit a Fact | View All

Oh, God! : Watch Free on TV

Oh, God! Trivia

  • George Burns miraculously appears to John Denver but his wife, Teri Garr doesn't believe him?  Answer »
  • He played God in the movies Oh God and Oh God you Devil  Answer »
  • In what movie did George Burns play both god and the devil.  Answer »
  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid Summer School All Of Me Summer Rental Oh, God What director am I?  Answer »
More Oh, God! Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Oh, God!. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Oh, God! to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Oh, God! News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?