Zero Effect

Play trailer

Zero Effect

R

1998

1h 55m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Private investigator Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) is one of the finest sleuths in the world but also one of the most eccentric. A recluse prone to odd behavior, Daryl utilizes his assistant, Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller), as his face to see clients. When businessman Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) falls victim to a blackmail plot, he employs Daryl to find the culprit. Daryl starts to home in on Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) as a suspect, but he also finds her attractive, which complicates the case.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A promising debut for writer/director Jake Kasdan, Zero Effect overcomes its flaws with its off-kilter humor and likeable leads.

Read Critics Reviews

Martin Hoyle

Financial Times

Jun 21, 2023

Polished, ironic, enjoyable and hugely promising.

Go to Full Review

Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

Jun 21, 2023

The film's eccentricities are badly controlled; and they oddly sit with the tired thriller conventions that are visible elsewhere. Once he loosens up, Kasdan might create something less artificial.

Go to Full Review

Quentin Curtis

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jun 21, 2023

If you are looking for something on a smaller scale and more cerebral, you could do a lot worse than Zero Effect.

Go to Full Review

Matthew Sweet

Independent on Sunday

Jun 21, 2023

It's Kasdan who should really take the credit: his script is witty, and his handling of detective conventions is easy and unmannered. Remember his name.

Go to Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jan 31, 2023

3.5/5

As a film, Zero Effect shows Kasdan's promise as a filmmaker.

Go to Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 1, 2022

B

The presence of Stiller may lead you to expect a light, quirky Gen-X spin on the detective genre, but it cuts deeper than that.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jeremy M

@RT39244998 Aug 20, 2026

I love this updating of Sherlock Holmes, especially Bill Pullman’s portrayal of the title character.

See more

Teddy S

@Teddy_S Aug 18, 2026

It's watchable, occasionally cute and filmed well enough but there's nothing to get your teeth into here. The writing is mediocre and the attempt at creating unusual, off-kilter characters results in some wooden and uncompelling performances. A forgotten curio for film buffs and nothing more.

See more

S. O

@Col._Angus Jul 20, 2026

If you're a Bill Pullman fan you will love this. It's also fun to see a young Ben Stiller, as his career was getting started. I'm from Portland, so it's fun to see this snapshot in time, when the city wasn't a disgusting, steaming cesspool of trash and drug addicts. Overall the story is fun. I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but it's a fun ride.

See more

C.S. M

@RT20841719 Jul 17, 2026

As a neurodiverse person I f-ing love this movie. There are aspects about Mr Zero's personality thaf just really resonate. Its well paced. Its got a wonky sense of humor that I absolutely love.

See more

Donald A

@TheRealAckervold Jan 7, 2024

Zero Effect is a slick, witty, and a comically brilliant retelling of the World's Greatest Detective. Bill Pullman is hilariously charming, and one of Ben Stiller's less heavy-on-comedy roles is additionally well-rounded. Throw in a fantastic breakthrough performance from Kim Dickens, and a surprisingly dynamic Ryan O'Neal, and Zero Effect all but lives down to its title.

See more

Steve D

@RT35616104 Feb 12, 2023

Talented leads but it is just too odd.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jake Kasdan

Director

Bill Pullman

Daryl Zero

Ben Stiller

Steve Arlo

Ryan O'Neal

Gregory Stark

Kim Dickens

Gloria Sullivan

Angela Featherstone

Jess

Nothing to Lose

32%

68%

Nothing to Lose

Watchlist

Keys to Tulsa

10%

38%

Keys to Tulsa

Watchlist

Free Money

29%

30%

Free Money

Watchlist

Mad Dog Time

20%

51%

Mad Dog Time

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Private investigator Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) is one of the finest sleuths in the world but also one of the most eccentric. A recluse prone to odd behavior, Daryl utilizes his assistant, Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller), as his face to see clients. When businessman Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) falls victim to a blackmail plot, he employs Daryl to find the culprit. Daryl starts to home in on Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) as a suspect, but he also finds her attractive, which complicates the case.

Director: Jake Kasdan
Producer: Lisa Henson, Jake Kasdan, Janet Yang
Screenwriter: Jake Kasdan
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Manifest Film Co., Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, Castle Rock Entertainment
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings