Extract

Joel Reynolds runs a flavor extract factory that looks stable on paper, yet his home life feels empty. He resents the lack of romantic attention from his wife Suzie and hatches a plan to provoke her into cheating, hoping it will clear the way for his own fling with Cindy, a sharp but troubled employee. Cindy proves to be more than a sweet set up, revealing sociopathic tendencies as the scheme spirals out of control. A blundering factory accident then hands Cindy a dangerous advantage, threatening Joel with ruin. The setup leans on dark humor about desire, deception, and consequences without revealing how it ends. The film mixes crude gags with awkward sincerity, keeping momentum through sharp dialogue for laughs.

Released in 2009, Extract was directed by Mike Judge. The film sits on an original screenplay backed by a practical budget of about 8 million and marked Judge's return to a sharper comedic tone after his earlier work for audiences.

Box office: The comedy grossed about 10.85 million worldwide against an 8 million budget, reflecting a modest return. International markets offered limited lift, with most revenue staying close to home and audiences in North America driving the totals in theaters.

Extract landed as a quirky late 2000s comedy with a familiar workplace satire vibe, but it never spawned a major meme or catchphrase. Its quiet influence sits more in Judge's catalog than in broad pop culture, offering a sharp take on manipulation. Its influence rests with tone rather than gimmicks.

Critics gave Extract a mixed reception, praising the cast's deadpan timing and Judge's offbeat sensibility, particularly Bateman, Kunis, Wiig, Affleck, and Simmons. The story toggles between desire, manipulation, and the cost of comic schemes, keeping the tone light even as characters face real consequences without heavy moralizing for curious viewers.