The Whole Nine Yards

On a quiet street, a mobster hiding under witness protection swaps prison bars for a boring suburban life. Jimmy Tulipán Tudeski, once a feared hit man, relocates to a cul-de-sac to stay out of trouble, hoping anonymity will do the trick. His new neighbor Oz Oseransky, a cautious dentist married to Jill St. Claire, starts to notice that the man next door acts like a stranger with a dangerous history. When the truth of his past surfaces, Oz and Jill misinterpret his skills as a potential solution to their money troubles and invite him to help with a risky plan. The unexpected alliance turns a routine neighborhood into a chaotic playground where old loyalties surface and comic chaos follows everywhere.

Directed by Jonathan Lynn, The Whole Nine Yards adapts an original screenplay by Mitchell Kapner. Released in 2000, the film blends witty dialogue with a mid-range budget designed for broad audience appeal and accessible, crowd-pleasing humor that works worldwide too.

Budgeted at about 41.3 million, it earned roughly 106.4 million worldwide, making it a solid box office success for a mainstream comedy. The numbers underscored the appeal of Perry and Willis in unlikely chemistry. It also broadened international distribution plans.

It stands as a notable example of the late 90s-early 2000s buddy comedy pairing a jittery suburbanite with a hard edged criminal. The odd couple chemistry left a mark for fans and led to a sequel, The Whole Ten Yards. Memorable moments kept popping up in TV marathons and conversations.

Critics offered mixed reviews, noting the brisk setup and strong performances but pointing to uneven tonal shifts. The film plays with temptation, responsibility, and the pull of ordinary life when crime intrudes, and it leans into the tension between domestic comfort and danger, and will stick with viewers after credits.