What happens when a man is told he has ninety minutes to live?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 2014 comedy-drama The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, a bitter patient receives a false death sentence from a panicked doctor. This triggers a frantic, city-wide race toward redemption. The film, which marked the final starring role released during Robin Williams' lifetime, explores how we confront our own mortality.

Directed by Phil Alden Robinson, the film serves as an adaptation of the 1997 Israeli production titled The 92 Minutes of Mr. Baum. The narrative centers on Henry Altmann, a man consumed by rage following the death of his son, Peter, two years earlier. After a traffic altercation, Henry visits a hospital where Dr. Sharon Gill, covering for a colleague, mistakenly informs him he has only ninety minutes to live due to a brain aneurysm. Panicked by his aggressive demands, she pulls the figure from a magazine cover.

Realizing her professional life is at stake, Sharon pursues Henry across Brooklyn. As Henry attempts to reconcile with his estranged wife, Bette, and his son, Tommy, he discovers his wife is unfaithful and faces further emotional hurdles. The film tracks his chaotic journey, which includes a suicide attempt on the Brooklyn Bridge and a final, poignant dance with his son. Ultimately, Henry survives for another eight days, allowing him to mend his fractured family relationships before his eventual passing.

Critical reception for the film was largely negative. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 9% approval rating based on 32 reviews, while Metacritic reports a weighted average of 21 out of 100. Critics were divided; some, like Peter Debruge, criticized the film for indulging in melancholy themes, while others, such as William Bibbiani, noted that the premise captured the spirit of classic screwball comedies. Despite the poor critical consensus, the film remains a notable entry in the late career of Robin Williams.

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