A star-studded comedy that spent years in distribution limbo before hitting the big screen.
In short: The War with Grandpa features an ensemble cast including Robert De Niro and Uma Thurman, yet it faced a turbulent journey to theaters. Originally filmed in 2017, the family comedy suffered multiple delays and a distributor collapse before finally debuting in 2020, where it struggled to win over critics.
Based on the novel by Robert Kimmel Smith, the film follows a young boy named Peter who initiates a prank war against his grandfather, Ed, after being forced to surrender his bedroom. The plot centers on their escalating rivalry, which involves sabotaging furniture and school reports, all while keeping their conflict hidden from the rest of the family.
The production faced significant hurdles after the collapse of The Weinstein Company, the film's original distributor. Producers Marvin and Rosa Peart eventually reclaimed the rights for $2.5 million in 2018. By the time the film was released in October 2020 by 101 and Brookdale Studios, it had been delayed several times, with promotional costs estimated at $24 million.
Despite a cast that includes Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour, the film received generally negative reviews. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 29%, often citing an inane script and wasted talent. While it managed to top the box office briefly, it grossed $46.8 million worldwide against a $38 million budget, ultimately being labeled a box-office bomb.
The film ends with a hint at a potential sequel, titled The World War with Grandpa, as Peter declares a new conflict when Ed begins a relationship with a woman named Diane. However, despite announcements from the producers in November 2020, there have been no further updates regarding the project as of 2026.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The War with Grandpa
- Also: Wikidata — The War with Grandpa · CC0
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