🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Etan Cohen
- Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
- Release year: 2015
- Runtime (length): 1h 40min
- IMDb rating: 6.0/10 (150K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 28%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A rich white guy, terrified of prison rape, pays a black guy who’s never even gotten a parking ticket to teach him how to ‘get hard’, leading to a series of increasingly uncomfortable and hilarious misunderstandings.
🍿 Get Hard: Detailed Plot Synopsis
James’s Downfall and Imprisonment
James King, a wealthy hedge fund manager, lives a life of luxury with his materialistic fiancée, Alissa. However, his world crumbles when he’s arrested for fraud and embezzlement. Despite protesting his innocence, he’s sentenced to ten years in San Quentin, one of America’s toughest prisons. With just 30 days to prepare, James is terrified of what awaits him behind bars.

Darnell’s Unlikely Offer
Desperate, James turns to Darnell Lewis, a hardworking car washer, for help. Based on racial stereotypes, James assumes Darnell has prison experience and offers him $30,000 to train him for survival. Darnell, struggling to provide a better life for his family, agrees to the offer, despite never having been to prison himself. He puts on a facade to convince James that he can prepare him.

The Training Begins
Darnell implements a rigorous and often comical training regimen. James endures pepper spray, attempts to develop a ‘mad dog’ face, and hilariously fails at staged fights. They delve into the absurdity of prison culture, including learning how to make shivs and ‘keister’ contraband. Their interactions often challenge societal norms, and make them see new sides of life they have never experienced.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- James King (Will Ferrell): A wealthy but naive hedge fund manager sentenced to prison who hires Darnell to prepare him for life behind bars.
- Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart): A family man and car wash owner who pretends to be an ex-con to help James prepare for prison in exchange for money.
- Alissa (Alison Brie): James’ materialistic fiancee who is more interested in his wealth than his well-being.
- Martin (Craig T. Nelson): Alissa’s father and James’ boss, who is secretly involved in the fraud that James is accused of.
- Russell (Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris): Darnell’s cousin, who is the leader of a local gang and provides insight into actual prison life.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Darnell: “When life throws you Dick, you make Dick-ade!” – Darnell’s attempt at an inspirational quote, humorously twisting the common phrase ‘When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.’
- James: “Dick-ade doesn’t sound like a significant improvement over dick.” – James dryly responds to Darnell’s Dick-ade quote, highlighting the absurdity of the advice.
- James: “Oh, I know what’s up. You think cause I’m white I can’t handle prison?” – James’ attempt to be tough, after realizing he’s making assumptions about Darnell, which hilariously backfires.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $40,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $90,411,453
- Worldwide Gross: $111,811,453
💥 Get Hard Reviews
Personal Review
I went in expecting mindless comedy, and while I got that, I was surprised by some of the movie’s unexpected heart. The scenes where Will Ferrell awkwardly tries to learn how to ‘be black’ are cringeworthy but hilarious, and the bromance that develops between him and Kevin Hart felt genuine. Sure, it’s offensive, but sometimes you just need a movie that makes you laugh, even if you feel a little guilty about it afterwards. Overall, it was a fun ride. The ending was kinda sappy, but I didn’t mind.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart’s comedic styles.”
- “Viewers who enjoy raunchy, over-the-top comedies.”
- “Those looking for a lighthearted and undemanding movie.”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Strong language and crude humor.”
- “Sexual content, including references to prison rape.”
- “Racial and sexual stereotypes.”
- “Drug use.”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “”Get Hard” squanders the comedic talents of Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart on a laughlessly crude premise that’s often more embarrassing than funny.
- New York Times: “The movie tries to get laughs from stereotypes about race, class and sexuality, but it mostly falls flat. Ferrell and Hart have moments of chemistry, but the material is too weak to support their talents.
- Rolling Stone: “It’s a crude movie, but it has moments of genuine hilarity and some surprisingly insightful commentary on race and class in America. Ferrell and Hart make a good team.
Audience Reactions
The chemistry between Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart is fantastic.: Viewers praised the dynamic between Ferrell and Hart, finding their interactions hilarious and engaging.
The movie is raunchy and offensive, so it’s not for everyone.: Many audience members noted that the film’s humor is very crude and relies heavily on stereotypes, which may not appeal to all viewers.
Overall Consensus: Get Hard is a polarizing comedy with some genuinely funny moments, but its reliance on crude humor and stereotypes may offend some viewers. The chemistry between Ferrell and Hart is a highlight.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Will Ferrell insisted on staying in character during all press interviews for the film, adding to the comedic effect surrounding its release.”
- “The film uses the premise of preparing for prison to explore themes of race, class, and preconceived notions, sparking discussions about stereotypes in society.”
- “Though set in California and referencing San Quentin, the primary filming location was New Orleans, Louisiana, taking advantage of the state’s film tax incentives.”
- “The movie faced controversy due to its reliance on racial stereotypes and jokes about prison rape, leading to mixed reviews and discussions about the boundaries of comedy.”
🖥️ How to Watch Get Hard?
Get Hard is available for streaming on platforms such as Prime Video, and Apple TV. You can also rent or purchase the movie through these services. Check your local listings for cable availability. Some affiliate links may be present.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Get Hard, you might like these similar films:
- Trading Places (1983): Features a similar theme of social and economic role reversal with comedic results, exploring class differences.
- Ride Along (2014): Also starring Kevin Hart, this buddy cop comedy relies on the dynamic between a smaller, comedic character and a larger, more serious one.
- Big Stan (2007): Similar plot about a white-collar criminal learning to survive prison life, though with a focus on martial arts training.
- White Chicks (2004): Over-the-top racial humor
- Central Intelligence (2016): Modern buddy action-comedy with contrasting personalities and physical statures.
🛒 Get Hard Related Products
- Get Hard [Blu-ray]: Own the comedy hit starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. Enjoy the outrageous humor and hilarious performances in high definition. The Blu-Ray edition includes bonus features such as behind-the-scenes footage, deleted scenes, and gag reels, offering a deeper dive into the making of the film and extra laughs.
- Kevin Hart: Zero F**ks Given: Stream Kevin Hart’s stand-up special, showcasing his signature comedic style and storytelling ability. A Hilarious performance with Hart’s raw, energetic delivery, this special delivers non-stop laughter.
- Funko Pop! Movies: Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy: Add this Funko Pop! to your collection and commemorate some of the funny Will Ferrell memories. These iconic figurines captures the charm and humor of the beloved characters. Packaged in a window display box, the vinyl figures measure approximately 3.75-inches tall. Perfect for desks or shelves.
- Capoeira: Beginner to Intermediate (DVD): Learn the martial art showcased by Will Ferrell in an unexpected and hilarious way in the movie. It’s an effective martial art while also teaching some really interesting body movements, some of which are shown in the movie. This martial art is definitely something that is fun to watch when practiced.
🎧 Soundtrack
Get Hard features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Fancy” – performed by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
- “Get Low” – performed by Dillon Francis & DJ Snake
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
No, ‘Get Hard’ is a fictional comedy film. While it touches on themes of wealth disparity and prison culture, the plot and characters are entirely fabricated.
In the context of the movie, ‘keistering’ refers to the practice of concealing contraband inside the rectum to smuggle it into prison. This is a recurring joke and a part of James’s training.
No, ‘Get Hard’ is rated R for strong language, crude humor, sexual content, and drug use. It contains themes and jokes that are not suitable for children.
🔥 Bonus Content
Get Hard Bloopers & Gag Reel (2015)
Get ready for some hilarious bloopers and outtakes from the set of ‘Get Hard’! Witness the cast’s chemistry and comedic moments that didn’t make the final cut.
John Mayer and Will Ferrell perform Daughters from the movie Get Hard #shorts
Who knew John Mayer and Will Ferrell would make such a hilarious musical duo? Check out this short scene where they team up for a memorable performance.
Get Hard – Trash Talk Scene HD (1080p)
Prepare for some side-splitting laughter with this top-rated scene from ‘Get Hard’! The trash talk exchange between these characters is not to be missed.
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