Date Night

Right now you can watch Date Night in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Starz Apple TV Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. Its 6/10 TMDB score, built from 3,086 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Steve Carell's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Date Night is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Date Night land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Phil and Claire Foster fear that their mild-mannered relationship may be falling into a stale rut. During their weekly date night, their dinner reservation leads to their being mistaken for a couple of thieves—and now a number of unsavoury characters want Phil and Claire killed. Steve Carell and Tina Fey lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2010. What keeps Date Night from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Date Night is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Steve Carell anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.