Stir Crazy

Stir Crazy has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on BINGE. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 490 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Gene Wilder leads a cast with real comic timing. Available now on BINGE — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Stir Crazy arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Stir Crazy land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. New Yorkers Skip Donahue and Harry Monroe have no jobs and no prospects, so they decide to flee the city and find work elsewhere, landing jobs wearing woodpecker costumes to promote the opening of a bank. When their feathery costumes are stolen and used in a bank robbery, they no longer have to worry about employment — they're sent to prison. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 1980. Stir Crazy earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Stir Crazy respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Gene Wilder sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.

Stir Crazy was released in 1980, directed by Sidney Poitier. The full 111-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.