The Apartment

Right now you can watch The Apartment in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 2,689 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Jack Lemmon — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Apartment is worth clearing space for. The jokes in The Apartment land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Bud Baxter is a minor clerk in a huge New York insurance company, until he discovers a quick way to climb the corporate ladder. He lends out his apartment to the executives as a place to take their mistresses. Although he often has to deal with the aftermath of their visits, one night he's left with a major problem to solve. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1960. What keeps The Apartment from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Apartment respects your intelligence. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Jack Lemmon is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.