The Jerk (1979): movie guide

What is The Jerk about?

After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.

Cast highlights

The Jerk features Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King, Richard Ward, Carl Gottlieb. Open the Cinema Box title page for the full cast list and character credits.

Key facts

Release date: 1979-12-14. Runtime: 94 minutes. TMDB score: 6.9/10 (947 votes). Genres: Comedy. Original language: en. Status: Released.

Discover The Jerk on Cinema Box

Cinema Box is a movie and TV discovery app for Android. Use it to browse The Jerk, watch official trailers when available, save titles to your list, and plan what to watch — without hosting or streaming full films.

Frequently asked questions

What genre is The Jerk?

The Jerk is listed as Comedy on TMDB.

How long is The Jerk?

The Jerk runs about 94 minutes.

Who stars in The Jerk?

Cast highlights include Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King, Richard Ward, Carl Gottlieb.

Does Cinema Box stream The Jerk?

No. Cinema Box is discovery-only — trailers, details, ratings, and watchlists. It does not host or stream full movies.

Where can I track The Jerk?

Open the The Jerk page on cinemabox.app or install the official Cinema Box Android app from Google Play for watchlists and discovery tools.