Why It Ranks
There's Something About Mary redefined gross-out comedy and grossed $369 million. The hair gel scene is the most talked-about comedy moment of the 1990s. The Farrelly Brothers peaked here. Cameron Diaz became the biggest comedy actress on Earth. The film proved that audiences have no limit for embarrassment comedy.
The Film
There's Something About Mary grossed $369 million by pushing gross-out comedy further than anyone thought possible and somehow making it romantic. The zipper scene. The hair gel scene. The Farrelly Brothers discovered that the line between horror and comedy is measured in audience gasps. Ben Stiller's Ted Stroehmann suffers more physical indignity than any romantic lead in history, and Cameron Diaz's Mary is so charming that the audience forgives the film everything. Matt Dillon's sleazy Healy is the comedy villain the film deserves.
Fun Facts
The hair gel scene was so shocking that test audiences reportedly screamed — the Farrellys knew they had a hit.
Cameron Diaz was genuinely unaware of what the 'hair gel' was supposed to be in the scene until she saw audience reactions.
Ben Stiller's zipper scene required prosthetic makeup that took two hours to apply — his reactions are mostly real discomfort.
The film held the #1 box office spot for multiple weeks — unusual for an R-rated comedy in the summer blockbuster season.
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