90’s Cult Classic ‘The Cable Guy Returns’ with new 4K Restoration.
Just in time for its 30th anniversary, Jim Carrey's sleeper hit ‘The Cable Guy’ is creeping its way onto 4K UHD this October.
Fresh off iconic 90s hits like Dumb and Dumber and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Cable Guy starred Jim Carrey, as well as the established Matthew Broderick, and was directed by Ben Stiller. The film follows a bizarre cable installer named Chip (Carrey) who attempts to bond with the bachelor Steven (Broderick), a customer of his to whom he has promised free cable channels. But as Steven attempts to move away from the sphere of the strange technician, this only strengthens Chip’s obsession with him. As Chip grows more fixated with Steven, Steven himself is drawn into Chip's strange and offbeat world.
Although a moderate hit at the box office in the summer of 1996, The Cable Guy received lukewarm reviews from critics. Both of these outcomes were far cries from the previous cinematic ventures of Carrey, which dominated both financially and within the cultural zeitgeist (one can still notice references to Carrey’s golden age all over popular culture). And while the critics were never entirely on board with Jim’s antics, the releative distaste that was had with The Cable Guy was seen as a stark departure from his previous films. In this case, critics and audiences alike saw the film as off-putting and generally unpleasant, unlike The Mask and Ace Ventura, which were quirky, yet digestible for audiences. Esteemed critic Roger Ebert even called it one of the worst of the year, a declaration that was not shared by his colleague, Gene Siskel.
Perhaps the late, great Siskel was correct in his opinion, as the film gained a strong and devoted cult following in the decades following its release. Carrey himself even went on to declare it a favourite of his in a 2022 interview with LADbible, saying:
“I have odd favourites that may not be for kids, but ‘The Cable Guy’ is one of my favourite movies. I think Ben Stiller did an amazing job, and it's populated with the greatest comedy actors of our day when they were just coming into their power. I love that character”.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the film, Sony Pictures is releasing a stunning 4K release of the film. This new edition includes a new remaster of the film from its original camera negatives. It also includes a cast and crew commentary, gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, rehearsal footage and a slew of other goodies for fans to discover. To cap it all off, it includes a brand new discussion between director Ben Stiller and star Matthew Broderick from the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
This new 4K release is not only a testament to the staying power of a cult classic, but is also a gift to the fans that gave it that status in the first place.