The Full Monty

The Full Monty (1997) is a British comedy directed by Peter Cattaneo — watch it online on iFILM. Sheffield. The steelworks are shutting down, and six unemployed men of various ages and body types come up with a plan: one night of male stripping, just enough to scrape together some cash.

Robert Carlyle plays Gaz, the ringleader who needs the money before a court strips him of access to his son. Mark Addy is his best mate Dave, too self-conscious to get on stage. Tom Wilkinson plays Gerald, their former foreman, quietly humiliated by unemployment and hiding it from his wife. The troupe can't dance, doesn't have the physique, and has never performed in front of anyone. Their one edge over the Chippendales: they'll go the full monty.

Made for £2.5 million, the film earned over $250 million worldwide and received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. It works because the comedy never talks down to its characters. Stream The Full Monty (1997) on iFILM.