10 Movies & Shows Similar to The Cable Guy (1996)

Description: Like The Cable Guy, The Truman Show explores themes of media manipulation and the blurred lines between reality and entertainment. Both films critique the impact of television on personal identity, with Jim Carrey playing central roles in each. The Truman Show's satirical take on reality TV parallels The Cable Guy's dark humor about celebrity culture.

Fact: Jim Carrey was paid $20 million for his role, making him the highest-paid actor at the time. The dome set was so large it had its own weather system. The film's concept was originally conceived as a sci-fi thriller in

Description: This shares The Cable Guy's absurdist humor and exploration of identity. Both feature characters who insert themselves into others' lives in bizarre ways (cable installer vs. puppeteer). The films similarly blend comedy with psychological unease, questioning what constitutes authentic human connection.

Fact: John Malkovich initially turned down the role of himself. The 7½ floor was inspired by a real NYC building. Spike Jonze's directorial debut won him an Oscar nomination.

Description: Like The Cable Guy, this film critiques consumer culture and masculinity through dark humor. Both feature unreliable narrators and explore themes of identity construction in media-saturated societies.

Fact: Brad Pitt broke a tooth during filming. The studio wanted to change the ending. The book author initially hated the adaptation.

Description: Both films use dark comedy to satirize 1990s yuppie culture and superficial masculinity. Like The Cable Guy's media-obsessed villain, Patrick Bateman represents the extreme of image-obsessed consumerism.

Fact: Christian Bale based his performance on Tom Cruise. The film was nearly NC-

Description: Both films blend dark comedy with psychological unease, featuring unstable protagonists who perceive reality differently. They share a 1990s suburban gothic aesthetic and critique of American culture.

Fact: The film initially flopped but became a cult hit on DVD. Drew Barrymore helped finance the film. The rabbit costume cost $250,

Description: Both films examine loneliness and human connection through unconventional storytelling. While The Cable Guy uses dark comedy about obsession, Eternal Sunshine employs surreal sci-fi elements to explore memory and relationships. They share a similar visual style with exaggerated reality and dreamlike sequences.

Fact: Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet improvised many scenes. The memory-erasure procedure was based on real lobotomy tools. Charlie Kaufman wrote the script in 3 weeks after a breakup.

Description: Like The Cable Guy's commentary on media saturation, this film examines artistic obsession and the collapse between life and performance. Both use exaggerated characters to explore themes of isolation and the search for meaning in modern society.

Fact: Philip Seymour Hoffman lost 40 pounds for the role. The film's title is a triple pun. Kaufman spent years developing the script.

Description: Like The Cable Guy's exploration of artificial connections, Her examines human-technology relationships. Both films use futuristic concepts to comment on contemporary loneliness, though Her takes a more melancholic approach.

Fact: Scarlett Johansson never appears on screen. The OS voices were recorded before filming. The futuristic Shanghai setting was unaltered.

Description: This anthology series shares The Cable Guy's dark satire about technology's impact on human relationships. Episodes like 'Fifteen Million Merits' echo the film's themes of media consumption and societal alienation.

Fact: Originally pitched to Channel 4 as 'The Twilight Zone for the digital age'. The first episode was inspired by UK politician scandals. Netflix bought the series after 2 seasons.

Description: Both films use absurdist premises to critique social norms about relationships. Where The Cable Guy satirizes media-fueled loneliness, The Lobster examines societal pressure to couple up through dystopian deadpan humor.

Fact: Colin Farrell gained 40 pounds for the role. The director banned smartphones on set. The hotel scenes were shot in a real abandoned resort.