The Promotion

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2:24

The Promotion

R

2008

1h 26m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

76 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Doug Stauber (Seann William Scott) holds the post of assistant manager at a Chicago supermarket that plans to open an additional store right in his own neighborhood. His boss (Fred Armisen) assures him that he is the top choice for managing the new location. This changes when the affable Canadian Richard Wehlner (John C. Reilly) joins the staff. To Doug's alarm, Richard has his eye on the same position -- and it's not long before the two colleagues erupt into all-out managerial warfare.

Critics Consensus

With a workplace-related theme worthy of satire, The Promotion features some sharp witticisms but ultimately disappoints.

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Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

10/18/2008

2.5/4

The Promotion may not be much, and you get to know that supermarket uncomfortably well by the end of the 85 minutes. But as I say: He's an interesting writer.

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Philip Marchand

Toronto Star

06/27/2008

3/4

The Promotion works as a comedy because, in the depths of our dark hearts, we enjoy seeing the woes that beset our comic antagonists.

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

06/16/2008

This is one of the more original movies of the year, and it's the rare film that's primarily about the workplace.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/28/2020

7/10

There's nothing overly spectacular about the film, a simple comedy about career-oriented rivalry, yet it has an odd way of succeeding at nearly every little joke it makes.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

09/17/2010

3.5/4

A bit Alexander Payne social satire, a bit Mike Judge's "Office Space," "The Promotion" keeps the laughter mostly low-key while addressing deflating truths about occupational angst -writer/director Steve Conrad's sturdy thematic stock-in-trade.

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

05/05/2010

Sort of a Dilbert riff, only lower on the food chain.

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Frans B

@FransB Jul 27

Very good. Seann W Scott is always a treat to watch in any character, well, whole cast excels here in character. Well written, sharp wit and enough dilemma. Good cinematography, visually appealing. Sometimes very funny, lots of drama, suspense, confusion, tomfoolery, awkwardness, emotion and intrigue. Entertaining and relaxed viewing

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thiago s

@Thiagostone 05/29/2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Larry K

@Larrymoses39 09/22/2024

Some really funny parts in this. Just something missing about it

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Ernest B

@ErnestB 07/27/2024

Weird little quasi-morality tale with an underdeveloped plot. Light on laughs, mostly a waste of time in spite of its charming cast.

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Colby B

@RT20973746 02/28/2024

I think I had my expectations set way too high for this movie.

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Test T

@TestTest1 10/15/2023

Given the storyline, I was expecting a comedy, but sadly it's not. The tone of the movie is flat and serious which for me resulted in a rather dull experience. Frankly, the every day rivalries of the two supermarket employees are just not interesting enough to keep the viewer entertained when played straight. On the positive side, it does promote the virtues of fair play winning through adversity, but it is so melancholy you probably won't care about that.

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Steve Conrad

Director

Seann William Scott

Doug

John C. Reilly

Richard

Jenna Fischer

Jen

Lili Taylor

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The Promotion: Trailer 1

2:24

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Synopsis

Doug Stauber (Seann William Scott) holds the post of assistant manager at a Chicago supermarket that plans to open an additional store right in his own neighborhood. His boss (Fred Armisen) assures him that he is the top choice for managing the new location. This changes when the affable Canadian Richard Wehlner (John C. Reilly) joins the staff. To Doug's alarm, Richard has his eye on the same position -- and it's not long before the two colleagues erupt into all-out managerial warfare.

Director: Steve Conrad
Producer: Jessika Borsiczky, Steven A. Jones
Screenwriter: Steve Conrad
Distributor: Third Rail
Production Co: Dimension Films
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 6, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $406.3K
Runtime: 1h 26m