Analyze This is a 1999 American mafia comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, who co-wrote the screenplay with playwright Kenneth Lonergan, and Peter Tolan. The plot follows a crisis-stricken mafioso (Robert De Niro) who solicits the assistance of a reluctant psychiatrist (Billy Crystal).

Analyze This was given a wide release by Warner Bros. Pictures and Roadshow Entertainment on March 5, 1999, grossing $176.9 million worldwide, and received positive reviews. Due to its success, it was followed by the sequel Analyze That in 2002.

Plot

Mob boss Paul Vitti and his consigliere Manetta are discussing an upcoming meeting and the Mafia s present-day problems over lunch. Just as Manetta warns Paul to look out for Primo Sindone (an up-and-coming mafioso who wants to be capo di tutti capi), gunmen drive past and kill Manetta. Paul narrowly escapes.

Psychiatrist Ben Sobel is stressed: his son from his first marriage spies on his sessions, his patients are not challenging enough, and his wedding to Laura MacNamara is upcoming. Ben rear-ends a car belonging to Paul and the trunk opens, revealing a man bound and gagged inside, which Ben and his son do not notice. Jelly, one of Paul s men, takes the blame, but Ben gives Jelly his business card in case he changes his mind regarding compensation.

During a meeting, Paul has a panic attack and tells Jelly that he needs to see a psychiatrist, but it has to be kept a secret, and Jelly recommends Ben. Paul visits Ben, claiming his friend needs therapy, but Ben sees through the lie. As he realizes Paul is talking about himself, it impresses Paul enough to want to see him constantly, to Ben s frustration. Ben goes to Miami for his wedding and Paul, Jelly, and the crew follow. Paul explains he has been suffering from erectile dysfunction and Ben suggests the source of the problem might be stress.

The next day, Paul has another panic attack and requests to see Ben. Paul explains his history with his father to him, who thinks this might have something to do with Paul s anxiety. The wedding is interrupted when an assassin is killed by Jelly. Ben confronts Paul and causes him to lose his temper. Ben suggests he resolve his anger by calling Primo and telling him how he feels. Paul phones Primo and starts doing it, but ends up threatening to kill him.

Ben and his family return to New York, where they find a fountain in their garden, a gift from Paul. The FBI arrive and request Ben inform on Paul, but he refuses despite the FBI s threats. He changes his mind when the FBI play a tape in which Paul reveals his intention to kill Ben after the meeting (which the FBI had altered: Paul was actually saying he would kill anyone who threatened Ben).

At his next meet-up with Paul, Ben wears a wire, but discards it when he learns that, as a child, he witnessed his father being murdered. Paul, informed that Ben was working with the FBI, takes him to a secluded place to kill him. They get into a heated argument, and Paul breaks down as he admits that he blames himself for his father s death. Just then, two hitmen arrive to kill Paul, but Jelly kills them both. Paul apologizes for planning to kill Ben, and the two part ways.

The day of the meeting arrives, but Paul has a severe panic attack. Jelly interrupts Ben s wedding, requesting Ben attend the meeting as Paul s consigliere. He is reluctant, but his ego causes him to patronize Primo until he finally pulls a gun. Paul arrives, orders Primo to stand down, and announces he knows a traitor in his own family killed Dominic, but will not seek revenge as he instead will retire from the Mafia. Outside, a standoff ensues between Paul s and Primo s men, during which Ben sacrifices himself for Paul. The FBI intervenes, the mobsters are arrested, and Ben is taken to the hospital.

Ben visits Paul in prison, and Paul thanks Ben for his help before informing him that Primo is dead. At home, Ben dances with his new wife as Tony Bennett serenades them.

Cast

• Robert De Niro as Paul Vitti
• Billy Crystal as Ben Sobel
• Lisa Kudrow as Laura MacNamara
• Chazz Palminteri as Primo Sidone
• Joseph Rigano as Manetta
• Joe Viterelli as Jelly
• Molly Shannon as Caroline
• Max Casella as Nicky Shivers
• Kyle Sabihy as Michael Sobel
• Rebecca Schull as Dorothy Sobel
• Pat Cooper as Salvatore Masiello
• Leo Rossi as Carlo Mangano
• Aasif Mandvi as Dr. Shulman
• Tony Darrow as Moony
• Ira Wheeler as Scott MacNamara
• Elizabeth Bracco as Marie Vitti
• Bill Macy as Dr. Isaac Sobel

Production

Development

Analyze This was co-produced and co-financed by the American Warner Bros. and the Australian Roadshow Entertainment.

Reception

Box office

Analyze This opened in 2,518 theaters and earned an average of $7,017 per location, for an estimated $18 million opening, putting it at number 1 at the box office for that weekend; it exceeded the $13 million debut of Crystal s City Slickers in 1991. It would also break Ronin s record for having the largest opening weekend for a Robert De Niro film. The film held this record until the release of Meet the Parents in October 2000. The opening weekend audience skewed older, with 75% over the age of 25, and audience demographics being 54% female to 46% male. The film went on to earn $107 million at the domestic box office and a further $70 million at the international box office, for a worldwide total of $177 million.

Critical response

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 69% from 107 reviews, with an average rating of 6.50/10. The website s consensus states, Analyze This is a satisfying comedy with great performances by De Niro and Crystal. On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 based on 30 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of A-.

Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, saying the film would be thought of in terms of the two leads, but also praised Joe Viterelli for his subtle performance that holds the film together.

Analyze This drew several comparisons by journalists to the mafia show The Sopranos, which had premiered two months earlier in January, due to its plot about mobster Tony Soprano seeing a psychiatrist. The movie is also mentioned in The Sopranos episode Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist s Office…

Year	1999
ReleaseDate	1999-03-05
RuntimeMins	103
RuntimeStr	1h 43min
Plot	A comedy about a psychiatrist whose number-one patient is an insecure mob boss.
Awards	Awards, 4 wins & 7 nominations
Directors	Harold Ramis
Writers	Kenneth Lonergan, Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis
Stars	Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow
Produced by	Len Amato, Bruce Berman, Chris Brigham, Billy Crystal, Suzanne Herrington, Jane Rosenthal, Paula Weinstein
Music by	Howard Shore
Cinematography by	Stuart Dryburgh
Film Editing by	Craig Herring, Christopher Tellefsen
Casting By	Ellen Chenoweth, Laura Rosenthal
Production Design by	Wynn Thomas
Art Direction by	Jefferson Sage
Set Decoration by	Leslie E. Rollins
Costume Design by	Aude Bronson-Howard
Makeup Department	Scott W. Farley, William A. Farley, Ilona Herman, Michael Laudati, Richard Marin, Peter Montagna, Collier Strong, Jay Cannistraci, Sharon Kalb
Production Management	Chris Brigham, Scott Hornbacher, Helene Mulholland, Denise Pinckley
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	Robert C. Albertell, Joan G. Bostwick, Allison Rustin Dillard, Michael Haley, Kellie JoTackett, Helen Rella
Art Department	Harold Collins, Peter Damien, John R. Ford, Jeffrey L. Glave, Robert Griffon Jr., Erik Knight, John McDonnell, Carlos Menéndez, Joseph Proscia, Raymond M. Samitz, Loren Weeks, Nancy Winters, Andrew Baseman, Peter DeCurtis, James Donahue, Christopher Doogan, Warren Drummond, Stephen I. Erdberg, Michael Herlihy, Richard E. Kruder, Todd MacNicholl, Christine Moosher, John Nyomarkay, Malcolm Reid, Fred Schwendel, Roger Sherman, Cheryl Stewart, Cary Whittaker
Sound Department	Randle Akerson, Michael J. Benavente, Sandy Berman, David Boulton, David Burk, Kevin E. Carpenter, Gloria D Alessandro, Patrick J. Foley, Anthony Franco, Meredith Gold, Michael Herbick, Hilda Hodges, Nicholas Korda, Toussaint Kotright, Les Lazarowitz, Kelly Mahan-Jaramillo, Kathleen McCart, Tom Nelson, Josephine Nericcio, Thomas J. O Connell, Mark Pappas, Neil Riha, Gary Ritchie, John Roesch, Gregory H. Watkins, David A. Whittaker, Robb Wilson, Gary Wright, Marilyn Graf, Mike Schmidt
Special Effects by	Mark Bero, Wilfred Caban, Kevin Harris, Steven Kirshoff, Durk Tyndall
Visual Effects by	Randall Balsmeyer, Daniel Leung, Matt McDonald
Stunts	Bill Anagnos, Daniel W. Barringer, Paul Bucossi, Vic Bucossi, Keith Campbell, James M. Churchman, Douglas Crosby, Norman Douglass, Roy Farfel, Frank Ferrara, Ralph Ferrara, Nicholas J. Giangiulio, Tony Guida, Don Hewitt, Donald John Hewitt, Jack Lotz, Steve Mack, Artie Malesci, Charles Page, Don Picard, Michael Russo, Steve Santosusso, Manny Siverio, John Zimmerman, Peter Bucossi
Camera and Electrical Department	Tom Anderson, Patrick Capone, Phillip V. Caruso, Andrew Casey, Michael Finnerty, Brian Fitzsimons, Dennis Gamiello, Arturo García, Carlos Omar Guerra, Lukasz Jogalla, Nils Johnson, Marvin Lee, Edward W. Lowry, Scot A. Nederman-Paul, Neal Norton, Douglas Pellegrino, Patrick Quinn, Scott H. Ramsey, Leigh Rathner, Kyle Rudolph, Gerard Sava, Mark Schwentner, Brian L. Williams, Joe Collins, Jon Delgado, James J. Ferris, Ray Flynn, Timothy Healy, Michael J. Maurer, Jason Micallef, Erik Miles, Tod Olivieri, Silvio Riff Romanello
Casting Department	Terri Douglas, Ali Farrell, Amanda Koblin
Costume and Wardrobe Department	Denise Andres, Lynette Bernay, Joanna Brett, Julia S. Bubis, Ellen Falguiere, Sandi Figueroa, Barbara Hause, Heather Holmes, Emily Loreto, Fionnuala M. Lynch, Marcie Olivi, Elizabeth Shelton, Debra Tennenbaum, Emae Villalobos, Monica Ruiz-Ziegler
Editorial Department	Chris Boscardin, Lin Coleman, Kristin Eaton, Dale E. Grahn, Penny Lee Hallin, Mo Henry, Sorin Ariel Iarovici, Michael Matzdorff, Stephen M. Rickert Jr., David Young, Bill Daly
Location Management	Maria K. Chavez, Paul Kramer, Michael Stricks, Kitty Terry, Dave Knight, David Ray Martin, Jonathan Roumie, Marce Sterner
Music Department	Homer Denison, Jennifer L. Dunnington, Dan Evans Farkas, John Kurlander, Ryan Shore, Susan Shufro, Tony Terran, Tom Brown, Robert Cotnoir, George Doering, Daniel Gold, Jim Hoffman, John Moses, James Thatcher
Script and Continuity Department	Robin Squibb, Barry Fanaro, George Gallo, Mort Nathan, Phoef Sutton
Transportation Department	Richard Holston, Michael Hyde, Vince Pecora, Jon Bergholz
Additional Crew	Justin Bartha, Beau Bauman, Richard Bronskill, Gretchen Bryan, Al Cerullo, Judith Cervenka, Robin Chambers, K.C. Colebrooke, Jennifer Crammer, Robyn J. Davis, Alex Edlin, Stan Eutsey, Betsy Friedman, Ralph Gonzalez, Samantha Goodowens, Justin Goudreau, Steven J. Granik, Larry Kaplan, Caroline Kim, Jamie Klingler, Linda Labov, Nancy Lefkowitz, Adam Leichtman, Brian Marcus, Justin Marx, Michelle May, Greyson Miller, Debra Mintz, Holly Payberg-Torroija, Maria Peitersz, Mike Phillips, David Price, Don Reinzo, Olimpia T. Rinaldi, Amy Rosenfeld, Matt Rovner, Holly S. Rymon, Scott Schaeffer, Brian M. Schwartz, Patrick Selts, Chris Sharp, Ian Shive, Carol Sidlow, Andrew Maurice Smith, Jason Sosnoff, Kristen Swanson, Brenda Ventura, Laurel A. Ward, Holly Watson, Howard Young, Mikki Ziska, Debbie Acton, Johnny Egan, Lauren Gale, Steve Lee, Michael Mendelsohn, Timothy D. Orr, Jeffrey M. Werner, Tomoko Yamamoto, Howard Young
Thanks	Lee Lockwood, George Silk
Genres	Comedy, Crime
Companies	Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment, Baltimore Pictures
Countries	USA, Australia
Languages	English
ContentRating	R
ImDbRating	6.7
ImDbRatingVotes	156187
MetacriticRating	61
Keywords	sex scene,mafia boss,mob boss,sexual intercourse,mobster