The Dinner Game
A razor-sharp chamber comedy where cruelty meets karmic justice. Amidst the claustrophobic elegance of a Parisian apartment, intellectual arrogance is systematically dismantled by the chaotic, well-meaning innocence of a fool, proving that the real idiot is often the one casting the first stone.
The Dinner Game
The Dinner Game

Le Dîner de cons

"A feast for the senseless."

15 April 1998 France 80 min ⭐ 7.8 (2,015)
Director: Francis Veber
Cast: Jacques Villeret, Thierry Lhermitte, Francis Huster, Daniel Prévost, Alexandra Vandernoot
Comedy
The Subjectivity of Idiocy Cruelty and Karma Class and Intellectual Arrogance Unlikely Friendship and Solitude
Budget: $12,500,000
Box Office: $78,599,508

The Dinner Game - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

Il s'appelle Juste Leblanc.

— Pierre Brochant

Context:

Brochant tries to explain who is coming to visit. Pignon asks, "Ah bon, il n'a pas de prénom ?" (Oh, he doesn't have a first name?), thinking Brochant said "He is just Leblanc."

Meaning:

A linguistic masterpiece of confusion. Pignon thinks "Juste" is an adjective (meaning "just" or "only") rather than a first name, leading to an endless loop of misunderstanding.

Ah ! La boulette !

— François Pignon

Context:

uttered after he accidentally reveals the existence of the mistress to the wife, or commits other major gaffes.

Meaning:

Pignon's catchphrase of realization when he understands he has made a colossal mistake. It underscores his innocence—he never means harm, he just commits "blunders."

C'est un as !

— Pierre Brochant

Context:

Brochant is on the phone describing his "find" before Pignon arrives.

Meaning:

Brochant describes Pignon's level of idiocy to his friends. It highlights the dehumanizing way the elite view their "guests"—as champions in a sport of stupidity.

On a les droits ! On a les droits !

— François Pignon

Context:

After a phone call where Pignon pretends to be a producer to fool the wife but fails miserably by being too enthusiastic.

Meaning:

Pignon celebrates believing he has secured the film rights to a book, not realizing he has actually just destroyed Brochant's cover story to his wife.