The Jerk is the 1979 rags-to-riches-to-rags comedy film of belated self-discovery. This was Steve Martin's first starring role in a feature film. The film also features Bernadette Peters, M. Emmet Walsh and Jackie Mason.
In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted The Jerk the 48th greatest comedy film of all time.
This film is number 20 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies", and number 89 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs.
Navin is an idiot. Hew grew up in Mississippi as adopted son of a black family. But at his 18th birthday he feels he wants to discover the rest of the world and sets out to St. Louis... Everyone exploits his naivety, but then a simple invention brings him a fortune. Written by Tom Zoerner
