Cast & creatives
People behind the production
The Odd Couple is a landmark 1968 American comedy film directed by Gene Saks, adapted from Neil Simon's famed 1965 Broadway play. Starring Jack Lemmon as Felix Ungar and Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison, the movie pairs sharp wit with warm heart, backed by a memorable score from Neal Hefti. A box office favorite, it was the third highest-grossing film of 1968 in the United States and earned Academy Award nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The film later inspired a long-running television series in the 1970s and spawned a sequel, The Odd Couple II, in 1998. While the film is a classic, there are now numerous live stage productions of The Odd Couple (the play) across regional theatres in 2025, providing fresh interpretations for new audiences. Here’s what to know about the film, its legacy, and where you can catch related stage appearances as they tour nearby.