Zelig poster

Zelig

You wanted more when it was all over!

7.4(946)19831h 19m3

Fictional documentary about the life of human chameleon Leonard Zelig, a man who becomes a celebrity in the 1920s due to his ability to look and act like whoever is around him. Clever editing places Zelig in real newsreel footage of Woodrow Wilson, Babe Ruth, and others.

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Status
Released
Budget
$13.5M
Box office
$11.8M
Language
English
  • great depression
  • celebrity
  • mockumentary
  • chameleon
  • psychiatrist
  • found footage
  • newsreel footage
  • electroconvulsive therapy
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • historical images
  • mocking

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Woody Allen

Produced in

United States of America

Gallery

Still from ZeligStill from ZeligStill from ZeligStill from ZeligStill from ZeligStill from ZeligStill from Zelig

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • TheatricalPG15 Jul 1983
  • United KingdomGB

    • TheatricalPG6 Oct 1983
  • AustraliaAU

    • Theatrical28 Sept 1983
  • ArgentinaAR

    • Theatrical24 Aug 1983
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical24 Aug 1983
    • PhysicalLDVD12 Aug 2005
  • FranceFR

    • Theatrical13 Sept 1983
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1230 Sept 1983
  • ItalyIT

    • PremiereVenice Film Festival3 Sept 1983
    • Theatrical23 Sept 1983
  • NetherlandsNL

    • TheatricalAL8 Dec 1983
    • PhysicalALDVD10 Oct 2007
    • PhysicalALBlu ray12 Dec 2016

Frequently asked questions

Zelig was released on 15 July 1983.

Audience reviews

3
  • L

    ltcomdata

    2/26/2014

    6/10

    A charming mockumentary about a fictional 1920s personality filmed as if cobbled together from old black-and-white footage.

  • T

    tmdb28039023

    9/3/2022

    6/10

    Leonard Zelig is a "human chameleon," but Zelig the film doesn't stop at mimicry. Indeed, this fictional documentary written, directed, and starring Woody Allen differentiates between imitation and parody the same way Hitchcock differentiated between action and suspense. For example, the protagonist's parents used to punish him by locking him in a dark closet. If that were it, the film would simply be copying an a…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    6/21/2025

    6/10

    I suppose nowadays we would call this a “mockumentary” about a chap who can be all things to all men except, perhaps, himself. It’s told using interviews, news reports and other actuality to regale us with the life and times of this man who somehow managed to infiltrate just about every scenario, strata of society and political grouping whilst altering his appearance to attain a consistent prominence even though his …

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