In the mid-1990s, Seinfeld was the undisputed king of television. But at the peak of its popularity, co-creator Larry David decided to walk away. His reason? He wanted to try something new: write and direct a feature film. That movie, Sour Grapes, turned out to be a critical disaster—so much so that legendary critic Roger Ebert called it one of the least enjoyable films he'd ever seen.
Why Larry David Left Seinfeld
After seven seasons as showrunner and writer of iconic episodes like "The Contest" and "The Puffy Shirt," David left Seinfeld in 1996 while the show was still at its peak. In an interview with Charlie Rose, he explained it wasn't burnout—he simply felt ready for a new challenge. That challenge became Sour Grapes, a comedy about two cousins who fall out over a gambling win.
The Movie That Roger Ebert Despised
Sour Grapes stars Steven Weber and Craig Bierko as cousins Evan and Richie. After Richie borrows a quarter from Evan and wins nearly half a million dollars, the two argue over how to split the money. The film earned just $123,000 worldwide and holds a 27% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found it unfunny and offensive, with jokes about cancer, race, and auto-fellatio.
Roger Ebert's review was particularly brutal. Writing in the Chicago Sun-Times, he gave the film a simple thumbs down and wrote: "'Sour Grapes' is a comedy about things that aren't funny." He added that the film was "tone-deaf comedy" and concluded with a devastating line: "I can't easily remember a film I've enjoyed less."
David's Subtle Revenge on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Though David never publicly addressed the film's failure, he embedded several Sour Grapes Easter eggs in Curb Your Enthusiasm. A poster for the film hangs in his office in the pilot, and in one episode, a friend borrows a copy and calls it "the perfect length." In Season 3, David even got a bit of revenge by having his character accidentally injure a food critic who gives thumbs-up or thumbs-down ratings.
Despite its flaws, Sour Grapes is worth a look for fans of Larry David. It's a bold, ambitious attempt to tell a story about greed and family, even if the jokes don't always land. For those curious about the era's misfires, check out our list of 6 Terrible '90s Sci-Fi Movies That Are Painful to Watch.
Ultimately, David's gamble didn't pay off at the box office, but it paved the way for his later masterpiece, Curb Your Enthusiasm. And as any fan knows, sometimes the best comedy comes from the biggest failures.
