Send us some fan mail! Steve Martin's breakthrough comedy masterpiece The Jerk (1979) remains a testament to the power of pure, unfiltered comedic brilliance. Released at the tail end of the 1970s and grossing over $100 million on a modest $4 million budget, this film helped define an era of comedy while launching Martin from stand-up sensation to Hollywood star. What makes The Jerk so enduringly funny? Perhaps it's the perfect marriage between Martin's physical comedy genius and the film's ...