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An American Pickle

An American Pickle is a 2020 American comedy-drama film directed by Brandon Trost and written by Simon Rich, based on Rich’s 2013 short story "Sell Out." It stars Seth Rogen in a dual role as an immigrant worker preserved in pickle brine for 100 years and his modern-day descendant.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

An American Pickle is a 2020 American comedy-drama film directed by Brandon Trost and written by Simon Rich, based on Rich's 2013 short story "Sell Out." It stars Seth Rogen in a dual role as an immigrant worker preserved in pickle brine for 100 years and his modern-day descendant. The film was released in 2020 with a runtime of approximately 1 hour 28 minutes.

Premise

The film centres on Herschel Greenbaum, a Jewish immigrant who falls into a vat of pickle brine and is preserved for a century. He awakens in contemporary New York City and tries to reconnect with the only surviving descendant he can find.

Production

An American Pickle was directed by Brandon Trost from a screenplay by Simon Rich, adapted from his short story "Sell Out." Seth Rogen also served as a producer alongside Evan Goldberg.

Cast

Seth Rogen plays both Herschel Greenbaum and his great-grandson Ben Greenbaum. The cast also includes Sarah Snook and other supporting performers.

Release

The film was released in 2020 and has a runtime of 1 hour 28 minutes. It was distributed as a streaming film and carries a PG-13 rating.

Key facts

  • The film is Brandon Trost’s solo directorial debut.
  • Seth Rogen plays both Herschel Greenbaum and Ben Greenbaum.
  • The story follows a Jewish immigrant who is preserved in pickle brine for 100 years and wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn.
  • It is adapted from Simon Rich’s New Yorker short story "Sell Out."
  • The film was released in 2020 and is rated PG-13.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally on major streaming platforms and is available to Canadian audiences through Canadian streaming services and digital storefronts.

Frequently asked questions

What is An American Pickle about?
It follows a Jewish immigrant who is preserved in pickle brine for 100 years and wakes up in modern-day New York, where he meets his descendant.
Who directed An American Pickle?
Brandon Trost directed the film.
Who wrote An American Pickle?
Simon Rich wrote the screenplay, adapting his own short story "Sell Out."
Who stars in An American Pickle?
Seth Rogen stars in a dual role as Herschel Greenbaum and Ben Greenbaum.
When was An American Pickle released?
The film was released in 2020.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_American_Pickle
    Supports: Director, year, premise, cast, and source short-story adaptation.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/an_american_pickle
    Supports: Director, producer, screenwriter, rating, runtime, genre, and synopsis.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/an-american-pickle/umc.cmc.5f9412ic9x75351vx1g1zrtan
    Supports: Adaptation from Simon Rich’s 2013 story, premise, characters, release year, and runtime.
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81296767
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, cast, and release year.