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Entertainment • Film

Ricky Stanicky

Ricky Stanicky is a 2024 American comedy film co-written and directed by Peter Farrelly.

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

Ricky Stanicky is a 2024 American comedy film co-written and directed by Peter Farrelly. The film follows three childhood friends who invent a fake person named Ricky Stanicky as an alibi and then hire an actor to impersonate him when their deception is exposed. Starring Zac Efron and John Cena, it was released in March 2024.

Premise

The story begins with a childhood prank that leads three friends to invent Ricky Stanicky as a scapegoat. Over time, the fictional identity becomes a recurring excuse for their adult misbehavior.

Production

Ricky Stanicky was co-written and directed by Peter Farrelly, with a screenplay credited to Jeffrey Bushell, Brian Jarvis, and James Lee Freeman. The cast includes Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, Lex Scott Davis, Anja Savcic, Jeff Ross, William H. Macy, and John Cena.

Release

The film was released in March 2024 and is listed by sources as a Prime Video release in the United States. Some listings give a runtime of 112 minutes, while others list 108 minutes.

Reception

Reviews described the film as a broad R-rated comedy and noted John Cena’s performance prominently. Critical response sources discuss it mainly as a reunion with Peter Farrelly’s earlier style of comedy.

Key facts

  • The film centres on a fabricated friend used as a long-running cover story by three men.
  • When their families become suspicious, they recruit an actor to play the nonexistent Ricky Stanicky.
  • Peter Farrelly co-wrote and directed the film.
  • John Cena plays the actor hired to portray Ricky.
  • The film was released in 2024 and runs about 112 minutes.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed in Canada through the same 2024 international streaming release cycle as other Prime Video titles, making it accessible to Canadian viewers as a mainstream U.S. comedy.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ricky Stanicky?
It is a 2024 American comedy film about three friends who invent a fake person to cover their mistakes.
Who directed Ricky Stanicky?
Peter Farrelly directed the film.
Who stars in Ricky Stanicky?
The cast includes Zac Efron, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, Lex Scott Davis, Anja Savcic, Jeff Ross, William H. Macy, and John Cena.
When was Ricky Stanicky released?
It was released on 7 March 2024.
What is the plot about?
Three childhood friends keep using a made-up man, Ricky Stanicky, as an alibi until their families demand to meet him.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Stanicky
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, cast, release date, and premise.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1660648/
    Supports: Runtime, release date, director, cast, and synopsis.
  3. Google Play Movies — https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Ricky_Stanicky?id=986mmof8ubc.P&hl=en_US
    Supports: Synopsis, runtime, cast, and release context.
  4. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/ricky-stanicky/umc.cmc.56hnzrawczf6k4gbbk1snrt4h
    Supports: Film identification, runtime, cast, and director.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ricky-stanicky-review-2024
    Supports: Plot description and release context.
  6. Variety — https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/ricky-stanicky-review-john-cena-zac-efron-1235931830/
    Supports: Plot summary and critical commentary.