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Year One

Year One is a 2009 American adventure comedy film directed by Harold Ramis.

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

Year One is a 2009 American adventure comedy film directed by Harold Ramis. It stars Jack Black and Michael Cera as prehistoric hunter-gatherers who are banished from their tribe and travel through a satirical version of biblical history. The film was written by Ramis, Gene Stupnitsky, and Lee Eisenberg.

Plot

The story follows Zed and Oh, two prehistoric hunter-gatherers who are exiled from their village. Their journey brings them into contact with biblical figures and leads them to the city of Sodom.

Production

Year One was directed by Harold Ramis, who also co-wrote and produced the film. Judd Apatow and Clayton Townsend are also credited as producers, and the screenplay was written with Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg.

Cast

Jack Black and Michael Cera play the lead roles, with supporting performances from Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Olivia Wilde, June Diane Raphael, Juno Temple, Bill Hader, and Hank Azaria.

Release

The film was released theatrically in the United States in June 2009 by Columbia Pictures. It is rated PG-13 and runs 97 minutes.

Key facts

  • Year One is a parody of the Book of Genesis and biblical stories.
  • The plot follows two Stone Age men who leave their tribe after being banished.
  • The film features an ensemble cast including Oliver Platt, David Cross, and others.
  • It was released in the United States on June 19, 2009.
  • The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed in Canada by Columbia Pictures alongside its North American release, and it is available to Canadian audiences through major streaming and rental platforms in the film ecosystem referenced by the supplied sources.[12][13]

Frequently asked questions

What is Year One about?
It follows two prehistoric men who are banished from their tribe and travel through a comic, biblical-era adventure.
Who directed Year One?
Harold Ramis directed the film.
Who stars in Year One?
The lead roles are played by Jack Black and Michael Cera.
When was Year One released?
It was released in the United States on June 19, 2009.
What genre is Year One?
It is an adventure comedy film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_One_(film)
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, producers, writers, cast, and plot overview.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045778/
    Supports: Release year, runtime, director, writers, cast, and plot summary.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/year_one
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, director, producers, release date, runtime, and box office information.
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70112729
    Supports: Film description, cast, and genre labeling for audience availability context.