You know the scene. The hair gel. It is 1998, and Ben Stiller is screaming in a bathroom while Cameron Diaz looks on with the most oblivious, charming smile in cinema history. If you're looking for where to watch There's Something About Mary, you probably just had a random flashback to that exact moment. Or maybe the dog in the body cast? Regardless, tracking down 90s classics in the current streaming era is weirdly harder than it used to be.
Everything is fragmented. One day a movie is on Netflix; the next, it’s vanished into the Disney vault or buried under a pile of prestige dramas on Max.
Currently, if you want to see Ted's disastrous prom night in high definition, your best bet is Hulu or Disney+. Because Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, most of the Farrelly brothers' catalog has migrated to their ecosystem. If you have the Disney Bundle, you’re basically set. Just search the title and pray you don't have to deal with a buffering wheel right as Puffy the dog gets into trouble.
The Streaming Shuffle: Why It Keeps Moving
Streaming rights are basically a game of legal musical chairs. You'd think a massive hit like this would just stay put, but contracts expire.
If you aren't a subscriber to the "House of Mouse" platforms, you aren't totally out of luck. You can still go the old-school digital route. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play all offer the film for digital rental or purchase. Usually, a rental will set you back about $3.99. Buying it is often around $14.99, which feels steep until you realize how many times you'll probably want to rewatch the "franks and beans" scene when you're bored on a Tuesday night.
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Let's talk about the "Extended' vs "Theatrical" versions. This is where people get tripped up.
Most streaming platforms default to the theatrical cut. It’s tight. It’s 119 minutes of pure chaos. However, some digital storefronts include the "Special Delivery" extended version. It adds about 11 minutes of footage. Honestly? The theatrical cut is better. The pacing in the original release is why it became a cultural phenomenon. More isn't always merrier when it comes to gross-out comedy timing.
International Viewing and VPNs
If you are reading this from outside the United States, your options change instantly. In the UK or Canada, it’s almost exclusively on Disney+ under the "Star" banner. If you're traveling and find your home library blocked, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the standard workaround. By setting your location to the US or UK, you can usually bypass those annoying "not available in your region" messages. It's a bit of a hassle, but it works.
Why This Movie Still Holds Up (And Why It Doesn't)
Rewatching it now is an experience. It’s a time capsule of a very specific era of comedy. 1998 was a year where you could build an entire plot around a guy stalking a woman and have it be "heartfelt."
Ben Stiller plays Ted as a pathetic but well-meaning loser. Matt Dillon is a slimeball. Chris Elliott is... well, Chris Elliott. The chemistry works because everyone is playing it completely straight while the situations are absolutely absurd.
- The Hair Gel: It was improvised? No, but the studio was terrified of it. They thought audiences would be too disgusted. They were wrong.
- The Casting: Actually, NFL star Brett Favre wasn't the first choice for the "third guy" role. They wanted Drew Bledsoe. He turned it down.
- The Tone: It’s a "gross-out" movie with a heart of gold. That’s the Farrelly secret sauce.
But man, some of the jokes have aged like milk. There are bits about mental health and stalking that would never make it past a table read in 2026. You have to watch it through a "90s lens" or you're going to spend half the movie cringing. If you can handle the era-specific insensitivity, the physical comedy is still top-tier.
Physical Media: The Last Resort for Purists
If you're tired of checking where to watch There's Something About Mary every six months because the licenses changed again, just buy the Blu-ray.
I know, I know. Nobody wants more plastic boxes. But the 20th Anniversary Edition is actually worth it. It’s got commentary tracks from the Farrelly brothers that explain exactly how they got away with some of those stunts. Plus, you get the "Build-Your-Own-Mary" featurette which is a weirdly nostalgic trip through early DVD-era bonus content. You can find these for five bucks in bin at a thrift store or for ten dollars on eBay. It's cheaper than three rentals.
Your Action Plan for Watching Tonight
Stop scrolling through the "Recommended for You" section and just pull the trigger. Here is exactly how to get it on your screen in the next five minutes without getting scammed by those "Free Movie" sites that just want to give your laptop a virus.
- Check your existing subs: Open the search bar on your smart TV and type in the title. If you have Hulu or Disney+, it should pop up immediately.
- Verify the version: If you're renting, look at the runtime. 119 minutes is the theatrical gold standard. 130 minutes is the extended cut for the completionists.
- Check for "Free with Ads": Occasionally, services like Freevee or Pluto TV will host it for a month. It’s annoying to watch a comedy with commercial breaks, but it saves you four dollars.
- Audio Settings: If you have a soundbar, make sure your settings are dialed in. The soundtrack—especially the Jonathan Richman musical interludes—is half the charm of the movie.
Once you've got it pulled up, grab some popcorn and prepare for the most uncomfortable prom date in history. It’s a masterpiece of the genre, even with its wrinkles. Just don't try the hair gel trick at home. Seriously. It doesn't work that way.