Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story * A Brother’s Betrayal; True Crime
Friday, September 18th, 2026
At the height of his career, Dane Cook wasn’t just selling out arenas, he was redefining what a stand-up comedian could be. Then, in a shocking betrayal, the person he trusted most stole multi-millions of dollars, forever changing his life. Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story is a gripping documentary about fame, family, greed, and survival, revealing the extraordinary true story behind one of comedy’s biggest icons.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Valerie M. comments, “Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story is a gripping documentary with an amazing directorial vision and a compelling story, it’s a must watch for anyone who loves true crime.” Gavin S. adds, “The documentary shows both Dane’s success and the difficult experiences that he has gone through. It makes his story feel personal and meaningful. The film’s message serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest threats come from the people closest to us, but they still can’t take away our inner strength.” See their full reviews below.
Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story
By Valerie M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic age 13
https://youtu.be/3pXj3Hs9Xeo
Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story is a gripping documentary with an amazing directorial vision and a compelling story, it’s a must watch for anyone who loves true crime.
The storyline follows Dane Cook, one of the most popular comedians of the 2000s, as he reveals the story of how his half-brother, Darryl Cook, tried to steal all of his money. We see Dane react to new evidence and documents as well as statements from Dane and Darryl’s friends and family.
Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story is an interesting watch. The editing has a very unique style, almost like a scrapbook or evidence log intertwined with interview shots combined with background music that sets the mood. It creates a setup using narration, bits from interviews, and visuals. The story kept me guessing even though I know how it is going to end—I still found that combining all the various aspects of the story created an amazing experience! My favorite part is the people. Each interviewee brings unique energy, flair, and personality, making them entertaining to watch. Even though they are interviewed separately, the family and friends often sound like they are having an argument. I was fascinated by their reactions to seeing new court documents and evidence, as well as learning surprising details about people they had previously misjudged.
Watching it all click into place on screen was interesting. Although I really enjoyed this documentary, a few noticeable flaws hold it back. The opening scene and conclusion drag on longer than necessary, and a few jokes fall flat. However, these are minor flaws in an otherwise great documentary that I highly recommend.
The film’s core message is clear: trust no one, not even family. As Dane Cook puts it, ‘Sign your own checks.’ Note that there is a lot of profanity, discussions of theft and a few mentions of violence.
I give Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It releases on VOD and digital platforms on September 29, 2026.
Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story
By Gavin S, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 15
I enjoyed Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story. The documentary shows both Dane’s success and the difficult experiences that he has gone through. It makes his story feel personal and meaningful.
The storyline mainly focuses on what happened between Dane Cook and his half-brother, Darryl. As Dane’s career took off, he gave Darryl control over his finances and trusted him to manage an important part of his life. The film also looks at Dane’s childhood, his rise to fame, and Darryl’s personal life which adds context to the story.
The film gives us an overview of who Dane Cook is, looking at his early years, his interaction with his family, his love of comedy from an early age, and his relationship with his half-brother, Darryl, who betrays him. One of the strongest parts is seeing how much Dane trusted Darryl before that trust was broken. It makes his betrayal feel even more personal because Darryl is not just someone Dane works with, but someone who is part of his family. I enjoyed watching the old videos of Dane as a kid because they show how much he has always enjoyed comedy. His rise after Harmful If Swallowed is interesting to watch and we see how, as his career grows, his personal life becomes more difficult. His mother’s cancer and his father’s death boost his motivation to succeed. These personal stories work well because they show us who Dane is and how hurtful his difficulties with Darryl were. I also think showing scenes from Darryl’s life and his relationship with his wife helps us see Dane and the people in his life from different sides. Even though the documentary doesn’t delve deeply into Dane’s emotions, it makes us feel the betrayal in a very personal way.
The film’s message serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest threats come from the people closest to us, but they still can’t take away our inner strength. Be aware that there is a lot of profanity throughout the documentary, including plenty of F-bombs.
I give Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The film releases on VOD and leading digital platforms on September 29, 2026.
