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Meet the Parents is a 2000 American comedy film written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg and directed by Jay Roach. Starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller (pictured), the film chronicles a series of unfortunate events that befall a good-hearted but hapless male nurse while visiting his girlfriend's parents. Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Owen Wilson also star. Meet the Parents is a remake of a 1992 film of the same name that Universal Studios purchased the rights to. Jim Herzfeld expanded the original script but development stalled. Jay Roach read the expanded script and asked to direct the film but Universal declined. At that time, Steven Spielberg was interested in directing the film while Jim Carrey was interested in playing the lead role. The studio offered the film to Roach once Spielberg and Carrey left the project. Released in the United States and Canada on October 6, 2000 and distributed by Universal Studios, the film recouped its initial $55 million budget in eleven days. It became one of the highest grossing films of 2000, earning over $160 million in North America and over $330 million worldwide. Meet the Parents received several awards and nominations. Ben Stiller won two comedy awards for his performance and the film was chosen as the Favorite Comedy Motion Picture at the 2001 People's Choice Awards. Meet the Parents inspired the film sequels Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers as well as a reality television show titled Meet My Folks and a situation comedy titled In-Laws.