Please Don’t Destroy Movie: Worth Watching

The Please Don’t Destroy trio built their following on absurdist digital sketches, so their jump to a feature-length comedy on Peacock raised eyebrows. Released in 2023, Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain pairs them with John Goodman’s narration and a Judd Apatow production credit.

Release year: 2023 ·
Director: Paul Briganti ·
Producer: Judd Apatow ·
Main cast: Ben Marshall, John Higgins, Martin Herlihy ·
Narrator: John Goodman

Key facts at a glance

Six data points, one pattern: a low-budget comedy that bypassed theaters but found an audience.

Is Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain worth watching?

What is the critical reception?

Critics are split. On Metacritic (review aggregator), the film holds a score of 49 out of 100, labeled “Mixed or Average” based on 13 reviews. Rotten Tomatoes (critic consensus) shows a 42% critics score from 31 reviews, with an average rating of 5.6/10. That places it firmly in the divisive zone.

What do audiences say?

Viewer response skews more positive. Flicks (audience aggregator) reports an 89% audience score, while Apple TV (streaming platform) shows 5.6 out of 10 from 33 ratings, with 14 fresh and 19 rotten. The gap between critics and audiences suggests the humor either clicks or doesn’t.

What is the plot?

The story follows three friends who work at a wilderness store and discover a treasure map, leading to a chaotic hunt for gold. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) calls it a “buddy comedy” with a straightforward premise.

Where can I watch Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain?

Is it streaming on Peacock?

Yes — it’s a Peacock original, released on the platform on November 17, 2023, per The Numbers (box office tracker).

Is it available on Netflix?

No. The film is not listed on Netflix.

Can I rent or buy it on Amazon Prime Video?

Yes. Box Office Mojo (box office database) confirms the film is available for rental and purchase on Prime Video.

How much did Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain make at the box office?

Was it a theatrical release?

Partly. While the film debuted on Peacock, it also had a limited theatrical release beginning August 18, 2023. Box Office Mojo reports a worldwide gross of $14,582. The Numbers (box office tracker) lists the international portion at $14,573, with releases in Germany, Australia, Italy, Japan, and Brazil.

What was the box office gross?

The combined worldwide figure stands at $14,582. Given the streaming-first strategy, the theatrical run was modest — likely not the primary revenue driver.

Where was Don’t Destroy the Treasure of Foggy Mountain filmed?

What are the filming locations?

Principal photography took place in multiple spots across New York and New Jersey. IMDb (production database) lists specific sites including hiking trails and forest areas that give the film its wilderness backdrop.

The implication: the film’s rural setting was achieved through authentic northeastern locations, not studio backlots.

Who is in the cast of Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain?

Who are the main actors?

The core trio — Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy — star as the bumbling friends. IMDb full cast (filmography database) also lists supporting roles: Megan Stalter as Lisa, X Mayo as Taylor, Nichole Sakura as Amy, Cedric Yarbrough as Gates, Chloe Troast as Poppy, and Sunita Mani as Tricia. Conan O’Brien appears as Farley, Bowen Yang plays Deetch Nordwind, and Gaten Matarazzo makes a cameo as himself.

Who is the narrator?

John Goodman voices the narrator, adding gravitas to the comedic adventure, per IMDb.

The pattern: a stacked supporting cast of SNL-adjacent comedians underlines the film’s sketch-comedy pedigree.

Upsides & Downsides

Confirmed facts & What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• The film was released in 2023 (IMDb)
• It is a Peacock original (The Numbers)
• The main cast is the Please Don’t Destroy trio (IMDb)

What’s unclear

• Exact box office figures across all streaming platforms
• Availability in certain international regions beyond the listed countries
• Whether the rumored “inappropriate dog movie” reference in the film is based on a real film

What viewers and critics are saying

“Probably one of the unfunniest comedies I’ve ever seen.”

— Reddit user in r/movies

“The film is a streaming hit despite its weak Rotten Tomatoes critic score.”

— MSN (entertainment news)

The verdict: Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain isn’t trying to be an awards contender. It’s a digital-skit-writ-large, made for fans who already love the trio’s style. For that audience, the 89% audience score and streaming success make it a clear choice. For everyone else, the middling critic scores and thin plot suggest sampling it with low expectations — or skipping it altogether.

Frequently asked questions