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Ruthless People
1986 94 min United States of America R 18+
★7.6
Comedy
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Trailers
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Description
Sam Stone hates his wife Barbara so much that he wants her dead. He's ecstatic when she's taken by a duo of kidnappers who want $500,000 ransom in exchange for her life. Fully intending to ignore every one of the kidnappers' demands in the hopes that they do him a favor and murder her for him, the two confused kidnappers have to figure out how they're going get their money, and what they're going to do with the overbearing Barbara.
Budget:
$11M
US Gross:
$71.62M
Worldwide:
$71.6M
Starring
Bette Midler
Actor
Danny DeVito
Actor
Judge Reinhold
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1987
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Ruthless People is widely regarded as a classic 80s comedy that showcases the masterful comedic direction of the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker trio. While some debate the effectiveness of its humor, the film is consistently praised for its energetic pacing, inventive plot, and standout lead performances.
| Acting | Danny DeVito and Bette Midler deliver career-best, wildly expressive performances that anchor the film's chaotic energy. | |
| Direction | The ZAZ team delivers a confident, distinctively energetic style that defines the 80s comedy aesthetic and elevates the material. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is celebrated for its intricate, cleverly layered plot that keeps viewers engaged through a series of intersecting deceits and humorous twists. | |
| Ending | The ending is frequently highlighted as one of the freshest and most joyful resolutions in American cinema. | |
| Humor | Opinions on the humor are divided; while most find it to be top-tier, laugh-inducing, and quotable, some viewers feel it lacks genuine wit or fails to land consistently. |