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Trading Places
1983 116 min United States of America R 18+
★8.0
Comedy
Director: John Landis
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A snobbish investor and a wily street con-artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.
Budget:
$15M
US Gross:
$90.4M
Worldwide:
$90.4M
Starring
Eddie Murphy
Actor
Dan Aykroyd
Actor
Ralph Bellamy
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 1984
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 1984
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1984
— Best Song Recording or Musical Adaptation
BAFTA 1984
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 1984
— Best Original Screenplay
BAFTA 1984
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
Trading Places is widely regarded as a classic 80s comedy that effectively blends social satire with farcical humor. While most critics praise its strong ensemble cast and thematic critique of wealth, opinions are divided on the film's narrative logic and the aging of its humor.
| Acting | Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd anchor the film with charismatic performances that defined their early careers. | |
| Direction | John Landis successfully balances sharp social satire regarding aristocratic entitlement with accessible, high-energy comedy. | |
| Acting | The supporting cast, particularly Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, and Denholm Elliott, provides a crucial, high-quality foundation for the lead actors. | |
| Theme | The film's satirical premise remains highly relevant for its critique of greed and the dehumanizing nature of the wealthy elite. | |
| Screenplay | The plot's narrative structure—specifically the believability of the characters' rapid life transformations—divides viewers, with some finding it a clever fairy tale and others finding it implausible or thin. | |
| Humor | While many find the humor timeless and iconic, some viewers perceive the comedy as clunky, dated, or occasionally relying on predictable slapstick tropes. |