Trading Places

"They're not just getting rich... They're getting even."

1983 1h 56m EN

👍

7.2

SOLID

🍅

87%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

7.5

IMDB

★7.2TMDB · 3,805🍅87%Rotten Tomatoes●69Metacritic★7.5IMDB · 176,670

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A snobbish investor and a wily street con-artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.

“They're not just getting rich... They're getting even.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

YouTube TVSubscription

JustWatch TVRent

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

YouTubeRent

Fandango At HomeRent

Spectrum On DemandRent

PlexRent

Amazon VideoBuy

Apple TV StoreBuy

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Dan Aykroyd
Louis Winthorpe III
Eddie Murphy
Billy Ray Valentine
Ralph Bellamy
Randolph Duke
Don Ameche
Mortimer Duke
Denholm Elliott
Coleman
Jamie Lee Curtis
Ophelia
Paul Gleason
Clarence Beeks
Frank Oz
Corrupt Cop

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Landis
Writers: Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 6.0× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Landis, shot by Robert Paynter. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Elmer Bernstein. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Malcolm Campbell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy and Ralph Bellamy carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They're not just getting rich... They're getting even.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0086465 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Landis directs. Robert Paynter behind the camera. Elmer Bernstein scores. Malcolm Campbell cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 6.0× over at the box office.
243 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by John Landis, shot by Robert Paynter. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Elmer Bernstein. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Malcolm Campbell shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy and Ralph Bellamy carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "They're not just getting rich... They're getting even.".
8IMDB entry: tt0086465 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 30 themes, including "new year's eve", "prostitute", "philadelphia, pennsylvania", "butler".

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Paynter
Original score: Elmer Bernstein
Editing: Malcolm Campbell
Production design: Gene Rudolf
Costume design: Deborah Nadoolman Landis
Makeup / hair: Frank Bianco
Sound: Don Digirolamo
Runtime: 116 min · 1h 56m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $15,000,000
Box office: $90,404,800
Return: 603% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Trading Places (1983)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 69/100
IMDB rating: 7.5/10 · 176,670 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 3 wins & 8 nominations total

Also by

John Landis

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2018-12-23
★ 8/10
The Prince and the Pauper with Eddie & Dan on sparkling form. Mortimer & Randolph Duke are two repugnantly rich brothers, they make a bet that sees the role reversal of top toff yuppie, Louis Winthorpe, and wise cracking street hustler bum, Billy Ray Valentine. That's about the strength of the films plot, yet it makes for a very funny film that crackles with glee due to it's excellently written script. Watching the respective characters rise and fall respectively creates laughs aplenty whilst asking the question of how we all would cope in similar circumstances? Sure the film does beat one over the head with its social message, we are in no doubt from the off about the gap between the rich and the poor, and yes the colour of a persons skin also rears its ugly head here to make this one of the more braver comedies of the 80s. Billy Ray Valentine (a brilliant dual performance from Eddie Murphy) is elevated up the social ladder, he becomes a force in industry, but as the progression enthrals him it also makes him aware that the things at the top end of the ladder aren't exactly stand up doings. Winthorpe (a perfectly casted Dan Ackroyd) drops further down the social ladder and resorts to behaviour that nobody from the upper echelons could ever have dreamed he would be capable of - it's only an encounter with prostitute Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis at the peak of her sexiness), and her good heart, that starts to see an upturn in his now dead bottom fortunes. The gags come thick and fast, both verbally (Murphy on fire) and visually, as the film sees the whole cast fusing together to create a cracking comedy. Come the denouement on Wall Street we are privy to a joyous and savage turn of events that ice the clever Christmas cake we have just digested. It does have an 80s sheen about it, and viewing now in post 9/11 times it's got a tint of nostalgia value to it, but really it's all about the script, the stars and a kick in the eye for those who think nothing of treading on the people below them, enjoy. 8/10
JPV8522020-11-26
★ 8/10
Seen this one numerous times over the years, not quite a laugh-out-loud riot or anything but still pretty funny throughout with great performances all around. Although their screen time together was mostly limited to the last 30-minutes, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy were great as were Denholm Elliott and Jamie Lee Curtis (hot as hell). Also appreciate Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche as the pompous and terrible villains. 4.0/5
Peter89Spencer2020-12-29
★ 8/10
Is it offensive? Very much. Is it worth watching? Absolutely. Is it funny as hell? Hell yeah! This classic OUTRAGEOUS comedy caper is the perfect holiday film to watch in between Christmas and New Year's Eve.