Trading Places
Two men on opposite sides of Philadelphia's class divide become pawns in a wealthy brothers' wager and turn a social experiment into comic revenge.
Overview
A hilarious twist of fate turns two men's lives upside down in a comedic gamble.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- energetic
- christmas viewing
- new year's eve viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a highly entertaining, socially conscious screwball comedy updated for the 1980s, while noting that its satire stops short of fully challenging the financial system it mocks.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Duke brothers wager on whether heredity or environment determines success by exchanging Winthorpe's privileged life with Valentine's marginalized one.
The commodities brokerage and frozen orange juice market turn financial exploitation into the engine of the comedy and its revenge plot.
A wealthy broker loses his job and social standing while a street hustler is installed in his professional position.
Christmas parties, seasonal settings, and the New Year's Eve climax frame the class conflict as an irreverent holiday comedy.
Films like Trading Places, and why
My Man Godfrey
shares screwball comedy, social satire, class reversal, and sharp ensemble humor
Sullivan's Travels
shares screwball farce, economic inequality, and a satirical look at wealthy institutions
Easy Living
shares witty class satire, romantic complications, and an underdog navigating elite society
The Prince and the Pauper
shares fish out of water comedy, identity reversal, and fast-paced social humor
Movie Details
- Director
- John Landis
- Release Date
- 1983-06-07
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (3784)
Cast
- Dan Aykroyd
- Eddie Murphy
- Ralph Bellamy
- Don Ameche
- Denholm Elliott
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Paul Gleason
- Frank Oz
- Jim Belushi
- Kristin Holby
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Trading Places about?
- Two men on opposite sides of Philadelphia's class divide become pawns in a wealthy brothers' wager and turn a social experiment into comic revenge.
- What is Trading Places like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Trading Places as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Trading Places violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Trading Places as mild.
- What did critics think of Trading Places?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a highly entertaining, socially conscious screwball comedy updated for the 1980s, while noting that its satire stops short of fully challenging the financial system it mocks.
- Which films are like Trading Places?
- Films with a similar feel include My Man Godfrey, Sullivan's Travels, Easy Living, and The Prince and the Pauper.
- How long is Trading Places?
- Trading Places runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Trading Places?
- In United States, Trading Places streams on YouTube TV.
