Overview
A séance leads to a tangled web of greed and deception, where the past haunts the present.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- macabre
- playful
- classic movie night
- rainy evening
What critics said
Critics broadly admired Hitchcock's precise suspense construction, atmospheric craft, intricate mystery plotting, and unusually cheerful macabre comedy, though some found the humor and conclusion uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The kidnapping and murder plot is presented through witty banter, relaxed performances, and deliberately playful tension.
Julia Rainbird's promised fortune and the search for her missing nephew connect Blanche and George's investigation to Arthur and Fran's ransom scheme.
Blanche and George's search runs alongside Arthur and Fran's kidnappings before the two lines of action intersect.
The film emphasizes meticulous construction, detail work, atmospheric pacing, and tightening narrative tension over explicit violence.
Films like Family Plot, and why
The Trouble with Harry
macabre comedy, intricate mystery plotting, and playful suspense
The Lady Vanishes
crime thriller structure blended with dark humor and carefully orchestrated suspense
Charade
witty caper tone, criminal schemes, and escalating comic danger
The Long Goodbye
neo-noir mystery, deception, and amused distrust of criminal motives
Movie Details
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Release Date
- 1976-04-09
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (523)
Cast
- Barbara Harris
- Bruce Dern
- Karen Black
- William Devane
- Ed Lauter
- Cathleen Nesbitt
- Katherine Helmond
- Warren J. Kemmerling
- Edith Atwater
- William Prince
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Family Plot about?
- A reckless fake medium and her cab-driving boyfriend pursue a missing heir while crossing paths with jewel-stealing kidnappers in Hitchcock's witty final mystery caper.
- What is Family Plot like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Family Plot as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Family Plot violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Family Plot as mild.
- What did critics think of Family Plot?
- Critics broadly admired Hitchcock's precise suspense construction, atmospheric craft, intricate mystery plotting, and unusually cheerful macabre comedy, though some found the humor and conclusion uneven.
- Which films are like Family Plot?
- Films with a similar feel include The Trouble with Harry, The Lady Vanishes, Charade, and The Long Goodbye.
- How long is Family Plot?
- Family Plot runs 120 minutes.
- Where can I watch Family Plot?
- In United States, Family Plot is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
