Down and Out in Beverly Hills
A homeless stranger's rescue by a wealthy Beverly Hills family turns their polished domestic life into a hilarious reckoning with privilege, desire, and unhappiness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- sardonic
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an enjoyable, sharply observed farce elevated by strong performances and intelligent social satire.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jerry Baskin's arrival destabilizes the Whitemans' wealthy Beverly Hills routines and reveals their unhappiness.
The film contrasts the Whitemans' abundance, leisure classes, and domestic privilege with Jerry's homelessness and hunger.
Dave rescues Jerry from the swimming pool and invites him into the family home, triggering shifts in every relationship.
Suicidal despair, sexuality confusion, infidelity, and eating disorders are embedded within an energetic farce about family dissatisfaction.
Films like Down and Out in Beverly Hills, and why
Boudu Saved from Drowning
shared fish out of water farce, class satire, and dysfunctional family comedy
The Ice Storm
shared affluent-family satire, marital dysfunction, and sharp comedy of manners
Moscow on the Hudson
shared culture-clash comedy, outsider disruption, and warm social observation
Ruthless People
shared 1980s ensemble comedy, wealthy domestic dysfunction, and irreverent social satire
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Mazursky
- Release Date
- 1986-01-31
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (291)
Cast
- Nick Nolte
- Bette Midler
- Richard Dreyfuss
- Little Richard
- Tracy Nelson
- Elizabeth Peña
- Evan Richards
- Donald F. Muhich
- Paul Mazursky
- Valerie Curtin
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 Down and Out in Beverly Hills about?
- A homeless stranger's rescue by a wealthy Beverly Hills family turns their polished domestic life into a hilarious reckoning with privilege, desire, and unhappiness.
- What is Down and Out in Beverly Hills like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Down and Out in Beverly Hills as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Down and Out in Beverly Hills violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Down and Out in Beverly Hills as mild.
- What did critics think of Down and Out in Beverly Hills?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an enjoyable, sharply observed farce elevated by strong performances and intelligent social satire.
- Which films are like Down and Out in Beverly Hills?
- Films with a similar feel include Boudu Saved from Drowning, The Ice Storm, Moscow on the Hudson, and Ruthless People.
- How long is Down and Out in Beverly Hills?
- Down and Out in Beverly Hills runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch Down and Out in Beverly Hills?
- In United States, Down and Out in Beverly Hills is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
