Brewster's Millions
A minor league baseball player must spend $30 million in 30 days without keeping anything to earn a $300 million inheritance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- breezy
- warm
- lazy sunday
- comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the high-concept comedy underpowered, with a flat screenplay and restrained use of Richard Pryor’s comic talents.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Brewster must dispose of thirty million dollars under strict conditions before he can inherit a much larger fortune.
Brewster cannot explain the inheritance challenge, so his extravagant spending makes friends and associates think he is crazy.
The thirty-day limit, no-assets rule, and prohibition on waste structure Brewster’s increasingly desperate attempts to spend the money.
Richard Pryor leads the film, while critics specifically noted that the screenplay tamped down his trademark ribald humor.
Films like Brewster's Millions, and why
The Million Pound Note
shares a high-concept inheritance challenge, screwball comedy, and escalating financial obstacles
Trading Places
shares a fish-out-of-water comedy built around sudden wealth, social performance, and mistaken perceptions
Arthur
shares a wish-fulfillment comedy about extreme wealth, romantic complications, and changing social identity
Movie Details
- Director
- Walter Hill
- Release Date
- 1985-05-22
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (701)
Cast
- Richard Pryor
- John Candy
- Lonette McKee
- Stephen Collins
- Jerry Orbach
- Pat Hingle
- Tovah Feldshuh
- Hume Cronyn
- Joe Grifasi
- Peter Jason
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Philo, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads
- 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 Brewster's Millions about?
- A minor league baseball player must spend $30 million in 30 days without keeping anything to earn a $300 million inheritance.
- What is Brewster's Millions like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Brewster's Millions as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Brewster's Millions violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Brewster's Millions.
- What did critics think of Brewster's Millions?
- Critics broadly found the high-concept comedy underpowered, with a flat screenplay and restrained use of Richard Pryor’s comic talents.
- Which films are like Brewster's Millions?
- Films with a similar feel include The Million Pound Note, Trading Places, and Arthur.
- How long is Brewster's Millions?
- Brewster's Millions runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Brewster's Millions?
- In United States, Brewster's Millions streams on Netflix, Philo, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads.
