Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sardonic
- broad
- paranoid
- dark comedy night
- 1980s movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film smoothly entertaining because of Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal's chemistry, while judging its broad tone and uneven plot less distinctive than its premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Owen proposes killing Larry's ex-wife in exchange for Larry killing Owen's overbearing mother.
The film turns murder, emotional abuse, and family resentment into broad comic situations.
Larry's anger over Margaret taking credit for his book places him inside Owen's murder scheme.
The train is repeatedly connected to Owen's plan against his mother and supplies the film's central visual motif.
Films like Throw Momma from the Train, and why
Strangers on a Train
shared murder-swap premise, black comedy, and escalating misunderstandings
Ruthless People
shared darkly comic crime plotting and volatile character chemistry
A Fish Called Wanda
shared 1980s black humor, crime complications, and broad comic performances
The War of the Roses
shared dysfunctional relationships, murder schemes, and absurd comic tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Danny DeVito
- Release Date
- 1987-12-11
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (691)
Cast
- Danny DeVito
- Billy Crystal
- Kim Greist
- Anne Ramsey
- Kate Mulgrew
- Branford Marsalis
- Rob Reiner
- Bruce Kirby
- Joey DePinto
- Annie Ross
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Throw Momma from the Train about?
- A blocked writing teacher is pulled into his student's bizarre murder bargain, turning literary resentment and family misery into a darkly comic crime spiral.
- What is Throw Momma from the Train like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Throw Momma from the Train as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Throw Momma from the Train violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Throw Momma from the Train as mild.
- What did critics think of Throw Momma from the Train?
- Critics broadly found the film smoothly entertaining because of Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal's chemistry, while judging its broad tone and uneven plot less distinctive than its premise.
- Which films are like Throw Momma from the Train?
- Films with a similar feel include Strangers on a Train, Ruthless People, A Fish Called Wanda, and The War of the Roses.
- How long is Throw Momma from the Train?
- Throw Momma from the Train runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Throw Momma from the Train?
- In United States, Throw Momma from the Train streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
