Ruthless People
“Sam Stone's wife has just been kidnapped... And he doesn't want her back!”
Synopsis
Sam Stone hates his wife Barbara so much that he wants her dead. He's ecstatic when she's taken by a duo of kidnappers who want $500,000 ransom in exchange for her life. Fully intending to ignore every one of the kidnappers' demands in the hopes that they do him a favor and murder her for him, the two confused kidnappers have to figure out how they're going get their money, and what they're going to do with the overbearing Barbara.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ruthless People (1986) original theatrical trailer [FTD-0306]
Type: Trailer • Published 2021-01-31
Top Cast
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Danny DeVito
Sam Stone
Bette Midler
Barbara Stone
Judge Reinhold
Ken Kessler
Helen Slater
Sandy Kessler
Anita Morris
Carol Dodsworth
Bill Pullman
Earl James Mott
William G. Schilling
Chief Henry Benton
Art Evans
Lt. Bender
Clarence Felder
Lt. Walters
J.E. Freeman
Bedroom Killer
Gary Riley
Heavy Metal Kid
Frank Sivero
The Mugger
Phyllis Applegate
Loan Officer
Jeannine Bisignano
Hooker in Car
J.P. Bumstead
Technician
Jon Cutler
Stereo Store Customer
Susan Marie Snyder
Stereo Store Customer
Jim Doughan
Cop at Sam's House
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 26, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$11M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$71.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
6.51x
+$60.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams
- Screenplay & Story
- Dale Launer
- Original Score
- Michel Colombier
- Original Title
- Ruthless People
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Budget
- $11M
- Worldwide Gross
- $71.6M
- Production Studios
- Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams
Dale Launer
Michel Colombier
Jan de Bont
Gib Jaffe, Arthur Schmidt
Walter Yetnikoff, Michael Peyser, Joanna Lancaster, Richard Wagner
Department Leadership Roster
Gib Jaffe
Editor
David Zucker
Director
Michael Peyser
Producer
Jerry Zucker
Director
Jim Abrahams
Director
Jan de Bont
Director of Photography
Dale Launer
Screenplay
Arthur Schmidt
Editor
Michel Colombier
Original Music Composer
Walter Scott
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ruthless People.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Ruthless People.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ruthless People
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ruthless People about?
Sam Stone hates his wife Barbara so much that he wants her dead. He's ecstatic when she's taken by a duo of kidnappers who want $500,000 ransom in exchange for her life. Fully intending to ignore every one of the kidnappers' demands in the hopes that they do him a favor and murder her for him, the two confused kidnappers have to figure out how they're going get their money, and what they're going to do with the overbearing Barbara.
Who directed Ruthless People?
Ruthless People was directed by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams.
Who stars in Ruthless People?
The principal cast of Ruthless People includes Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, Anita Morris.
When was Ruthless People released and how long is it?
Ruthless People was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
What was the box office and production budget of Ruthless People?
Ruthless People had a reported production budget of $11M and grossed $71.6M at the worldwide box office (6.51 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Ruthless People?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ruthless People was composed by Michel Colombier.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ruthless People?
Ruthless People holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).