Down and Out in Beverly Hills

R

1986

1h 43m

Comedy

List

80%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Unlucky and homeless, Dave (Nick Nolte) decides to call it quits, and so sneaks into a stranger's backyard and tries to drown himself in the pool. However, Jerry's plans are stopped by the pool's owner, white-collar businessman Dave (Richard Dreyfuss), who pulls the tramp out of the water and into his home. But Dave's hospitality and his status-obsessed wife, Barbara (Bette Midler), don't impress Jerry, who ignores them and instead pursues the family's maid, Carmen (Elizabeth Peña).

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Critics Consensus

An enjoyable farce that relocates Jean Renoir's Boudu Saved From Drowning to '80s California, offering fine comedic performances from Nick Nolte, Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler.

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Audience Member

What happens when a rich housewife, her husband and a bum on the streets collide in LA? Richard Dreyfuss, Bette Midler, Elizabeth Pena, and Nick Nolte. Jerry is homeless and almost attempts suicide but he's stopped by Dave who's a wealthy businessman. His wife Barbara is less than enthused about the hospitality. So instead he goes after the family's maid, Carmen which could make things troublesome. Yet Jerry opens all their minds to be less stressed and more open to communicate. Even a homeless person can make others feel more at home than before. The movie's okay overall, I was kinda expecting more laughs and crazy antics.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/24

Full Review

Alec B

Mazursky is definitely lampooning the rich yuppie lifestyle on display here but he has such affection for these characters, which makes the commentary more enduring and effective. A lot of this movie plays just as well now as it did in the 80s.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Audience Member

"Down and Out in Beverly Hills" is a classic movie that holds up since it was made over Thirty years ago. The Acting, music, cinematography and directing in this movie is outstanding,

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

jon c

What happens when a rich housewife, her husband and a bum on the streets collide in LA? Richard Dreyfuss, Bette Midler, Elizabeth Pena, and Nick Nolte. Jerry is homeless and almost attempts suicide but he's stopped by Dave who's a wealthy businessman. His wife Barbara is less than enthused about the hospitality. So instead he goes after the family's maid, Carmen which could make things troublesome. Yet Jerry opens all their minds to be less stressed and more open to communicate. Even a homeless person can make others feel more at home than before. The movie's okay overall, I was kinda expecting more laughs and crazy antics.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mazursky is definitely lampooning the rich yuppie lifestyle on display here but he has such affection for these characters, which makes the commentary more enduring and effective. A lot of this movie plays just as well now as it did in the 80s.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

steve d

The are some great actors but is not funny.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Paul Mazursky

Director

Nick Nolte

Jerry Baskin

Richard Dreyfuss

David 'Dave' Whiteman

Bette Midler

Barbara Whiteman

Little Richard

Orvis Goodnight

Tracy Nelson

Jenny Whiteman

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

You’re often at a loss to know why you’re laughing, but jokes you can’t explain may be the best kind, and Mazursky is a master of them. When he gets rolling, you’re not responding to single jokes -- it’s the whole gestalt of the movie that’s funny.

Sep 13, 2023

Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

"Down and Out,"... is a failed fish-out-of-water story.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

On the basically farcical level where it chooses to stay, it is a funny and likable movie.

May 23, 2011

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an almost inherently appealing premise...

Rated: 3/4

Mar 15, 2022

Full Review

Octavi Marti

El Pais (Spain)

The result is a very foolish comedy. [Full Review in Spanish]

Mar 10, 2020

Full Review

David Elliott

Copley News Service

Mazursky taps and carbonates a rich source Boudu Saved From Drowning, Rene Fauchois' play that became a classic 1931 movie directed by Jean Renoir.

Jul 19, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Unlucky and homeless, Dave (Nick Nolte) decides to call it quits, and so sneaks into a stranger's backyard and tries to drown himself in the pool. However, Jerry's plans are stopped by the pool's owner, white-collar businessman Dave (Richard Dreyfuss), who pulls the tramp out of the water and into his home. But Dave's hospitality and his status-obsessed wife, Barbara (Bette Midler), don't impress Jerry, who ignores them and instead pursues the family's maid, Carmen (Elizabeth Peña).

Director: Paul Mazursky
Screenwriter: Paul Mazursky, Leon Capetanos
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.2M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround

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