The Ritz

Play trailer

The Ritz

R

Released Aug 12, 1976

1h 31m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

A tubby Ohio garbageman (Jack Weston) flees from his hit-man brother-in-law (Jerry Stiller) to a gay Turkish bath in Manhattan.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The Ritz never quite succeeds. Its ambition is clearly to be a screwball comedy in the tradition of the 1930s classics and such recent attempts as What's Up, Doc? and Silent Movie. But it lacks the manic pacing, and the material grows thin

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a mostly intolerable endeavor that grows less and less interesting (and more and more interminable) as it progresses...

Rated: 1/4

Nov 7, 2024

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Rita Moreno traipses over the defiled..,.This, ladies and gentlemen, is an artistic event, that is not often seen in theaters, or on stage: this is creation. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 14, 2023

Full Review

Tom Steele

Gay Community News (Boston)

The Ritz is a film which explores the farcial possibilities of collisions between gays and straights. To enjoy it, you must not expect anything more -- or less -- than good farce.

May 10, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Funny in spots but disappointing as a whole.

Rated: B-

Jan 6, 2021

Full Review

Ruth Batchelor

Los Angeles Free Press

The Ritz ia hilariously funny comedy. Brilliantly written, directed and acted.

Oct 29, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alec B

The movie does have some good moments (Moreno's song scenes) and performances (F. Murray Abraham is on another level here). I think the problem is the screenplay which is structured well but just isn't written with the kind of comedic dialogue needed to empower the manic energy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 31 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie does have some good moments (Moreno's song scenes) and performances (F. Murray Abraham is on another level here). I think the problem is the screenplay which is structured well but just isn't written with the kind of comedic dialogue needed to empower the manic energy.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If you like Richard Lester movies, you can appreciate "The Ritz." That's about it If you rate it objectively on cast and script, you may find it average or slightly above average. If the thematic material annoys you because it lacks "woke" status, then you live in the other universe.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

steve d

None of it is the least bit entertaining.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Horrid. terrible. waste of 2hrs

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Richard Lester

Director

Jack Weston

Gaetano Proclo

Rita Moreno

Googie Gomez

Jerry Stiller

Carmine Vespucci

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

La cage aux folles

92%

85%

La cage aux folles

Watchlist

Myra Breckinridge

24%

35%

Myra Breckinridge

Watchlist

The Birdcage

84%

81%

The Birdcage

Watchlist

The Sex Monster

33%

46%

The Sex Monster

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

A tubby Ohio garbageman (Jack Weston) flees from his hit-man brother-in-law (Jerry Stiller) to a gay Turkish bath in Manhattan.

Director: Richard Lester
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 31m

Most Popular at Home Now