Ruthless People
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.
Ratings
Based on audience scoresWhere to stream Ruthless People
Streaming now in the United States on Amazon Prime Video.
Rent or buy in the United States on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
Trailers and promos
Ruthless People (1986) original theatrical trailer [FTD-0306]
Ruthless People 1986 TV trailer
Ruthless People 1986 TV trailer
Limelight
Discover, track, and enjoy the best movies and shows
Save what you want to watch, see where it streams, and get notified the moment it lands on a service you pay for. Ratings from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic for every title, and recommendations that learn what you like. No ads.
iPhone
iPad
Mac
More like Ruthless People
Frequently asked questions about Ruthless People
Where can I watch Ruthless People in the United States?
Ruthless People is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the United States, and to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is provided by JustWatch and can change over time.
Is Ruthless People on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes. Ruthless People is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the United States.
Can I watch Ruthless People for free?
Not free in the United States right now. Ruthless People needs a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, or you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
What are the ratings for Ruthless People?
Ruthless People scores 6.6 on The Movie Database, 6.9 on IMDb, 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, and 73 on Metacritic.
Who stars in Ruthless People?
Ruthless People stars Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, and Anita Morris. Jim Abrahams is the director and David Zucker is the director.
How long is Ruthless People?
Ruthless People runs 1h 34m (94 minutes).
When did Ruthless People come out?
Ruthless People was released on June 26, 1986.
Which studio made Ruthless People?
Ruthless People was produced by Touchstone Pictures and Silver Screen Partners II in the United States.
What was the budget for Ruthless People?
Ruthless People was made on a budget of $11,000,000.
How much did Ruthless People make at the box office?
Ruthless People grossed $71,600,000 worldwide, against a budget of $11,000,000.
Ratings and streaming availability are aggregated from third-party sources; metadata from The Movie Database (TMDB), streaming data from JustWatch. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Streaming availability checked September 2026.