Best movies like Ruthless People
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retaliation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, black comedy, funny, hilarious, clever, humorous, witty, offbeat, feel good, entertaining
Best tv shows and movies like Ruthless People (1986):
Similar in 78%
Ellie (1984)
Plot Summary:
Set in the backwoods of the deep south. Young, beautiful Ellie has just witnessed the murder of her father at the hands of her evil step-mother Cora and Cora's three lecherous sons, all hoping to get their hand's on Ellie's father's money. Vowing to avenge her father's death, Ellie plots to do in the murderers using the only weapon she has: her body.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 308
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: sex comedy, independent film
Similar in 81%
Outrageous Fortune (1987)
Plot Summary:
Refined actress Lauren Ames finally has a chance to study with the great theatre professor Stanislav Korzenowski. Sandy Brozinsky, a brash, loud actress, decides through happenstance to also study with Korzenowski. The two women end up dating the same man (who turns out to be a double agent) and follow him across the country to force him to choose between them.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, retro, exciting, realistic, witty, semi serious, buddy comedy, light, philosophical
Similar in 84%
Faithful (1996)
Plot Summary:
A depressed housewife whose husband is having an affair contemplates suicide, but changes her mind when she faces death by a killer hired to do her in.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: talky, melancholic, semi serious, black comedy, clever, dark comedy, hilarious, independent film, humorous, realistic
Similar in 87%
Strange Brew (1983)
Plot Summary:
Something is rotten at the Elsinore Brewery. Bob and Doug Mackenzie (as seen on SCTV) help the orphan Pam regain the brewery founded by her recently-deceased father. But to do so, they must confront the suspicious Brewmeister Smith and two teams of vicious hockey players.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Sci-Fi
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: psychotronic, parody, humorous, offbeat, feel good, witty, not serious, fast, detective, sketch comedy
Similar in 76%
Drowning Mona (2000)
Plot Summary:
The recently deceased Mona Dearly (Bette Midler) was many things: an abusive wife, a domineering mother, a loud-mouthed neighbor and a violent malcontent. So when her car and corpse are discovered in the Hudson River, police Chief Wyatt Rash (Danny DeVito) immediately suspects murder rather than an accident. But, since the whole community of Verplanck, N.Y., shares a deep hatred for this unceasingly spiteful woman, Rash finds his murder investigation overwhelmed with potential suspects.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, dark comedy, black comedy, absurd, stylized, clever, independent film, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 77%
Burglar (1987)
Plot Summary:
Bernice "Bernie" Rhodenbarr is a burglar by trade, and she runs a bookstore as well. Her friend Carl Hefler is a dog groomer. After a successful burglary, it's discovered that a dead body was in the house she burgled. As she's the only one who can be placed at the scene of the crime, she has to use her criminal skills to clear her name of the murder AND avoid getting charged with the burglary.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, captivating, entertaining, action comedy, realistic, not serious, fast, detective, sexy
Similar in 82%
Bank Robber (1993)
Plot Summary:
After robbing a bank, the robber hides out from the police in a seedy hotel where he is forced to bribe various tennants for protection as well as their silence which becomes more difficult as greed takes over and the people demand more exuberant bribes from the bank robber to shelter and hide him.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 498
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, light, entertaining, sexy, independent film, offbeat, realistic
Similar in 83%
Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Plot Summary:
Larry Donner is a author and writing professor who tutors people who want to write books. Larry's life has become a misery when his Ex-wife has published a book he wrote under her name and has gotten rich over it. Owen Lift, one of Larry's students offers Larry to kill Larry's Ex-wife and in return Owen wants Larry to kill his horrible mother. Larry thinks it is a joke, until he learns Owen killed his Ex-wife and he has become the prime suspect.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 40000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: black comedy, dark comedy, humorous, exciting, semi serious, funny, suspense, dark, clever, parody
Similar in 82%
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
Plot Summary:
A murder takes place in the shop of David Lyons, a deaf man who fails to hear the gunshot being fired. Outside, blind man Wally Karue hears the shot but cannot see the perpetrator. Both are arrested, but escape to form an unlikely partnership. Being chased by both the law AND the original killers, can the pair work together to outwit them all?.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, light, not serious, slapstick, feel good, absurd, talky, scary, black comedy
Similar in 82%
Life of Crime (2013)
Plot Summary:
Two common criminals get more than they bargained for after kidnapping the wife of a corrupt real-estate developer who shows no interest in paying the $1 million dollar ransom for her safe return.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sexy, independent film, tricky, tense, suspense, ironic, realistic, cynical, black comedy, humorous
Similar in 85%
Quick Change (1990)
Plot Summary:
With the aid of his girlfriend, Phyllis Potter, and best friend, Loomis, Grimm enters a Manhattan bank dressed as a clown, creates a hostage situation and executes a flawless robbery. The only thing left for the trio to do is make their getaway out of the city and to the airport. It sounds simple enough, but it seems that fate deserts them immediately after the bank heist. One mishap after another conspires to keep these robbers from reaching freedom.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, absurd, cult classic, witty, sweet, buddy comedy, fast, realistic
Similar in 83%
Fatal Instinct (1993)
Plot Summary:
A spoof of the late 80s and early 90s suspense thrillers and murder mysteries, including Basic Instinct, Sleeping With The Enemy, Cape Fear and others. A cop/attorney (yes he's both) is seduced by a woman while his wife is having an affair with a mechanic. Lots of other sublots and visual gags in the style of Naked Gun.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: spoof, parody, humorous, detective, double entendre, sexy, suspense, intense, witty, realistic
Similar in 83%
Married to the Mob (1988)
Plot Summary:
Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a fresh start. Unfortunately, Tony has set his sights upon Angela -- and so has an undercover FBI agent looking to use her to bust Tony.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, light, feel good, witty, realistic, talky, semi serious, cult classic, clever
Similar in 79%
Analyze This (1999)
Plot Summary:
Countless wiseguy films are spoofed in this film that centers on the neuroses and angst of a powerful Mafia racketeer who suffers from panic attacks. When Paul Vitti needs help dealing with his role in the "family," unlucky shrink Dr. Ben Sobel is given just days to resolve Vitti's emotional crisis and turn him into a happy, well-adjusted gangster.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 160000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: humorous, funny, hilarious, psychological, clever, suspense, spoof, realistic, witty, light
Similar in 90%
King's Ransom (2005)
Plot Summary:
Hoping to foil his own gold-digging wife's plan, a loathsome businessman arranges his own kidnapping, only to realize that there are plenty of other people interested in his wealth as well.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: witty, humorous, semi serious, feel good, light, realistic, fast
Similar in 88%
Twins (1988)
Plot Summary:
Julius and Vincent Benedict are the results of an experiment that would allow for the perfect child. Julius was planned and grows to athletic proportions. Vincent is an accident and is somewhat smaller in stature. Vincent is placed in an orphanage while Julius is taken to a south seas island and raised by philosophers. Vincent becomes the ultimate low life and is about to be killed by loan sharks.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 134000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, road movie, entertaining, sentimental, feel good, parody, inspirational, sweet, cult classic
Similar in 88%
Oscar (1991)
Plot Summary:
Angelo "Snaps" Provolone made his dying father a promise on his deathbed: he would leave the world of crime and become an honest businessman. Despite having no experience in making money in a legal fashion, Snaps sets about to keep his promise.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: talky, witty, humorous, feel good, not serious, clever, funny, parody, cult classic, hilarious
Similar in 86%
Screwed (2000)
Plot Summary:
A chauffeur kidnaps his rich boss's dog to hold it for ransom, but when she accidentally gets the dog back, she thinks that it's the chauffeur who's been kidnapped.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, intense, feel good, witty, not serious, offbeat, slapstick, hilarious, realistic
Similar in 77%
Cecil B. DeMented (2000)
Plot Summary:
An insane independent film director and his renegade group of teenage film makers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA, France
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: cynical, satirical, absurd, black comedy, dark comedy, surreal, cult classic, independent film, humorous, underground film
Similar in 81%
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
Plot Summary:
Bumbling cop Frank Drebin is out to foil the big boys in the energy industry, who intend to suppress technology that will put them out of business.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 120000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, hilarious, funny, detective, humorous, slapstick, feel good, entertaining, ironic
Similar in 81%
What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
Plot Summary:
Thief Kevin Caffery attempts to rob from the home of rich businessman Max Fairbanks. But Fairbanks catches him and steals his cherished ring that his girlfriend gave him. Caffery is then bent on revenge and getting his ring back with the help of his partners.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: entertaining, humorous, funny, intense, semi serious, exciting, hilarious, light, detective, black comedy
Similar in 84%
Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)
Plot Summary:
After Dick Harper loses his job at Globodyne in an Enron-esque collapse, he and his wife, Jane, turn to crime in order to handle the massive debt they now face. Two intelligent people, Dick and Jane actually get pretty good at robbing people and even enjoy it -- but they have second thoughts when they're reminded that crime can hurt innocent people. When the couple hears that Globodyne boss Jack McCallister actually swindled the company, they plot revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 152000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: funny, light, humorous, feel good, satirical, entertaining, hilarious, predictable, captivating, dark comedy
Similar in 77%
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
Plot Summary:
Two carefree pals traveling through Alabama are mistakenly arrested, and charged with murder. Fortunately, one of them has a cousin who's a lawyer - Vincent Gambini, a former auto mechanic from Brooklyn who just passed his bar exam after his sixth try. When he arrives with his leather-clad girlfriend , to try his first case, it's a real shock - for him and the Deep South!.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 137000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: funny, feel good, light, hilarious, humorous, inspirational, light hearted, uplifting, epic, satirical
Similar in 76%
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
Plot Summary:
When the incompetent Officer Frank Drebin seeks the ruthless killer of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 181000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: parody, funny, spoof, humorous, detective, slapstick, not serious, absurd, light, hilarious
Similar in 88%
Raising Arizona (1987)
Plot Summary:
The Coen Brothers tell the story of a absurd yet likable family with an unproductive couple as the focal point. The couple has gotten themselves into some trouble while kidnapping a baby and give Hollywood one of the most memorable chase scenes to date.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 148000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: witty, humorous, funny, dark comedy, surreal, hilarious, road movie, offbeat, talky, cult classic
Similar in 83%
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Plot Summary:
A diamond advocate is attempting to steal a collection of diamonds, yet troubles arise when he realizes that he is not the only one after the diamonds.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 151000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: funny, dark comedy, black comedy, cult classic, humorous, light, satirical, dramatic, hilarious, feel good
Similar in 90%
One Night at McCool's (2001)
Plot Summary:
Every man has a different recollection of the beautiful young woman who wreaked havoc on their lives during one heated night.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sexy, dark comedy, humorous, black comedy, hilarious, stylized, witty, not serious, erotic, entertaining
Similar in 81%
The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
Plot Summary:
A mobster named Jimmy the Tulip agrees to cooperate with an FBI investigation in order to stay out of prison; he's relocated by the authorities to a life of suburban anonymity as part of a witness protection program. It's not long before a couple of his new neighbors figure out his true identity and come knocking to see if he'd be up for one more hit, suburban style.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 128000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, entertaining, black comedy, light, suspense, dark comedy, semi serious, hilarious, feel good
Similar in 83%
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Plot Summary:
Two con men try to settle their rivalry by betting on who can swindle a young American heiress out of $50,000 first.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 77000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: clever, surprise ending, feel good, funny, humorous, light, entertaining, slapstick, hilarious, witty
Similar in 76%
Heartbreakers (2001)
Plot Summary:
Max and Page are a brilliant mother/daughter con team who have their grift down to a fine science. Max targets wealthy, willing men and marries them. Page then seduces them, and Max catches her husband in the act. Then it's off to palimony city and the next easy mark.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: romantic, funny, light, hilarious, humorous, sweet, cute, clever, witty, sexy