Watch trailer for Throw Momma From the Train

Throw Momma From the Train

1987, Comedy, 1h 26m

36 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

What to know

Danny DeVito's direction is too broad to offer the kind of nastiness that would have made Throw Momma from the Train truly special, but DeVito's on-screen chemistry with co-star Billy Crystal makes this a smoothly entertaining comedy. Read critic reviews

Cocoon poster image

Ladyhawke poster image

Torn Curtain poster image

In & Out poster image

Dick Tracy poster image

Subscription

Rent/buy

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Throw Momma From the Train Videos

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - You're Alive! photo 1

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - You're Alive!

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Larry Meets Momma photo 2

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Larry Meets Momma

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Poisoned Pepsi photo 3

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Poisoned Pepsi

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - You Killed My Wife! photo 4

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - You Killed My Wife!

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - He's Trying to Kill Me! photo 5

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - He's Trying to Kill Me!

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Owen's Coin Collection photo 6

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Owen's Coin Collection

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - She's Not a Woman, She's the Terminator photo 7

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - She's Not a Woman, She's the Terminator

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Saving Momma photo 8

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Saving Momma

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Larry Warns Momma photo 9

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Larry Warns Momma

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Larry's Wife on Oprah photo 10

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Larry's Wife on Oprah

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Dreams of Stabbing Momma photo 11

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Dreams of Stabbing Momma

View all videos

Throw Momma From the Train Photos

Throw Momma From the Train photo 1

Throw Momma From the Train photo 2

Throw Momma From the Train photo 3

Throw Momma From the Train photo 4

Throw Momma From the Train photo 5

Throw Momma From the Train photo 6

Throw Momma From the Train photo 7

Throw Momma From the Train photo 8

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 9

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 10

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 11

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 12

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 13

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 14

Throw Momma From the Train (1987) photo 15

View all photos

Movie Info

Larry (Billy Crystal), an author with a cruel ex-wife, Margaret (Kate Mulgrew), teaches a writing workshop where Owen (Danny DeVito), one of his students, is fed up with his domineering mother (Anne Ramsey). When Owen watches a Hitchcock classic that seems to mirror his own life, he decides to put the movie's plot into action and offers to kill Margaret, if Larry promises to murder his mom. Before Larry gets a chance to react to the plan, it seems that Owen has already sealed Margaret's fate.

Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Director: Danny DeVito
Producer: Larry Brezner
Writer: Stu Silver
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 1987 original
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2001
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.4M
Runtime: 1h 26m
Distributor: Orion Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Sound Mix: Surround

Cast & Crew

Danny DeVito

Owen, Ned 'Little Ned' Lift, Cousin Paddy

Billy Crystal

Larry Donner

Anne Ramsey

Mrs. Lift

Kim Greist

Beth Ryan

Kate Mulgrew

Margaret Donner

Branford Marsalis

Branford Marsalis

Lester

Critic Reviews for Throw Momma From the Train

All Critics (36) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (13)

Full Review… Variety Staff Variety

Full Review… Geoff Andrew Time Out

Full Review… Janet Maslin New York Times

Full Review… Rita Kempley Washington Post

Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

Full Review… Desson Thomson Washington Post

Full Review… Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Full Review… Richard Freedman Newhouse News Service

Full Review… Cathy Burke United Press International

Full Review… Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews

Full Review… Brian Costello Common Sense Media

View All Critic Reviews (36)

Audience Reviews for Throw Momma From the Train

Apr 23, 2014

Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito team up for the off-the-wall comedy Throw Momma From the Train. After being framed for his ex-wife's disappearance, writing instructor Larry Donner is blackmailed by one of his students who wants Donner to kill his mother for him. Crystal and DeVito are great together and give a lot of personality to their characters. Yet, there are some problems with the tone as the film seems unsure of how dark to take the comedy. Additionally, there are some script problems (especially in the last act). Throw Momma From the Train is uneven and derails a little bit, but it's still a fun ride.

Super Reviewer
Jun 10, 2013

Ugh! And tie the director to the tracks! This is mindless dreck with a supremely annoying and unimaginative cast.

Super Reviewer
Nov 23, 2012

Ah come on. Not too many fans but it was amusing. DeVito and Crystal do a good job here and I think this remake benefits from being put forward as a comedy. It provides a nice counter to the Hitchcock version.

Super Reviewer
Jun 02, 2012

I don't think the more upbeat ending lives up to the darker and more intereting setup but DeVito, Crystal, and Ramsey are all great. I like the way the plot riffs on "Strangers on a Train", where the same plan is implemented by an depressed idiot rather that a evil genius.

Super Reviewer

See All Audience reviews