The Toy

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The Toy

PG

1982

1h 42m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

3%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown (Richard Pryor) is attempting to make ends meet as the night janitor in a ritzy department store owned by Louisiana millionaire U.S. Bates (Jackie Gleason). On his annual visit to his father's store, Bates' pampered son, Eric (Scott Schwartz), is told he can choose one item in the toy department. To everyone's horror, he chooses Jack. Paid handsomely to spend one week with the troublesome kid, Jack soon discovers the roots of Eric's bad behavior.

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Critics Consensus

A muddled and unfunny collision of two comedic titans, The Toy is unsuitable for children -- or anyone else seeking entertainment.

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Michael Maza

Arizona Republic

06/15/2021

It is what they call a major disappointment.

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Alex Keneas

Newsday

06/15/2021

The Toy" is insensitive to its material, a crude low-comedy. And a lifeless one.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

06/15/2021

2/4

Pryor seems in chains in this movie, and he rarely breaks out for more than a second or two. Gleason, 66, looks remarkably good, but he is just presiding over his performance.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 7

Pryor, Gleason, and the rest of us deserve far better than this loud, unfunny movie.

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

03/17/2022

1/5

At one point during this film, I was just in a perpetual eye-roll. It wasn't funny, endearing or even mildly entertaining. Why did they make this?

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

03/17/2022

1/5

This was really offensive. The comedy was horrible and the concept was so problematic. Nothing about this "movie" made sense.

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NICHOLAS L.

@NMLUKE Feb 10

A movie that could never be a remake

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Gregory S.

@Biggrooster Nov 16

Funny movie Richard Pryor no foul language

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William L

@RT14241415 Sep 17

This is an absolute classic. Pryor is hilarious

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life May 21

An underrated classic with Pryor and Gleason. Tim Treakle

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Roger L

@RT08360088 04/16/2025

I believe the "professional" critics who critiqued this film forget what it is like being a child growing up in 1982. When I watched this movie, as a child, it resonated with me because the little boy and myself were around the same age. I watched a film about a boy learning about friendship, a man learning about patience, and both of them learning about forgiveness and understanding. Critics seemed to have confused it with a comedy.

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Todd B

@RT47727663 10/10/2024

Thanks for this, when I saw it again, it made me feel like a kid again.

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Richard Donner

Director

Richard Pryor

Jack Brown

Jackie Gleason

U.S. Bates

Scotty Schwartz

Eric Bates

Ned Beatty

Mr. Morehouse

Teresa Ganzel

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Synopsis

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown (Richard Pryor) is attempting to make ends meet as the night janitor in a ritzy department store owned by Louisiana millionaire U.S. Bates (Jackie Gleason). On his annual visit to his father's store, Bates' pampered son, Eric (Scott Schwartz), is told he can choose one item in the toy department. To everyone's horror, he chooses Jack. Paid handsomely to spend one week with the troublesome kid, Jack soon discovers the roots of Eric's bad behavior.

Director: Richard Donner
Producer: Phil Feldman
Production Co: Rastar Pictures, Delphi Film Foundation, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1982, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 42m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)