Throw Momma From the Train

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Throw Momma From the Train

PG-13

1987

1h 28m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

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.

Critics Consensus

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.

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Variety Staff

Variety

03/26/2009

Very clever and engaging from beginning to end, pic builds on the notion that nearly everyone - at least once in life - has the desire to snuff out a relative or nemesis, even if 99.9% of us let the urge pass without ever acting on it.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

06/24/2006

If it all gets a little soft-centred towards the end, there's more than enough vitality and invention to be going on with.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

05/20/2003

Mr. Crystal and Mr. DeVito ... make one of the oddest pairs imaginable but have a rapport that's a delight.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

May 23

3.5/5

A solid and satisfying mix of the sinister and the silly, with a confident visual language from director / co-star Danny DeVito and cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld and a respect for the darker cultural corners it explores.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 12

3.5/4

"Throw Momma from the Train" is a comic triumph for all involved.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

06/14/2022

Demonstrates more talent laughing at Hitchcock than Mel Brooks in High Society… [Full review in Spanish]

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Nicolas G

@Samuel_Goldmann May 11

wtf is going on with the popcorn score. This movie is amazing.

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Robo N.

@robonoggin Mar 30

54 popcorn score?? 🤯 You people are nuts! This movie is pure gold! 🏆

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 Feb 20

Popcorn movie. Kinda bland for a dark comedy. Anne Ramsey steals the show. Script and direction are nothing to brag about. Still, good for mindless fun.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 Jan 25

Danny DeVito's first experiment as a director was, as far as we can see, to pay tribute to Hitchcock. The effort could perhaps have been better; it is funny, but the humour falls short.

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Frans B

@FransB Sep 17

A bit slow moving but funny and cleverly written. Whole cast excels in character. Cinematography is good and overall ambiance lends itself to the genre.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 06/02/2025

The worldwide gross is $57,915,972.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Danny DeVito

Director

Danny DeVito

Owen

Billy Crystal

Larry Donner

Anne Ramsey

Mrs. Lift

Kim Greist

Beth Ryan

Kate Mulgrew

Margaret Donner

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

2:37

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

1:36

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Poisoned Pepsi

2:09

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

2:44

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

1:37

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

3:00

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

2:07

Throw Momma from the Train: Official Clip - Saving Momma

2:14

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

1:22

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

2:20

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Synopsis

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.

Director: Danny DeVito
Producer: Larry Brezner
Screenwriter: Stu Silver
Distributor: Orion Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $54.4M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)