Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Brewster's Millions

By Charles Cassady Jr., Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Tamed Pryor in '80s comedy with some salty language.

Movie PG 1985 101 minutes
Brewster's Millions Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Ira B.
Ira B. Parent
October 9, 2017
age 12+

This title has:

Great messages
Scott J.
Scott J. Parent of 10-year-old
August 19, 2016
age 10+

Kids won't understand everything, but still a good watch

This is a fun movie that involves a man who comes into an exorbitant amount of money and must spend in all within a month. The flashy spending and the idea of being popular because of money will be entertaining for your kid and be a good point of discussion after the movie. Unfortunately, there are a lot of legal, political and romantic segways your kid just won't get so they might get bored. Nonetheless, this is okay for your kid to watch.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The plot of BREWSTER'S MILLIONS is a comedy standard adapted for the stage and screen multiple times since the silent era. In this 1980's revisit, Montgomery Brewster (Richard Pryor) is a longtime pitcher for a minor-league New Jersey baseball team. About to be cut from the team with his catcher best-pal (John Candy), penniless Brewsterlearns he is the sole heir to an eccentric multi-millionaire, who has left behind $300 million. The catch: Brewster must first wastefully spend $30 million in one month -- averaging to a million a day -- on goods and services and have nothing left in money or property, before he can get the rest. Brewster's crazy, cash-burning schemes include buying his own team to play against a rented New York Yankees, investing in icebergs and running as a joke candidate in the NYC mayoral election. Even so, losing all that money in the time allotted turns out to be more difficult than it seems.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Considering the same writers did a sharper (and racier) farce about money, race and class distinction -- Trading Places -- this one has to go in the "loss" ledger.

The hard-living Richard Pryor briefly became a Hollywood megastar, his edgy, angry commentaries showcased in a series of live concert stand-up flicks. But later her took on inoffensive good-guy roles like this, making for a much more family-friendly Pryor. Brewster's Millions is an OK time-passer, the star's underdog appeal remains intact -- but it would've been just the same if supporting John Candy (wasted here in a sidekick bit) had played Brewster instead.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the title character behaves when faced with his challenge. Ask young viewers what they would have done in the same situation. Is there any reason to consider Brewster a role model or not?

  • The money-spending exercise is said to be an elaborate, even cruel lesson in teaching Brewster how to be careful with his inheritance. What are responsible ways to handle money? What kind of money mistakes have kids and parents made and what can be learned from these mistakes?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate