Common Sense Media Review
1980s comedy pokes fun at the rich; has sexism, stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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Trading Places
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 10 kid reviews
Kids say that the film is a highly entertaining and funny option for families, though it contains strong language, nudity, and themes that may not be suitable for younger viewers. While many appreciate its humorous take on financial literacy and race relations, there are mixed opinions on its appropriateness for children, with some suggesting it is more suitable for ages 15 and up due to its adult themes.
- entertaining comedy
- family-friendly message
- strong language
- nudity present
- age-appropriate concerns
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
TRADING PLACES tells the story of greedy, wealthy Wall Street brothers Mortimer (Don Ameche) and Randolph (Ralph Bellamy) Duke, who bet on whether environment or heredity defines a man. The pawns in their game are smart-mouthed street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) and affluent investment executive Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd). The bet entails taking Winthorpe's power and money and giving it to Billy Ray to see whether nature or nurture will take over. When both Valentine and Winthorpe get wind of the brothers' scheme, they join forces to turn the tables on the Dukes.
Is It Any Good?
This bawdy comedy insightfully raises issues about economic inequality and class structure in America. Both Aykroyd and Murphy make Trading Places memorable with their performances, and there are fun cameos by Al Franken and Jim Belushi. But the movie uses so many stereotypes, plus a near constant stream of sexist content, that you may want to find your conversation starters about wealth and morality elsewhere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the overall message of Trading Places. Does positive behavior come from nature, or nurture? Are people who are born with money more or less likely to commit crimes? Do you agree with the film?
Why do some movies objectify women? What effect does it have on you, as the viewer? Would you feel differently if male characters were objectified instead? And what's the difference between a camera that objectifies its subject versus a neutral depiction?
A party in Trading Places shows White characters wearing traditional clothing from different cultures as costumes, including one character donning blackface. Is this OK? Why, or why not?
How do characters use teamwork to take down the Duke villains? Why is this an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 8, 1983
- On DVD or streaming : September 24, 2002
- Cast : Dan Aykroyd , Denholm Elliott , Eddie Murphy
- Director : John Landis
- Inclusion Information : Bisexual Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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