Is The Money Pit Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, The Money Pit is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies.
It features a runtime of 91 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
The Money Pit Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1986, The Money Pit emerges as a significant entry in the Comedy, Romance domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of After being evicted from their Manhattan apartment, a couple buy what looks like the home of their dreams—only to find themselves saddled with a bank-account-draining nightmare. Unlike standard genre fare, The Money Pit attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Money Pit features a noteworthy lineup led by Tom Hanks . Supported by the likes of Shelley Long and Alexander Godunov , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Money Pit (1986) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.5/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Money Pit Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Money Pit is a Comedy, Romance film that brings laughter through clever writing and comedic timing, offering both entertainment and social commentary. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. After being evicted from their Manhattan apartment, a couple buy what looks like the home of their dreams—only to find themselves saddled with a bank-account-draining nightmare. Struggling to keep their relationship together as their rambling mansion falls to pieces around them, the two watch in hilarious horror as everything—including the kitchen sink—disappears into the Money Pit. The film finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks and running gags that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together running gags and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
The Money Pit Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Money Pit concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Money Pit reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Money Pit?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
The Money Pit Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $10.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $55.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The Money Pit Budget
The estimated production budget for The Money Pit is $10.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of The Money Pit
- Tom Hanks – Walter Fielding, Jr.
- Shelley Long – Anna Crowley
- Alexander Godunov – Max Beissart
- Maureen Stapleton – Estelle
- Joe Mantegna – Art Shirk
Top Highlights
Tom HanksWalter Fielding, Jr.
Shelley LongAnna Crowley
Alexander GodunovMax Beissart
Maureen StapletonEstelle
Joe MantegnaArt Shirk
Philip BoscoCurly
Josh MostelJack Schnittman
Yakov SmirnoffShatov
Carmine CaridiBrad Shirk
Brian BackerEthan
Where to Watch The Money Pit Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
The Money Pit is rated PG. Parents should be aware that it contains romantic content. It is generally suitable for all ages.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.5/10, and global collection metrics, The Money Pit stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1986 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Money Pit movie hit or flop?
The Money Pit has received mixed reviews with a 6.5/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is The Money Pit worth watching?
The Money Pit is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Comedy, Romance movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch The Money Pit online?
The Money Pit may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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Critic Reviews for The Money Pit
Tonally confused direction, a terminally contrived plot and inconsistent character actions make this nothing more than a light 1980s curio. Too bad, because Hanks and Long do show some chemistry here.
Good watch, would watch again, and can recommend. Despite this movie releasing in 1986, this movie actually dates really well. With the focus being much more on the horror of real estate and property maintenance, things like smart phones aren't relevant to the story. This could easily be rebooted beat for beat as all the points are still relevant today and the script is well written. I'm not sure who the equivalent actors to Tom Hanks ("Forest Gump") and Shelley Long ("Cheers") are today, but they would have to be quality expressionists to make the movie work. While some of the jokes are baked into the script with situational destruction around the house, it really is the actor performances that sell the emotion and charm of the movie. Well worth the watch, and the trip in the way back machine.
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
