---
title: "Ruthless People: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ruthless-people/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/ruthless-people"
critics_score: 71
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ruthless People (1986): what the critics said

Critics' score 71 from 7 reviews: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative.

The reviews lean positive on Ruthless People, with praise clustering around its farcical plotting and the performances of Danny DeVito and Bette Midler. Critics repeatedly find the scheming funny, the complications cleverly arranged and the comic writing sharp. Midler’s energy draws particular attention, while the central couple’s mismatched temperaments give the comedy much of its appeal. There is also praise for the directors’ visual comic energy, alongside the writing and performances.

The clearest reservation comes from the Los Angeles Times, which finds the ending formulaic and unconvincing despite admiring much of the execution. The recorded scores fall within a fairly narrow range, with no outright negative notices. That apparent agreement needs a qualification: three of the seven entries lack accessible verdicts, so their reservations cannot be identified. The available text supports a positive consensus more firmly than it explains the mixed scores.

## Radio Times — Joanna Berry

Rating 4/5. 

Berry describes the film as a fun, twist-filled comedy. She particularly praises DeVito and Midler’s performances as the mismatched, scheming couple.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-gzq6f1/ruthless-people/)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1985. 

The review finds the comedy hilariously venal and full of clever complications. It singles out Bette Midler’s energetic transformation and the upper hand she gains.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1985/film/reviews/ruthless-people-1200426816/)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Rating 3/4. 27 June 1986. 

Ebert finds the comedy consistently funny and praises its sharp comic writing. The film’s farcical plotting and performances are central to its appeal.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ruthless-people-1986)

## Los Angeles Times — MICHAEL WILMINGTON

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 1986. 

Wilmington finds the comedy often hilarious and sharply executed, though its ending retreats into an unconvincing formula. He praises the directors’ visual comic energy and the performances of Danny DeVito and Bette Midler.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-27-ca-20648-story.html)

## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 1986. 

The issue lists a Pauline Kael review of “Ruthless People,” but the accessible page does not reveal her verdict. It provides no specific praise or complaint from the review.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1986/07/14)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 1986. 

The page content is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint is available in the supplied text.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/27/movies/film-ruthless-people-a-comedy.html)

## Time Out — CPea

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The visible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its description highlights the premise of abducting someone so obnoxious that nobody wants them back.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ruthless-people-1)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/ruthless-people.md