{ "id": "epage9scfc", "slug": "greedy", "title": "Greedy", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994", "label": "Comedies of 1990 to 1994", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "label": "Titles symbols to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000: Titles symbols to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946", "label": "United States · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance", "label": "Comedy and romantic films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994", "label": "Comedies of 1990 to 1994", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994" }, { "id": "geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "label": "Titles symbols to J", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Greedy is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, starring Michael J. Fox and Kirk Douglas, about scheming relatives competing for their wealthy Uncle Joe's fortune.", "snippet": "Greedy is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, starring Michael J. Fox and Kirk Douglas, about scheming relatives competing for their wealthy Uncle Joe's fortune.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.comedy-romance.comedies-of-1990-to-1994.slapstick-black-and-family-comedies.alpha-symbols-to-j", "markdown": "# Greedy\n\n**Greedy** is a 1994 American comedy film directed by [Jonathan Lynn](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-lynn), starring [Michael J. Fox](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-fox) and [Kirk Douglas](https://www.edgepedia.org/kirk-douglas), about a family of scheming relatives who compete for the fortune of their wealthy, wheelchair-using Uncle Joe McTeague. It was written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, produced by Brian Grazer for Imagine Entertainment, and released by Universal Pictures on March 4, 1994.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59811) • [2](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109936/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | March 4, 1994 (United States, wide), Universal Pictures; video release December 15, 1998[2](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109936/) • [3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy) |\n| Runtime and rating | 113 minutes, rated PG-13 for language[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy) |\n| Director and writers | Jonathan Lynn; screenplay by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59811) |\n| Lead cast | Michael J. Fox (Daniel McTeague), Kirk Douglas (Uncle Joe), Nancy Travis (Robin), Olivia d'Abo (Molly Richardson), Phil Hartman (Frank)[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59811) |\n| Box office | $13,137,484 domestic and worldwide; opening weekend $4,805,115 in 1,710 theaters[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy) |\n| Critical reception | 33% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (18 reviews); 6.3/10 on IMDb from about 16,000 users[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/greedy) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109936/) |\n| Douglas milestone | The last film Kirk Douglas completed before suffering a major stroke in 1996[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109936/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nUncle Joe McTeague, a self-made scrap-metal tycoon, is surrounded by relatives who flatter and backstab one another in the hope of inheriting his fortune, reported in reviews as a $20-million or $25-million estate.[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-04-ca-29744-story.html) • [7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/greedy-1994) Alarmed that Joe has taken in Molly Richardson, a young former pizza-delivery girl he has appointed as his \"nurse,\" the family summons his long-lost favorite, Daniel (Danny), a professional bowler whose father left the family years earlier.[8](https://www.deseret.com/1994/3/8/20087677/film-review-greedy/) Danny's girlfriend Robin, a television sports producer, urges him to ask Joe for a $300,000 loan to open a bowling alley.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/greedy-1994)\n\nThe relatives' tactics include hiring private detectives to spy on one another, undergoing sex-selection fertilization to produce male heirs, naming daughters with variations of \"Joe,\" and bringing Joe $400 stuffed birds for his collection.[9](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-03-ol-29448-story.html) Danny performs the boyhood [Jimmy Durante](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimmy-durante) imitation Joe used to love to win his favor.[9](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-03-ol-29448-story.html) The film's plot points, as cataloged by The Numbers, include a wheelchair hoax, a career-ending sports injury, and a surprise twist.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy)\n\n## Production\n\nThe film was produced by [Brian Grazer](https://www.edgepedia.org/brian-grazer)'s Imagine Entertainment with cinematography by Gabriel Beristain, editing by Tony Lombardo, and production design by Victoria Paul.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59811) Randy Edelman composed the score.[10](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=4734140) Director Jonathan Lynn also appears on screen as Douglas the butler.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy)\n\nThe movie opens with a black-and-white sequence of Jimmy Durante performing \"Inka Dinka Doo\" from the 1944 film *Two Girls and a Sailor*.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109936/) The family name McTeague was taken from the title figure of Frank Norris's novel *McTeague*, the basis of [Erich von Stroheim](https://www.edgepedia.org/erich-von-stroheim)'s 1924 film *Greed*, and the premise drew on [Charles Dickens](https://www.edgepedia.org/charles-dickens)'s *Martin Chuzzlewit*.[7](https://www.netflixmovies.com/greedy-1994)\n\n## Reception\n\n**Box office.** Greedy opened on March 4, 1994 in 1,710 theaters, grossing $4,805,115 on its opening weekend, 36.6 percent of its final domestic total of $13,137,484.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy) [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) records no international gross, giving the same figure as the worldwide total.[2](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109936/) The film ranked second on its opening weekend and fell 45 percent in its second weekend.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy)\n\n**Criticism.** The film received largely negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 33% Tomatometer from 18 reviews, with 6 fresh and 12 rotten, and a 48% Popcornmeter audience score from more than 5,000 ratings.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/greedy) Roger Ebert, film critic of the *Chicago Sun-Times*, gave it two stars, writing that it \"has a promising first act, and then makes the mistake of taking its silly story seriously.\"[11](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/greedy-1994) The *Deseret News* critic Chris Hicks found some \"wickedly funny bits\" but judged that the ensemble supporting cast was \"loud and zany . . . but not very funny,\" comparing the film's ambitions to *It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World*.[8](https://www.deseret.com/1994/3/8/20087677/film-review-greedy/) The *Los Angeles Times* critic Kevin Thomas credited Kirk Douglas's performance, \"rich in sly, deft nuances,\" with holding the film together while the caricatured relatives floundered.[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-04-ca-29744-story.html) Reviewer Jonathan Rosenbaum observed that the film exploits the difficulty, in the post-Reagan Hollywood of 1994, of portraying unbridled greed as anything less than wholly admirable.[12](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/1994/02/greedy/)\n\n## Availability\n\nAs of the most recent checks, Greedy is not included with any subscription streaming service in the United States; it can be rented for $3.99 or bought for $14.99 on platforms including Amazon Video, Apple TV, YouTube, Google TV, and Fandango at Home, and is available on DVD and Blu-ray.[13](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/greedy/8821/where-to-watch/) • [14](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/greedy)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Greedy (1994), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/59811)\n2. [Greedy (1994), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0109936/)\n3. [Greedy (1994), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Greedy)\n4. [Greedy, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/greedy)\n5. [Greedy (1994), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109936/)\n6. [Kevin Thomas, \"Film Leaves Fans 'Greedy' for More Kirk Douglas,\" Los Angeles Times, March 4, 1994](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-04-ca-29744-story.html)\n7. [Greedy (1994) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/greedy-1994)\n8. [Chris Hicks, \"Film review: Greedy,\" Deseret News, March 8, 1994](https://www.deseret.com/1994/3/8/20087677/film-review-greedy/)\n9. [Lynn Smith, \"Twists in 'Greedy' Make for a Generous Payoff,\" Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1994](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-03-ol-29448-story.html)\n10. [Los Codiciosos (Greedy), ICAA Film Database](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=4734140)\n11. [Roger Ebert, \"Greedy,\" Chicago Sun-Times, March 4, 1994](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/greedy-1994)\n12. [Jonathan Rosenbaum, \"Greedy,\" February 1, 1994](https://jonathanrosenbaum.net/1994/02/greedy/)\n13. [Greedy (1994): Where to Watch, Rent or Buy, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/greedy/8821/where-to-watch/)\n14. [Greedy streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/greedy)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 1990 to 1994 › Titles symbols to J*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Greedy\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Greedy](https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy](https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Greedy\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/greedy. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Greedy is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, starring Michael J. Fox and Kirk Douglas, about scheming relatives competing for their wealthy Uncle Joe's fortune." }