View source for Richie Rich (film)

{{Infobox film
| name           = Richie Rich
| image          = Richierichposter.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Donald Petrie]]
| producer       = [[Joel Silver]]<br>[[John Davis (producer)|John Davis]]
| screenplay     = Tom S. Parker<br>[[Jim Jennewein]]
| story          = Neil Tolkin
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Richie Rich (comics)|Richie Rich]]''|[[Alfred Harvey]]<br>[[Warren Kremer]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Macaulay Culkin]]
* [[John Larroquette]]
* [[Edward Herrmann]]
* [[Jonathan Hyde]]
* [[Christine Ebersole]]}}
| cinematography = [[Don Burgess (cinematographer)|Don Burgess]]
| editing        = Malcolm Campbell
| studio         = [[Silver Pictures]]<br>[[Davis Entertainment]]<br>[[Harvey Films|The Harvey Entertainment Company]]
| distributor    = [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]
| released       = {{Film date|1994|12|21}}
| runtime        = 95 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| music          = [[Alan Silvestri]]
| budget         = $40 million
| gross          = $76 million
}}
'''''Richie Rich''''' is a 1994 American [[children's film|children's]] [[adventure film|adventure]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Donald Petrie]]. The film is loosely based on the comic [[Richie Rich (character)|character of the same name]] created by [[Alfred Harvey]] and [[Warren Kremer]]. The film was distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]] under their [[Warner Bros. Family Entertainment]] label. The film stars [[Macaulay Culkin]] (in his final film as a child actor [[Party Monster (film)|until he began work as an adult in 2003]]), [[John Larroquette]], [[Edward Herrmann]], [[Jonathan Hyde]], and [[Christine Ebersole]], while [[Reggie Jackson]], [[Claudia Schiffer]], and [[Ben Stein]] appear in cameo roles. Culkin's younger brother, [[Rory Culkin]], played the part of Young Richie Rich. In theaters, the film was shown with a [[Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner]] cartoon called ''[[Chariots of Fur]]'', and was followed by the 1998 [[direct-to-video]] sequel ''[[Richie Rich's Christmas Wish]]''.

==Plot==
[[Richie Rich (character)|Richie Rich]] is "the world's richest boy", living in [[Chicago]] with his [[billionaire]] parents Richard Sr. and Regina. Under the care of his cheerfully loyal butler [[Herbert Cadbury]], scientist Professor Keenbean, and his dog Dollar, Richie enjoys a luxurious but lonely life. At his father's reopening of the local United Tool factory, Richie sees union rep Diane Koscinski's daughter Gloria and her friends playing [[sandlot ball]], and later tries to befriend them.

Lawrence Van Dough, the greedy [[Chief financial officer|CFO]] of Rich Industries, plots with head of security Ferguson to kill the Riches and steal their fortune, believed to be stored in the family's secret vault. As the Riches prepare to leave Chicago to visit [[Elizabeth II]] in England, Ferguson plants a bomb among their gifts for the Queen's birthday. Cadbury convinces Regina to let Richie stay home instead, and arranges for a day of fun with the sandlot kids, accompanied by Diane, who has begun to take a shine to the stiffly-debonair but caringly-kind Cadbury. Though initially bribed by Cadbury to come and play with Richie, the kids decline the money after genuinely having fun with Richie.

Flying the plane themselves, Richard and Regina discover the bomb just before it explodes, crashing the plane into the ocean. Stranded on a life raft, Richie's parents are presumed dead, and Van Dough takes control of Rich Industries. He attempts to close the factory, prompting Richie to assume leadership of the company himself, with Cadbury as his legal guardian and business proxy. Determined to seize the Riches' fortune, Van Dough has Cadbury framed for the bomb and arrested, and subsequently petitions successfully to take over as Richie's legal guardian. He then regains control of Rich Industries removing Richie as the company's leader, evicts the rest of the Rich family servants, and installs his own security team at Rich Manor to keep Richie prisoner.

Overhearing Van Dough's plan to have Cadbury killed in jail, Professor Keenbean warns Richie, who sneaks out and rescues Cadbury. They enlist the help of Gloria and Diane, who develops romantic feelings for Cadbury, while Van Dough and Ferguson threaten Keenbean into revealing that the family vault requires a [[voice-activated]] code from Richard and Regina. At sea, Richard manages to repair his "Dadlink", a device allowing Richie to track him anywhere in the world. Using Gloria's computer, Richie finds the Dadlink's signal, but Ferguson intercepts the coordinates and kidnaps Richard and Regina.

Richie and Gloria rally the sandlot kids to break into Rich Manor with Cadbury and Diane, using Keenbean's inventions against Van Dough's men. Unfortunately Richie and Cadbury find out that the Dadlink reveals that Richard and Regina are in Richie's room, and Van Dough and Ferguson anticipated their arrival. Meanwhile one of Van Dough's men named Nash captures Diane, Gloria, Pee-Wee, Omar, and Tony outside.  Van Dough forces Richard and Regina to take him to the vault, while Ferguson and Nash force Richie, Cadbury, Diane, Gloria, Pee-Wee, Omar, and Tony into the molecular reorganizer. Ferguson and Nash's plan to turn them into bedpans is thwarted by Professor Keenbean, who gets Nash stuck to his invention of Cementia on the steps and knocks a blinded Ferguson out with help from his invention Robobee. Richie takes a bag of Keenbean's inventions to save Richard and Regina.

Holding Richard and Regina at gunpoint, Van Dough is led to the vault hidden within "[[Mount Rushmore|Mount Richmore]]", their gigantic mountainside family portrait that's in the process of being 3-D laser-carved into the rock. Once through the voice-activated doors, however, Van Dough is furious to discover that there are none of the family's financial assets inside the vault, but what the Riches actually value most: treasured family mementos and heirlooms. Richie confronts Van Dough, who shoots him, but the bullets prove harmless thanks to Keenbean's bulletproof spray. Van Dough pursues the Riches down the side of the mountain. The Rich Family comes under attack from carving-laser blasts shot by an infuriated Ferguson. Cadbury follows Ferguson and they fight; Ferguson clobbers Cadbury over the head, but Cadbury regains consciousness and takes out Ferguson by bashing him over the head with a concrete picture of Regina, saving the Rich family. Cadbury fires the laser at Van Dough, and Van Dough ends up hanging on upside down for dear life. Although Richard doesn't like firing staff, he allows Richie to fire Van Dough and Regina punches him in the face.

Days later, Richie plays baseball with Gloria and his new friends for the United Tool team in Rich Manor's yard, coached by Cadbury, who shares a kiss with Diane. Van Dough and Ferguson serve as the manor's gardeners as part of their [[work release]], while Richard and Regina are overjoyed that their son has finally found something money can't buy: friends.

==Cast==
* [[Macaulay Culkin]] as [[Richie Rich (comics)|Richie Rich]]
** [[Rory Culkin]] as Young Richie Rich
**Peter Lampley as Baby Richie Rich
* [[John Larroquette]] as Laurence Van Dough - the greedy [[CFO]] of Rich Enterprises, who plots to steal the Rich family fortune.
* [[Edward Herrmann]] as Richard Rich Sr - the father of Richie.
* [[Jonathan Hyde]] as Herbert Arthur Runcible Cadbury - the Rich family's trustworthy butler.
* [[Christine Ebersole]] as Regina Rich - the mother of Richie.
* Stephi Lineburg as Gloria Koscinski - the best friend of Richie.
* [[Mike McShane|Michael McShane]] as Professor Keenbean - a brilliant inventor who works for Rich Industries.
* [[Mariangela Pino]] as Diane Koscinski - the mother of Gloria.
* [[Chelcie Ross]] as Ferguson - the Rich family's rude and tough security chief, who plots with Van Dough to usurp the Rich empire.
* Michael Maccarone as Tony 
* Joel Robinson as Omar 
* Jonathan Hilario as Pee Wee
* [[Reggie Jackson]] as himself - Richie's private baseball coach.
* [[Matt DeCaro]] as Dave Walter - the plant manager for United Tool.
* [[Claudia Schiffer]] as herself - Richie's private aerobics instructor.
* [[Ben Stein]] as Economics Teacher
* Sean A. Tate as Reynolds 
* Joel Ellegant as Ellsworth
* Justin Zaremby as Reginald
* Eddie Bo Smith as Ambler

==Production==
[[File:Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina.jpg|alt=Photo of Biltmore Estate|thumb|[[Biltmore Estate]], where many of the scenes were filmed.]]
Though set in [[Chicago]], the house and grounds at which most of ''Richie Rich'' is filmed are those of the [[Biltmore Estate]] in [[Asheville, North Carolina]]. Some scenes, however, are filmed in Chicago, including a fencing scene filmed at [[DePaul University]]'s Cortelyou Commons & the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood including the Francisco stop on the CTA Brown line. The [[roller coaster]] in the backyard is the former [[stand-up roller coaster]] [[Apocalypse (Six Flags America)|Iron Wolf]] at [[Six Flags Great America]]. In contrast to the famous publication and animated series, a few characters are eliminated to accommodate the film: among them are Irona the robot maid.

[[Data East]] was one of few regular pinball companies that manufactured [[Pinball#Custom pinball machines|custom pinball]] games e.g. for the film ''Richie Rich''. This pinball machine was based on ''[[The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard]]'' machine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=4344|title=Internet Pinball Machine Database: Data East 'Richie Rich'|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=9 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009151106/http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=4344|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
The film has been met with mixed reception. A [[Los Angeles Times]] reviewer praised the actors' portrayal of characters in the film.<ref>{{cite news|title=MOVIE REVIEW: Culkin's 'Richie Rich': Comedy-Adventure With Heart|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=1994-12-21|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-21-ca-11325-story.html|access-date=2010-12-31|first=Kevin|last=Thomas|archive-date=2011-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228073711/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-21/entertainment/ca-11325_1_richie-rich|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 3 out of 4 stars saying he was surprised how much he enjoyed it and said that though it was not the greatest film, he liked that it had style and did not go for cheap payoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19941221/REVIEWS/412210304|title=Richie Rich Movie Review & Film Summary (1994) - Roger Ebert|first=Roger|last=Ebert|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014040738/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19941221/REVIEWS/412210304|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Richie Rich'' earned a [[Razzie Award]] nomination for Macaulay Culkin as Worst Actor for his performance in the film (also for ''[[Getting Even with Dad]]'' and ''[[The Pagemaster]]'') but lost the award to [[Kevin Costner]] for ''[[Wyatt Earp (film)|Wyatt Earp]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title =Razzie Awards | publisher =[[Internet Movie Database]] | year =1995 | url =https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Razzie_Awards/1995 | access-date =2022-07-27 | archive-date =2009-02-07 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090207084407/http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Razzie_Awards/1995 | url-status =dead}}</ref>

''Richie Rich'' received a 26% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "With Macaulay Culkin barely registering any emotion, ''Richie Rich'' feels disjointed and free of a sense of fun and wonderment."<ref>{{cite web |date=21 December 1994 |title=Richie Rich |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/richie_rich/ |access-date=1 January 2022 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524030058/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/richie_rich |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a [[Weighted arithmetic mean|weighted average]] score of 49 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richie Rich Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/richie-rich |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]] |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502181923/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/richie-rich |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=CinemaScore |language=en-US}}</ref>

The film grossed $38 million at the box office in the United States and Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=richierich.htm|title=Richie Rich {{!}} Boxofficemojo|access-date=2010-12-06|archive-date=2018-08-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082839/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=richierich.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and the same internationally<ref name=ww>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=February 19, 1996|page=1|last=Klady|first=Leonard|title=B.O. with a vengeance: $9.1 billion worldwide}}</ref> for a worldwide total of $76 million on a $40 million budget.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Year Box Office Starts Off With Bang Movies: At $15.5 million, 'Dumb' stole the show during the long holiday weekend. But many other movies filled the seats as well.|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=1995-01-03|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-03-ca-15842-story.html|access-date=2010-12-31|first=Richard|last=Natale|archive-date=2012-01-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130144107/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-03/entertainment/ca-15842_1_popular-movies|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=mojo>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=richierich.htm|title=Richie Rich (1994) - Box Office Mojo|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082839/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=richierich.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It was an even bigger [[home video]] success, with $125 million in VHS rentals<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=rQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6 Harvey Capitalizes on Ghost, Rich Kid], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''</ref> and, as of April 1997, $44.2 million in retail sales, the studio receiving 75%.<ref name=matzer19970416>{{cite news|title=Direct-to-Video Family Films Are Hitting Home|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-04-16-fi-49283-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=4 June 2011|first=Marla|last=Matzer|date=1997-04-16|archive-date=2012-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516165254/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-04-16/business/fi-49283_1_video-sales|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Year-end lists ==
* Fifth worst – Sean P. Means, ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=P. Means|first=Sean|date=January 1, 1995|title='Pulp and Circumstance' After the Rise of Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood Would Never Be the Same|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|page=E1|edition=Final}}</ref>

==Sequel==
''[[Richie Rich's Christmas Wish]]'' is a 1998 [[direct-to-video]] sequel starring [[David Gallagher]] in the titular role.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0110989|Richie Rich}}
* {{AllMovie title|134009|Richie Rich}}
* {{TCMDb title|18778|Richie Rich}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070427002602/http://www.ncfilm.com/_userfiles/File/Made%20in%20NC%20--%20List%20of%20Films/Made%20in%20North%20Carolina%2004-02-07%20UPDATE.pdf Films Made in North Carolina - PDF]

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{{Richie Rich}}
{{Harvey Comics films}}
{{Donald Petrie}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richie Rich}}
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:1994 children's films]]
[[Category:1994 comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:1990s children's adventure films]]
[[Category:1990s children's comedy films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:American adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:American children's adventure films]]
[[Category:American children's comedy films]]
[[Category:American slapstick comedy films]]
[[Category:Davis Entertainment films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about children]]
[[Category:Films about father–son relationships]]
[[Category:Films about friendship]]
[[Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships]]
[[Category:Films about mother–son relationships]]
[[Category:Films based on American comics]]
[[Category:Films based on Harvey Comics]]
[[Category:Films directed by Donald Petrie]]
[[Category:Films produced by Joel Silver]]
[[Category:Films produced by John Davis]]
[[Category:Films scored by Alan Silvestri]]
[[Category:Films set in Chicago]]
[[Category:Films shot in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Jim Jennewein]]
[[Category:Live-action films based on comics]]
[[Category:American mad scientist films]]
[[Category:Richie Rich (comics)]]
[[Category:Richie Rich (film series)]]
[[Category:Silver Pictures films]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]