Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

Play trailer Poster for How to Beat the High Cost of Living PG 1980 1h 50m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 0 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A female trio of longtime friends once had happy lives, but now the dregs of suburbia and economic hardships are getting to them. Divorcée Jane (Susan Saint James) is dating the financially lacking Robert (Fred Willard), and she gets pregnant despite their lack of money. Elaine (Jane Curtin) is broke after her recent divorce. And Louise (Jessica Lange) is struggling with a failing business. In the midst of these problems, the seemingly average women hatch a plan to rip off a local mall.

Where to Watch

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

Audience Reviews

View More
04/13/2022 The funniest romantic comedy ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 09/27/2020 To answer the titular question: Invent a time machine, because this feels dated, especially next to The Dab's other 1980 feminist satire. See more 08/22/2020 I went with 2 stars for this movie, Idk if I would give it more stars though. I seen it once and I think that I would watch it again. 80's comedy that seems dated but the concept of the high cost of living remains the same. Kinda funny and silly alright movie known actors and a SNL type vibe to it. A group of ladies rob a giant money ball filled with money and chaos happens 2 stars. See more 01/13/2020 The movie still holds up and so do the themes of just getting by financially. Great performances and fun script. See more 01/19/2017 I think it's funny; lots of cute, young actors who became stars later. It's just silly and charming AND I lived in Eugene at the time but I don't remember them filming this. See more 11/05/2016 Pretty funny. Curtin's major feature debut. See more Read all reviews
How to Beat the High Cost of Living

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Robert Scheerer

Director

Susan Saint James

Jane

Jane Curtin

Elaine

Jessica Lange

Louise

Richard Benjamin

Albert

Fred Willard

Robert

Movie Clips

View All

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - I Need a Thousand Dollars How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - I Need a Thousand Dollars 2:23 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - No Money, No Glory How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - No Money, No Glory 2:04 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Suing Your Wife How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Suing Your Wife 1:54 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - The Electric Company How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - The Electric Company 1:59 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Cash Grab How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Cash Grab 1:36 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Impromptu Striptease How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Impromptu Striptease 2:07 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Safeway Stick-Up How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Safeway Stick-Up 2:03 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Counting the Loot How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Counting the Loot 2:24 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Picking Up the Check How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Picking Up the Check 1:27 How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Divorce by Answering Machine How to Beat the High Cost of Living: Official Clip - Divorce by Answering Machine 2:07 View more videos
View All

How to Beat the High Cost of Living

How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1979) How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A female trio of longtime friends once had happy lives, but now the dregs of suburbia and economic hardships are getting to them. Divorcée Jane (Susan Saint James) is dating the financially lacking Robert (Fred Willard), and she gets pregnant despite their lack of money. Elaine (Jane Curtin) is broke after her recent divorce. And Louise (Jessica Lange) is struggling with a failing business. In the midst of these problems, the seemingly average women hatch a plan to rip off a local mall.
Director
Robert Scheerer
Producer
Jerome M. Zeitman, Robert Kaufman
Screenwriter
Robert Kaufman
Production Co
American Internat'l Pics
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 11, 1980, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 50m