The Toy (1982): cast, story & where to watch
1982 · Film · ★ 5.9
Released in 1982, The Toy is a comedy and family film directed by Richard Donner, running about 102 minutes. “When U. S. Bates told his son he could have any present he wanted, he picked the most outrageous gift of all... Jack Brown.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. On one of his bratty son Eric's annual visits, the plutocrat U.S. Bates takes him to his department store and offers him anything in it as a gift. Eric chooses a black janitor who has made him laugh with his antics. At first the man suffers many indignities as Eric's "toy", but gradually teaches the lonely boy what it is like to have and to be a friend.
Who’s in it. The Toy stars Richard Pryor as Jack Brown, Jackie Gleason as Ulysses Simpson 'U.S.' Bates, Ned Beatty as Sydney Morehouse and Scott Schwartz as Eric Bates, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, The Toy has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $47.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Toy page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Toy tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Toy (1982)?
- In US, The Toy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Toy worth watching?
- The Toy holds an audience score of 5.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Toy?
- The Toy stars Richard Pryor, Jackie Gleason, Ned Beatty, Scott Schwartz and Teresa Ganzel.
- When was The Toy released?
- The Toy was released in 1982, with a runtime of about 102 minutes.