With a cast that includes the likes of two Saturday Night Live alumni, one of Marvel’s rising stars, and the most beloved performer to add her name to the call sheet of Mike White’s The White Lotus, one would think that Riff Raff would have been a hit. Helmed by Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints), the project had all the makings of a fun crime-comedy caper packed with action. Unfortunately, critics and audiences didn’t quite see it that way. Finding themselves in agreement with the film’s lackluster delivery, online ratings platform, Rotten Tomatoes, sees the title sit with a 56% critics’ approval rating while viewers gave it a teeny-tiny boost to 58%. Now, several months after the movie enjoyed a cinematic release, it’s finally made its way onto streaming, where intrigued viewers are digging in, helping to launch the title to the top spot on Hulu in the United States.
The plot of Riff Raff follows two gangsters as they seek revenge for the death of one of their sons by an ex-peer. The film features Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) and Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island) as the two trigger-happy mafiosos out for revenge, while Lewis Pullman’s Rocco (Thunderbolts*) is their target. Keeping an eye out for his trouble-making son, Ed Harris’ (Love Lies Bleeding) Vincent is the reason the family got into the sordid business and will do anything he can to ensure everyone gets out alive. While the movie centers around Rocco’s anger issues and hot temper, it also serves as a deep dive into family dynamics. Rounding out the stacked cast are the likes of Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus), Gabrielle Union (10 Things I Hate About You), Emanuela Postacchini (Who Is America?), and P.J. Byrne (The Boys).
‘Riff Raff’s Mixed Reception
Depending on who you ask, Riff Raff either hit with darkly comedic comedy or absolutely missed the mark. When it comes to Collider’s Shaina Weatherhead, it would be the former. In her review, which landed the film an 8/10, Weatherhead wrote:
“Riff Raff features a delicious, chaotic balance of tension and humor that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, be it because you’re waiting to see who’s going to get shot, or waiting for another one of Jennifer Coolidge’s spit-take worthy one-liners. John Pollono‘s captivating script is full of great jokes and Dito Montiel’s knack for comedic timing helps these moments soar, contrasting awkward silence with the witty dialogue.”
Riff Raff is now streaming on Hulu. Stay tuned at Collider for more streaming news!
- Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- Director
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Dito Montiel
- Writers
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John Pollono
Source: Rotten Tomatoes