Throw Momma from the Train Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Throw Momma from the Train Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 28, 2026

Danny DeVito's "Throw Momma From the Train" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld; exclusive new audio commentary by critic Joe Ramoni; archival documentary; archival program with screenwriter Stu Silver; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Despite having substantially less time before the camera, Anne Ramsey is the undisputed star of Throw Momma from the Train. It should not be this way, and not because Ramsey is not good enough to be the undisputed star of Throw Momma from the Train. It should not be this way because Stu Silver’s screenplay demands that Danny DeVito and Billy Crystal do just about all of the heavy lifting in various carefully crafted situations, where both have far more and better material to work with. To be clear, DeVito and Crystal have plenty of quality scenes together, or alone, but they are dwarfed by three times as many scenes where virtually everything they do feels either underwritten or overpolished.

One of the obvious problems that Silver’s screenplay could have easily avoided is the awkward balance between the hilarious action and the hilarious chatter. DeVito and Crystal are most effective when they do more of the former. For example, the most neurotic version of DeVito’s character has the funniest moments, so either the screenplay should have anticipated this development, or someone should have tweaked the screenplay once the obvious had become even more obvious. Or, DeVito simply should have done a lot more improvising, incorporating the most neurotic version of his character without worrying about Silver’s screenplay.

Something very similar could and should have been done with Crystal’s character. Too much time is wasted on his reluctance to become a murderer, and this is where the unfunniest material emerges from. The rationality of Crystal’s character feels off in a comedy like Throw Momma from the Train, and the more it is emphasized, the more tedious it becomes. This development is essentially why the hilarious action is so much better than the hilarious chatter. Too much of the latter, where the rationality of Crystal’s character is eroded, is too predictable.

The story is fine. DeVito’s character lives with his elderly mother (Ramsey), who is half-senile and relentlessly abusive. He is so miserable that eventually he grows the balls to purge her from his life. However, the perfect plan that permanently resets his life for the better requires him to do the purging with a partner, so he approaches his creative writing professor (Crystal), who is just as fed up with his life because of the role his poisonous ex-wife (Kate Mulgrew) has in it. DeVito’s character then declares that he is ready to kill the professor’s ex-wife if he agrees to return the favor by taking out his mother. Obviously, the entire story is a contemporary reimagination of the one told by Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train.

Throw Momma from the Train was DeVito’s feature-length directorial debut. Judged simply by the quality of its visuals, it is a very fine effort, perhaps even a surprisingly good one. DeVito directs with confidence that typically emerges after a lot of hard work. Throw Momma from the Train produces a lot of rather surprisingly pretty material as well. However, the feeling that it should have been a vastly superior comedy is impossible to brush aside. DeVito and Crystal are a fine duo, and when what they do works great, it is impossible not to concede that there should have been more of it. Plenty more.

Kino Lorber’s combo pack presents an exclusive new 4K restoration of Throw Momma from the Train, sourced from the original camera negative. The 4K restoration was approved by DeVito.

Throw Momma from the Train Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Throw Momma from the Train arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release presents an exclusive new 4K restoration of Throw Momma from the Train, sourced from the original camera negative, approved by Danny DeVito. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release.

I viewed the 4K restoration in its entirety on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. It is a tremendous upgrade in quality, and I prefer how it looks on the Blu-ray for a couple of different reasons. However, the native 4K and 1080p presentations are equally satisfying.

On my system, all visuals looked wonderfully detailed, very sharp, and very healthy. The density levels of all visuals were outstanding as well, so on a large screen, there is a lot to see and like. Color reproduction and balance are great. All primaries and supporting nuances are properly set and balanced. In darker areas, shadow nuances are also managed extremely well. In native 4K, the dynamic range of most visuals is slightly better, which should not be surprising. However, the strength of the 4K restoration is tremendous, ensuring that the 1080p presentation produces great visuals as well. I did not notice any traces of problematic digital corrections, such as degraining, contrast boosting, etc. The entire film is spotless. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Throw Momma from the Train Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

If you want to hear what makes the two lossless tracks different, test them with the tunnel sequences, where the massive truck quickly appears and a deadly collision is barely avoided. I viewed the entire film in the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. I thought that it was excellent. However, I do not have the previous Blu-ray release of Throw Momma from the Train and do not know how big a difference there is between the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on it and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. All exchanges are very clear, sharp, and easy to follow.

Throw Momma from the Train Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this exclusive new audio commentary, critic Joe Ramoni correctly points out that Orion Pictures encouraged creativity and it is not a coincidence that Danny DeVito's feature-length directorial debut was made possible with the company's involvement. Ramoni, clearly a fan of Throw Momma from the Train, also shares plenty of information about its production history, tone and quality of its laughs, the recutting of the original version of it (which DeVito did to avoid an R rating), and Billy Crystal's performance.

• Wide Angle Dark Humor - in this new program, cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld discusses his background and reveals how he entered the film business, and recalls his initial encounter with Danny DeVito and their interactions during the production of Throw Momma from the Train. Sonnenfeld also states that DeVito and the Coen Brothers share the same love of dark comedy. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Crafting a Dark Comedy - this archival program takes a closer look at the conception and production of Throw Momma from the Train. Included in it are clips from interviews with producer Larry Brezner and screenwriter Stu Silver. The best comments from the clips are about Anne Ramsey's casting session and performance. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Why Do You Hate Your Mother? - In this archival program, several psychologists and psychotherapists explain why some individuals hate their mothers. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• The Night Was... - In this archival program, screenwriter Stu Silver comments on a key sequence from Throw Momma from the Train. Footage from several auditions is included as well. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Deleted Scenes - presented here are four deleted scenes. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Throw Momma from the Traion. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Throw Momma from the Train Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Apparently, Danny DeVito removed quite a bit of colorful content to ensure that Throw Momma from the Train avoids an R rating. I understand why DeVito did so, but I think that it was a mistake. The best material in Throw Momma from the Train is with the most neurotic version of DeVito's character, who happens to be using the most colorful language. There should have been a lot more of it, not less. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release presents a great new 4K restoration of Throw Momma from the Train, together with a nice new program featuring cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld and good new audio commentary by critic Joe Ramoni. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.