Fried Green Tomatoes

Play trailer

Fried Green Tomatoes

PG-13

1991

2h 10m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

On one of trapped housewife Evelyn Couch's (Kathy Bates) Wednesday nursing home visits, she encounters Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy), a colorful old woman who brightens Evelyn's outlook by sharing tales from her past. As Ninny recounts the exploits of her free-spirited sister-in-law Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), owner of a small Alabama café in the 1920s, and the bond Idgie shared with her friend Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), Evelyn gains the confidence to change her own life for the better.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Fried Green Tomatoes' tearjerking drama is undeniably manipulative, but in the hands of a skilled cast that includes Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates, it's also powerfully effective.

Read Critics Reviews

Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

Dec 19, 2025

If it contains hokiness and cornpone, these are not served in portions so large they can't be swallowed, and there are at least enough quality ingredients to aid digestion.

Go to Full Review

Hugo Davenport

Daily Telegraph (UK)

May 20, 2022

Do not be deterred by the indigestible title nor, if feministically inclined, by the fact that it is directed by mere man Jon Avnet. It is funny, cleverly constructed, often rather moving, and only occasionally allows sentiment to slop over the bucket.

Go to Full Review

Michael Sragow

The New Yorker

Jun 2, 2014

[A] clunky, fraudulent, yet apparently crowd-pleasing laugh-and-tear-jerker.

Go to Full Review

Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

May 5, 2026

3.5/5

The treacly 'Fried Green Tomatoes' wouldn't be the long-standing crowd-pleaser it is without Bates, Tandy, Masterson, and Parker infusing it with charisma.

Go to Full Review

Malinda Lo

AfterEllen.com

May 6, 2024

Fried Green Tomatoes is iconic in its presentation of love across the years, across generations and across boundaries. It’s a tamed but still powerful love story -- and a lesbian classic, if only in subtext.

Go to Full Review

Rex Sterling

Alabama Forum

May 4, 2023

A compelling and enjoyable movie.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Patricia A

May 15, 2026

This was a really great movie! It was the first time I seen it at the theater. I would definitely go see it again.

See more

Dawn Dalton

May 14, 2026

It was incredible! I’ve been watching Fried Green Tomatoes since its initial release and seeing it on the big screen again with my daughter was such a special moment!

See more

Sharon F

May 14, 2026

A heart warming story of friendships in the rural South along with the trials that came about. The beautiful setting adds so much to the story.

See more

David

May 14, 2026

It was cancelled without notice. Where’s my refund?

See more

Rolly D

May 14, 2026

Epic film that still stands up!

See more

Secret's in the Sauce

May 12, 2026

One of the best character driven movies of all time. The acting is superb. It feels timeless. I was blessed to see it in the theaters when it was first released, watched multitimes on tv, and so grateful to see again on the big screen.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jon Avnet

Director

Kathy Bates

Evelyn Couch

Jessica Tandy

Ninny Threadgoode

Mary Stuart Masterson

Idgie Threadgoode

Mary-Louise Parker

Ruth Jamison

Nick Searcy

Frank Bennett

View more videos

The Cure

44%

84%

The Cure

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Cure

The River

27%

48%

The River

Watchlist

Crooklyn

78%

89%

Crooklyn

Watchlist

Lorenzo's Oil

92%

80%

Lorenzo's Oil

Watchlist

Reality Bites

63%

74%

Reality Bites

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

Trailer Bulletin: Al Pacino in "88 Minutes"

Avnet Set to Visit "Second World"

View more photos

Synopsis

On one of trapped housewife Evelyn Couch's (Kathy Bates) Wednesday nursing home visits, she encounters Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy), a colorful old woman who brightens Evelyn's outlook by sharing tales from her past. As Ninny recounts the exploits of her free-spirited sister-in-law Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), owner of a small Alabama café in the 1920s, and the bond Idgie shared with her friend Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker), Evelyn gains the confidence to change her own life for the better.

Director: Jon Avnet
Producer: Jon Avnet, Jordan Kerner
Screenwriter: Fannie Flagg, Carol Sobieski
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Fried Green Tomatoes Productions, Universal Pictures, Avnet/Kerner Productions, Act III Communications, Electric Shadow Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 27, 1991, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 10, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $81.2M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings