Skip to Content
Talkhouse home
Talkhouse home
Film

Video Essay: Richie Rich and the Search for Friends in Cinema

Kentucker Audley continues his series of transformative video essays by examining another classic '90s film, this time starring Macaulay Culkin.

Macaulay Culkin was one of the cutest kids in the world, but also he was a great actor. In this movie Richie Rich, he plays a lonely kid who has everything but all he wants is friends, and for his parents to be alive. It’s a great film about searching for friends and then showing them how cool your house is and letting them ride your personal roller coaster. Rob Reiner was the director and he did a fantastic job putting fun things in the movie, like the Kidapult, the Smell Master and bags of manure. Will Richie Rich find friends? You can watch the whole movie or I tell you in this video essay too. Enjoy!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Film

Explore Film

Three Great Things: Kyra Sedgwick

The award-winning actress, director and producer, who can currently be seen in Carolina Caroline, on her love of family, food and hiking.

June 5, 2026

That Girl in My Films

Documentary filmmaker Ruth Leitman, whose classic Wildwood NJ is back in theaters in a new restoration, examines the dark comedic thread that connects all her work.

June 3, 2026

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Zia Anger

The trailblazing filmmaker behind My First Film opens up about everything from first love to what she'd do in a nuclear holocaust.

Forastera: Shape-Shifting Through Language

Writer-director Lucía Aleñar Iglesias on how growing up bilingual hugely impacted her complex debut feature, out now in theaters.

Being The Breadwinner

Director Eric Appel on his surprisingly personal connection to the new Nate Bargatze family comedy, which hits theaters today.

May 29, 2026

My Little Irene

Filmmaker Chie Hayakawa shares some of the childhood stories that inspired her ’80s-set Cannes hit Renoir, which hits theaters tomorrow.

May 28, 2026