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This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Streaming availability data provided by Movie of the Night.

The Ref (1994) — Where to Watch · CriticCrunch

The Ref backdrop

The Ref

Movie1994·97 min

The Ref

Directed by Ted Demme

Comedy Crime Drama

A comedy crime film directed by Ted Demme.

◈ CrunchScore

Top 42%

of all movies · weighted by audience size & source agreement

★ TMDB Audience Rating

6.6/10

378 ratings

About The Ref

A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.

Pacing: Brisk (6 of 9)
Tone: Dark (2 of 9)
Intensity: Moderate (4 of 9)
Complexity: Approachable (4 of 9)
Humor: Funny (6 of 9)
Scale: Intimate (1 of 9)
Spirit: Heartfelt (7 of 9)
Texture: Playful, Tense
Story Tags: family dysfunction, freedom rebellion, holiday seasonal, american regional, domestic home, parent child, strangers forced together, anti hero, outsider misfit, kidnapping hostage, siege bottle, heist robbery

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Details

Director: Ted Demme
Language: English

Cast

Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey

⬡Explore cast & crew→

Where to Watch The Ref

Checked 8 hours ago

2 rent/buy

Available to rent or buy

Prime Videohd

$2.99Rent

Prime Videohd

$17.99Buy

Not currently included with any streaming subscription.

Availability may change. Verify with the streaming service.

How The Ref Ranks

All movies

Top 42%

1990s movies

Top 41%

Comedy movies

Top 38%

1990s Comedy movies

Top 38%

Ted Demme films#4 of 4

Top 42% All movies.

the vibe

The Ref Vibe

What it feels like

briskdarkmoderateapproachablefunnyintimateheartfelt

playful

tense

What it's about

kidnapping hostagesiege bottlefamily dysfunctionfreedom rebellionanti-herooutsider misfitparent childstrangers forced togetherholiday seasonalheist robberyamerican regionaldomestic home

pacing

brisk 6/9brisk 6/9

tone

dark 2/9dark 2/9

intensity

moderate 4/9moderate 4/9

complexity

approachable 4/9clear 4/9

humor

funny 6/9funny 6/9

scale

intimate 1/9intimate 1/9

spirit

heartfelt 7/9heartfelt 7/9

texture

playfulplayful