green tomatoes movie reviews

Fried Green Tomatoes

I have a built-in resistance to movies where a couple of people sit around in the present, discussing a story that took place in the past, and then we get flashbacks showing the earlier story. I usually can’t see what the point is: Why not just tell that story from the past and be done with it? And my blood always curdles a little toward the end of these flashback movies, when . . . hold on . . . can you believe it . . . the person telling the story is actually that young person from all those years ago that (gasp!) the story actually happened to! Sometimes flashbacks work. They work in “ Citizen Kane ,” for example. Usually they do not. Look at Bette Midler’s “ For The Boys ,” which creeps with unendurable inevitability to a foregone conclusion.

One of the reasons Jon Avnet’s “Fried Green Tomatoes” survives the flashback structure is that it devises an interesting character to be the listener to the long-ago tale.

She is Evelyn Couch ( Kathy Bates ), dowdy, unhappily married, dripping with low self-esteem, who during a visit to a nursing home meets a sparkling old lady named Miz Threadgoode ( Jessica Tandy ).

They start to talking, and before long Evelyn looks forward to her Wednesday visits, at which the old lady makes a continued story out of the sensational events of half a century ago in the town of Whistle Stop, GA.

You have been to Whistle Stop before, in a dozen other books and movies. It is one of those Southern towns where decent folks get along fine with the Negroes, but the racist rednecks are forever driving up in their pickups and waving shotguns around and causing trouble. In this case, one of the rednecks is the violent, drunken husband of a young woman named Ruth ( Mary-Louise Parker ). Ruth actually shouldn’t have ought to married him in the first place, especially according to Idgie Threadgoode ( Mary Stuart Masterson ), who wears pants and a tie and cuts her hair short and has a crush on Ruth.

The two women set up in business together as the Whistle Stop Cafe (breaded fried green tomatoes a specialty), with the help of Big George ( Stan Shaw ), a black man whose mother Sipsey ( Cicely Tyson ) raised Idgie. But when the women insist on serving Big George at the cafe, the local Klansmen get riled, and when Ruth’s evil husband disappears and is assumed murdered, the lynch mob decides Big George was the killer.

Well, what did happen to the drunken lout? That is the payoff of old Miz Threadgoode’s story. But the murder and even the subsequent trial are not really the subject of “Fried Green Tomatoes,” which is really about nonconformity in an intolerant society. It’s pretty clear that Idgie is a lesbian, and fairly clear that she and Ruth are a couple, although given the mores of the South at the time a lot goes unspoken, and we are never quite sure how clear that is to Ruth. It is also clear that they consider Sipsey and George better company than most of the white folks in town, and that, by deciding for themselves who they are and how they will lead their lives, Idgie and Ruth are a threat to the hidebound locals.

All of that makes an interesting story, but what is also interesting is the way the story gradually gives the Kathy Bates character the courage to deal with her own life. She is a compulsive overeater whose husband, Mr. Couch, was apparently named after the piece of furniture he favors while watching the complete seasons of all of America’s professional sports teams on the TV. Even after she takes some of those titillating Total Woman suggestions and turns up at the door wrapped in Saran Wrap, she’s still not able to interest her husband.

“Fried Green Tomatoes” is fairly predictable, and the flashback structure is a distraction, but the strength of the performances overcomes the problems of the structure. I especially liked Mary Stuart Masterson’s work, but then I nearly always do (see her in “ Some Kind of Wonderful “). And I enjoyed the vigor with which Jessica Tandy told her long-ago tale, about a woman not completely unlike herself.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Jessica Tandy as Ninny Threadgoode
• Kathy Bates as Evelyn Couch

Directed by

Leave a comment, now playing.

Speak No Evil (2024)

Saturday Night

The Killer’s Game

Girls Will Be Girls

The 4:30 Movie

Sweetheart Deal

¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!

Latest articles

TIFF 2024: Table of Contents

TIFF 2024: Village Keeper, 40 Acres, Flow

TIFF 2024: The Shadow Strays, Friendship, The Shrouds

TIFF 2024: Babygirl, All We Imagine as Light, Queer

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

• Now Playing
• Airing Today
• Popular People
• Discussions
• Leaderboard
• Alternative Titles
• Cast & Crew
• Release Dates
• Translations
• Backdrops 14
• Content Issues 0

Now Streaming

Fried green tomatoes (1991).

Login to use TMDB's new rating system.

Welcome to Vibes, TMDB's new rating system! For more information, visit the contribution bible .

• Play Trailer

The secret of life? The secret's in the sauce.

Amidst her own personality crisis, southern housewife Evelyn Couch meets Ninny, an outgoing old woman who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, two young women who experienced hardships and love in Whistle Stop, Alabama in the 1920s.

Fannie Flagg

Novel, Screenplay

Carol Sobieski

Top Billed Cast

Kathy Bates

Evelyn Couch

Jessica Tandy

Ninny Threadgoode

Mary-Louise Parker

Ruth Jamison

Mary Stuart Masterson

Idgie Threadgoode

Cicely Tyson

Chris O'Donnell

Buddy Threadgoode

Gailard Sartain

Timothy Scott

Smokey Lonesome

Full Cast & Crew

• Discussions 4

A review by Filipe Manuel Neto

Written by filipe manuel neto on december 17, 2023.

An unfairly forgotten film, quite emotional, that women will find very good and men may or may not like, depending on their tolerance for films with a greater sentimental charge.

Director Jon Avnet brings us a good film that reminds us of the value of good friendships and self-love. Intelligently directing his crew and cast, he managed to make a discreet, unpretentious but very enjoyable film that easily wins over the audience. Still, it's bland and tepid, and perhaps that's precisely why it ended up as forgotten as it is.

One of the strongest points is clearly the cast, headed by two... read the rest.

Read All Reviews

• Most Popular

Status Released

Original Language English

Budget $11,000,000.00

Revenue $119,400,000.00

• southern usa
• based on novel or book
• nursing home

Content Score 

Yes! Looking good!

Looks like we're missing the following data in en-US or en-US ...

Top Contributors

39 TMDB-Bot

25 Yen Siddery

21 Weasel80

View Edit History

Popularity Trend

Login to edit

Keyboard Shortcuts

Login to report an issue

You need to be logged in to continue. Click here to login or here to sign up.

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

On media pages

On tv season pages, on tv episode pages, on all image pages, on all edit pages, on discussion pages.

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Not a member?

Sign up and join the community

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Metacritic reviews

Fried green tomatoes.

• 75 Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert Fried Green Tomatoes is fairly predictable, and the flashback structure is a distraction, but the strength of the performances overcomes the problems of the structure. I especially liked Mary Stuart Masterson's work, but then I nearly always do (see her in Some Kind of Wonderful). And I enjoyed the vigor with which Jessica Tandy told her long-ago tale, about a woman not completely unlike herself.
• 75 TV Guide Magazine TV Guide Magazine Fried Green Tomatoes is an engaging if sentimental tale, charmingly handled by producer-turned-director Jon Avnet (Risky Business) and flawlessly acted by its four female stars. Plaudits must also go to Geoffrey Simpson, for his splendid cinematography, and to Thomas Newman for his drama-enhancing musical score.
• 70 The New York Times Janet Maslin The New York Times Janet Maslin Based on a novel by Fannie Flagg, the comedian, and directed by Jon Avnet, Fried Green Tomatoes has some good performances and a measure of homespun appeal, some of which can be credited to Elizabeth McBride's gently evocative costumes and Barbara Ling's detailed production design.
• 70 Variety Variety Celebrating the crucial, sustaining friendships between two sets of modern-day and 1930s Southern femmes, pic [based on Fanny Flagg’s novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe] emerges as absorbing and life-affirming quality fare, but for a story celebrating fearlessness, it’s remarkably cautious.
• 67 Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten While Fried Green Tomatoes often veers between being too pat and too vague, too obvious and too unclear, too much of the “I laughed, I cried” school of storytelling -- it still has a charm that stems from its vivid and unique characterizations.
• 63 The Seattle Times John Hartl The Seattle Times John Hartl It's all over the place, trying to cover every base as it delivers its neon-style message: Nothing is more important than friendship. Indeed, it's so busy pushing buttons that it rarely has time to settle down to establish even one relationship that rings true - by and large, we have to take the actors' word for it - yet fans of this cast probably won't mind too much.
• 60 Empire Ian Nathan Empire Ian Nathan The tale from the past is very nostalgic, heartwarming and mouth-watering and all, as Idgie and Ruth cook up a storm, are kindly to their black domestics and stand up to piggy men while events fitfully progress to a courtroom climax. And Masterson is a peach. But the best bits belong to Bates as her dreary Evelyn raises her consciousness, lowers her weight and starts speaking her mind. It's a nice, pleasant celebration of friendship, but without much meat to chew on.
• 60 Time Out London Time Out London While the book deftly juggles separate narratives, the device proves clumsy on screen. More dizzying than the jumps between past and present is the speed with which consciousness-raised Evelyn swaps caricatures, evolving from Frump to Fighter. Essentially, the film is about fine performances - with Tandy securing an Oscar nomination - but it wins no prizes for subtlety.
• 60 Washington Post Rita Kempley Washington Post Rita Kempley A drama about strong, giving, funny women, Fried Green Tomatoes seems plucked from the same patch as the play-turned-movie Steel Magnolias. It's not exactly a successful hybrid, but you could get a craving for it anyway.
• 50 Chicago Tribune Dave Kehr Chicago Tribune Dave Kehr It's meant to be uplifting, but the material is so undernourished that bench-pressing a phone book already seems beyond it. None of the characters has been filled out beyond the underlying conventions and the few distinctive mannerisms contributed by the actresses who portray them.
• See all 21 reviews on Metacritic.com
• See all external reviews for Fried Green Tomatoes

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

Fried Green Tomatoes Ending Explained: Is Ninny Really Idgie?

‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ builds compelling narratives that easily captivate the audience, submerging them in the lives of the women who helm the 1991 drama film. The story, possessing a dual timeline of sorts, follows Evelyn, a housewife displeased with the way her life has turned out. As such, after meeting an old woman, Ninny Threadgoode, Evelyn finds herself fascinated by the latter’s tales of the past. The film’s second timeline revolves around the subjects of Ninny’s stories, Idgie and Ruth, who owned a cafe in Whistle Stop together. As both narratives unfold, they bring equally thrilling accounts of different women’s lives, with Idgie’s story particularly capturing the audience’s curiosity. Consequently, the stories must have left the viewers with a few questions by the time they reach their natural ends. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Fried Green Tomatoes Plot Synopsis

The story starts with Evelyn Couch’s visit to the nursing home near Whistle Stop to meet with her husband’s aunt, Vesta. Nevertheless, Vesta isn’t a fan of Evelyn’s and drives her out of the room, an occurrence the latter is all too used to. As a result, Evelyn ends up hanging awkwardly within the establishment, catching 82-year-old Ninny’s eye. Ninny is a talkative woman who instantly takes a liking to Evelyn and begins telling her a story about people she knew in the 1920s. Evelyn, whose marriage with Ed has been dwindling for a while despite her best efforts, takes immediate interest in the tale. Therefore, she visits the nursing home regularly for Ninny to pick up her story about Idgie Threadgoode with every visit.

As a child growing up in the Whistle Stop, Idgie maintains her wild spirit, known for her stubborn attitude that only her older brother, Buddy, could talk her out of. However, once, during their older sister’s wedding, Buddy got in an accident on the train tracks and lost his life. Ruth, Buddy’s girlfriend, helplessly watched the accident unfold alongside Idgie, an experience that changed both girls. In the following years, Idgie grows up to be a rebellious young woman with a tomboyish persona, favoring gambling and drinking over church sermons.

Consequently, Idgie’s mother’s concern grows, and she requests Ruth, who leads youth Bible studies, to intervene as a good influence over her daughter. Although at first Idgie is weary of the woman’s presence, the two eventually grow close. Idgie charms Ruth just as her brother had all those years ago through nighttime Robin Hood-esque adventures, honey-harvesting picnics, and surprise birthday parties. Nevertheless, as the summer ends, Ruth has to return to her old life and prepare for her upcoming wedding to Frank Bennett.

Even though Ruth invites Idgie to her wedding, the younger woman skips it, cutting all communication with the former. Still, her resolve to never see Ruth again melts, leading her to the other woman’s house only to learn that Ruth is in an abusive marriage. As a result, once Ruth discovers that she’s pregnant, she writes to Idgie, bringing the other woman to her doorstep to rescue her from Frank’s violence. Furthermore, she threatens to kill Frank should he ever try to hurt Ruth again.

Consequently, after her return to Whistle Stop, Ruth opens a cafe with Idgie, and the two women raise her son, Buddy Jr., together. The Whistle Stop Cafe becomes the heart of the town but brings unwanted attention from the KKK after they learn about the cafe’s policy of serving people regardless of their race. Therefore, one night, the racist group arrives in town to attack Big George, Idgie’s close friend. Furthermore, Frank Bennett, also a KKK member, attempts to take his son from Ruth.

Although Frank ultimately fails, and the town sheriff, Grady, sends the group away, the incident puts Ruth on edge despite Idgie’s reassurances. As it would turn out, Ruth’s anxieties are well-placed because the next time Frank comes for Buddy, neither woman is around to save him. Yet, somehow, Buddy remains safe, and Frank goes missing. As such, Sheriff Curtis Smoote comes into town following up on Frank’s disappearance, suspecting Idgie’s involvement.

Nevertheless, there isn’t a crime since there isn’t a body. Thus, Idgie and Ruth continue to build their life together in the years to come, watching Buddy grow up into a young child. Still, a few years later, Smoote finds Frank’s car in the river, leading to Idgie and Big George’s arrest for trial.

Did Idgie Kill Frank Bennett?

Early on in Idgie’s introduction to the story, the narrative foretells her arrest for Frank’s murder. Therefore, she doesn’t do herself any favors in the audience’s eyes after threatening to kill the man to his face. Still, considering Frank’s violent disposition, once manifesting as the man kicking Ruth down the stairs, he leaves little sympathy for himself. Nevertheless, Smoote doesn’t hold the same notion and pursues Idgie’s arrest with dogged dedication.

Yet, during the trial, Smoote ends up having little to no case to show for his claims. Despite the car’s discovery, Frank’s body has still not been found. Furthermore, Idgie and Big George, profiled into a suspect for his race and close friendship with the woman, both have alibis. The case further tips in their favor after Ruth convinces a Reverand to lie on the stand for their sake by swearing on a fake Bible. Thus, Idgie and Big George win their trial, and Frank’s death gets written off as an accidental death.

Initially, Ninny’s recount of Idgie’s story to Evelyn ends with the same conclusion, providing no firm answer about Frank’s mysterious death. As such, it isn’t until Ninny leaves the nursing home returning to her Whistle Stop house that Evelyn and the audience find the truth. Unbeknownst to Ninny, her house has actually been demolished. For the same reason, the older woman is shaken up when Evelyn finds her.

Nevertheless, once Evelyn asks her to move into her house and live with her and her husband, Ninny realizes the depth of their friendship and reveals the final piece of the puzzle. Ninny had a friend in the nursing home who was Big George’s aunt. As a result, Ninny knew the man’s mother, Sipsey, who worked for Idgie. From her, Ninny discovered that on the second night that Frank came to kidnap Buddy, one of the cafe’s regular customers, Smokey, attempted to stop him. However, once his efforts faltered, Sipsey arrived and killed Frank in self-defense.

Nonetheless, given the time’s unjust law against Black people, everyone, including Idgie, knew Sipsey would receive a prison sentence or worse for Frank’s death without any arguments. For the same reason, they decided to cover up his death by getting rid of his car and barbequing his body as cafe meat the next day. Although they attempt to discourage regulars from eating the meat that day, no one speaks up when Smoote, snooping into Frank’s murder, orders BBQ.

What Happens to Idgie and Ruth?

After Idgie gets cleared as a suspect in Frank’s murder, she returns to her life with Ruth. Although the film doesn’t make their romantic relationship explicit, there are enough context clues to decipher that the two women live together and raise Buddy Jr. in domestic bliss. Likewise, their business at the cafe remains steady, providing delicious food for their community.

Nonetheless, trouble knocks on the pair’s door soon. Ruth’s health starts declining, and she receives a cancer diagnosis, leaving her with only a few weeks to survive. As her death looms above the family’s head, Idgie turns to faith and prays to God for her closest companion’s health.

In the end, Ruth asks Idgie to look after Buddy’s upbringing, ensuring he graduates from college. Furthermore, she asks for the boy to be kept away from the funeral, deeming him too young for such a grim event. Buddy, though too young to properly comprehend the situation yet, realizes the gravity of it. Nevertheless, just as Buddy Sr. was good at reaching Idgie in her childhood, the woman remains a stagnant and reliable parental figure in the boy’s life.

Ultimately, Ruth dies while Idgie regales an infamous trademark Threadgoode tall tale about a flock of ducks who flew away with a frozen lake. As the tale comes to an end, so does Ruth’s life and Idgie’s fragile emotions. Although Ruth had asked Idgie not to grieve over her too much and find someone to settle down with, Idgie hadn’t lied when she told her their current family was “settled down” as the woman will ever get. Consequently, Idgie goes on to live her life as the same free spirit but forever changed. Meanwhile, their story, to those who knew it, became a source of inspiration. Evelyn herself learns life’s great lessons and changes her life after hearing about the women from Ninny in the nursing home.

Are Ninny and Idgie The Same Person?

Throughout the film, the narrative drops many hints that Ninny may be the same person. For starters, Ninny has a suspiciously in-depth memory of the events, even though her character is never present or even mentioned in the flashbacks. Furthermore, once her room in the nursing home is revealed, there are multiple photos of Ruth and her family pinned to walls and framed on surfaces. In fact, a lone photograph of the woman resides on Ninny’s bedside table, a strangely intimate honor to bestow upon Ruth, who should virtually be a stranger to Ninny.

If Ninny’s story is to be believed, she is Idgie’s sister-in-law, who married one of the latter’s brothers. Since she’s never present in her recounts, we can assume she heard the story from word-of-mouth, similar to how she knew about Frank’s death. As such, Ruth, Idgie’s life partner, would have been too distant of a relation for Ninny to be emotionally attached to. Furthermore, despite claims of being a widow, the room peculiarly holds no image of Idgie’s brother, Cleo.

The last seemingly nail-in-the-coffin evidence comes from the fact that upon their visit to Whistle Stop town, Ninny points out to Ruth’s grave that holds a freshly inked note by Idgie alongside a bottle of honey. Although the woman is nowhere to be seen, Ninny insists Idgie’s still alive and well, trading Honey. The emotionally ripe scene is accompanied by a knowing look shared between Evelyn and Ninny, which hints that Evelyn has figured out Ninny is the real Idgie.

Therefore, in one interpretation of the film, Ninny can be read as Idgie, who uses an alias to tell her life story to her new friend in a nursing home. However, to do so, one would have to ignore the equally prevalent hints against the theory. During their meetings, Ninny tells Evelyn about her son, Albert, who was born with a condition that shortened his lifespan. Knowing Idgie, the audience already knows the woman’s actual son with Ruth, Buddy, has no such condition. The boy lost his hand at a young age due to an accident, but the same wouldn’t have a negative effect on his lifespan.

Thus, the detail of a fake dead son seems like an unnecessary tale to spin for the sake of a lie. Likewise, the comments Ninny makes about having a crush on Buddy Sr. and marrying Cleo add another instance of unnecessary details. Lastly, the staff around the nursing home seem to have no problem asserting Ninny’s identity as Ninny rather than Idgie or Imogen. Thus, the theory that Ninny is Idgie can be disproved just as easily.

The reason behind this is that in the novel that inspired the film, Ninny and Idgie are clearly portrayed as separate characters without any doubt otherwise. However, the film departs from the book in some places, particularly its depiction of Ninny. As such, it would seem that while Ninny and Idgie are not the same characters in the books, the film leaves enough clues to encourage the audience to believe otherwise.

By doing so, the film adds a distinct element to its narrative, distinguishing itself from its literary counterpart. Moreover, the idea that Ninny is actually Idgie adds a nuanced layer to the film’s narrative. Ultimately, in the film, it’s up to the viewers to interpret the connection between Ninny and Idgie’s characters according to their wishes.

Read More: Is Fried Green Tomatoes Based on a True Story?

SPONSORED LINKS

• Movie Explainers
• TV Explainers

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

amc theatres on demand

watch later

not interested / hide

Play Trailer

subscription

Read our dedicated guide on how to watch Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

10 Best Kid Movies on Netflix

6 Best Streaming Services with Dolby Atmos

6 Best Services to Get an ESPN Free Trial

Amazon Prime Video Review 2024

Hayu vs. Netflix: Which Service Is Right for You?

Renee Cuisia

What it's about.

As southern movies go, Fried Green Tomatoes is inoffensively sweet and realistic—it’s not afraid to touch on the genuine issues that plagued America in the 1930s while also cushioning some blows, as feel-good movies are wont to do. But the film seems less interested in presenting a clear picture of the past than it is in telling a specific tale: that of outsiders forming bonds and making it together in an unforgiving society. 

The main narrator is Ninny, an 83-year-old woman seemingly forgotten by everyone except Evelyn, an unhappy housewife who is “too young to be old and too old to be young.” Ninny recalls the stories of Sipsey and Big George, Black laborers who dared to succeed in their deeply racist community; of Smokey, the town outcast, who still helped people even if he was denied it himself; of Ruth, the domestic abuse victim; and of Idgie, the tomboy who spat on the face of all decorum. Then, of course, there’s the unspoken relationship between Ruth and Idgie, which hint at something quite radical for its time. 

These are all the people conventionally denied happy endings, and in period films, you’d expect to be abandoned in tragedy. But here they sing; they win and lose in equal measure, and even though it might seem like light and familiar fare to some, it still goes down heartily and unforgettably—funnily enough, like a plate of fried green tomatoes.

Add a comment

More like this in, directors under 30 years old, women stories, a-list actors.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

System Crasher (2019)

A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)

A strangely ethical vampire uniquely finds her fangs in this quirky, playful teen romcom

Forgotten Love (2023)

The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama

Wind River (2017)

Sicario's screenwriter directs this story of murder in an Indigenous reserve

Incendies (2011)

Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene

Cold War (2018)

A quiet Polish masterpiece with ravishing music and dazzling visuals

Adam Sandler: Love You (2024)

Stories and lyrics with absurd imagery and a chaotic pace courtesy of Adam Sandler

Short Term 12 (2013)

Sweet, slow-moving, and possibly life-changing, this American drama shines the light on the chaos and crises of social work in America

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Culture and Lifestyle
• Activities and Entertainment
• TV and Movies

11 ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ Movie Facts Even Fans Don’t Know

Fannie Flagg's feel-good story of Southern friendships.

• It Had Different Titles
• It Was Written As A Musical
• It Was A Box Office Smash
• It's Based On A Real Cafe
• There's A Real Whistle Stop Café
• There's Even A Cookbook
• The Stunt Double Quit

Fannie Flagg Appeared In The Film

Harper lee was a big fan.

• Fried Green Tomatoes Gained Popularity

The Movie Received Oscar Nominations

Frequently asked questions.

One of the greatest friendships in Southern fictional history is that of Idgie and Ruth, the two women at the heart of the classic film Fried Green Tomatoes . Based on Fannie Flagg's classic novel, the movie tells the intertwined stories of two friendships . Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) keeps Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) entertained with stories of her colorful past. Ninny's most engaging tales involved the exploits of her free-spirited sister-in-law Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), who owned a small Alabama café in the 1920s, along with her best friend Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker).

Now, Idgie would do absolutely anything to help her dearest friend Ruth, so when Ruth winds up married to a monster of a man, Idgie steps in. The two end up raising Ruth's child together while running a small café in Whistle Stop, Alabama.

The movie has everything—love, friendship, mystery, laughs, and a lot of good food with good friends—as well as impeccable writing and a stellar, Oscar-winning cast. Since its release in 1991, Fried Green Tomatoes has become a staple of Southern cinema .

Yet no matter how many times you've watched it, there is always more to the story. Here are 11 things that even die-hard fans of the Fried Green Tomatoes movie may not know.

The U.S. And U.K. Versions Had Different Titles

Flagg's 1987 novel is titled Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe , which is what the film was called in the U.K. and some other countries. That was apparently too much of a mouthful for U.S. audiences, though, where the film's title was abbreviated to just Fried Green Tomatoes .

It Was Originally Written As A Musical

When he first started the process of bringing Fried Green Tomatoes to the screen, executive producer and director Jon Avnet hired Carol Sobieski. She came up with the idea of doing the story as a musical . Sadly, Avnet was not on board with the idea of Idgie and Ruth singing their way through the story.

It Was A Surprise Box Office Smash

The film was made for $11 million, which makes it low-budget in Hollywood terms. While it wasn't an overnight smash hit, the film eventually grossed a whopping $81,000,000, proving that Southern stories can be loved by all.

The Whistle Stop Was Based On A Real Café In Alabama

Fannie Flagg's great-aunt Bess Fortenberry started running the Irondale Café during the 1930s in the small town of Irondale, which is just outside of Birmingham, Alabama.

There's A Real Whistle Stop Café

While Flagg's real-life inspiration came from Alabama, Hollywood chose the small town of Juliette, Georgia, to stand in for Whistle Stop, and the set was turned into a tourist district. Now, visitors can drive about 20 minutes from Macon, sit at the Whistle Stop Café , and enjoy a plate of fried green tomatoes all day long, just like Idgie and Ruth.

There's Even A Cookbook

After the movie came out, so many people asked for recipes that Flagg ended up writing a cookbook to accompany the film. The Original Whistle Stop Café Cookbook was published in 1993.

The Stunt Double Quit Right Before The Bee Scene

Remember when Idgie is momentarily covered in bees? Well, the stunt woman who was hired for the film was too afraid to actually do the stunt, and she backed out at the last minute. That left actress Mary Stuart Masterson with a tough choice—hold up the film or do the stunt herself. She jumped into the job, working with the buzzing bees, and making for a memorable cinematic moment.

Flagg has a cameo in the movie, playing the leader of a self-help group, who tells the women in attendance: "You can get that spark back into your marriage!" This was not Flagg's first time on camera. She appeared on Match Game throughout the '70s and early '80s and had a role in Grease and Five Easy Pieces .

The reclusive To Kill A Mockingbird author reviewed the book, giving it a rave and saying, "Idgie Threadgoode is a true original: Huckleberry Finn would have tried to marry her!"

Fried Green Tomatoes Weren't Very Popular In The South Before The Film

This may sound like sacrilege to some, but according to Robert Moss, food writer and expert in food history, fried green tomatoes weren't really a Southern dish until the movie made them one. While gardeners across the U.S. would fry up unripe tomatoes instead of letting them wither on the vine, the dish itself was not all that common in the South at the end of the 20th century. Then came the movie and along with it a huge, revived interest in the dish. Soon fried green tomatoes started appearing on menus across the South. "Fried green tomatoes weren't always a marker of Southern cooking," Moss writes, "but they sure are now."

The movie was shot in 10 to 12 weeks, and it scored several Oscar nominations but did not win. Jessica Tandy was nominated for best supporting actress, and Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski were up for best adapted screenplay.

The movie touches on multiple themes, such as aging, domestic abuse, family, lesbianism, gender inequality, and the impact of racism on both black and white people.

At the end of the movie, Ninny is discharged from the nursing home and moves in with Evelyn and Ed. Her home has been torn down, and the Whistle Stop Café has closed.

IMDb. Fried Green Tomatoes Trivia .

Penguin Random House. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Reader's Guide .

Serious Eats. The Hollywood Effect: How Fried Green Tomatoes Became a Southern 'Classic.'

Related Articles

postpostmodernism

Movie Review #1: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Tuwanda kicking off the postpostmodernism project with some personal reflections on jon avnet's fried green tomatoes, a celebration of women's empowerment and the deep, abiding power of friendship..

Postpostmodernism is an exploration of life after postmodernism, investigating both “high art” and “low culture” while casting a critical gaze on Grand Narratives as well as life in the 21st-Century.

Mary-Louise Parker and Mary Stuart Masterson in Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) image credit: Universal Pictures

Thanks for reading postpostmodernism! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

You just don’t see movies like 1991’s Fried Green Tomatoes very much anymore. First of all, its framing story with Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) and Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) centers senior citizens in a way you barely see anymore. Secondly, it doesn’t focus on sexiness. Although there are some steamy bits, mostly in the subtext between young Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), Fried Green Tomatoes is, first and foremost, a story of the deep and abiding power of friendship.

Fried Green Tomatoes begins in the present day of the early ‘90s with Evelyn and her husband Ed (Gailard Sartain) visit his aunt in a senior living facility. Evelyn wanders around after being harangued by Ed’s aunt, where she meets Ninny, who regales her with stories of growing up and living in nearby Whistle Stop, Alabama. She begins with the tragic backstory of Idgie, a misunderstood tomboy who loses her brother, the only person who understands her in the world, to a train accident. Thus begins a wild life, with Idgie bucking every conception of a young lady as she continues to fish, drink, and gamble until all hours of the morning.

Concerned, Idgie’s mother sends for Ruth, the young lady Idgie’s brother was courting, to have a civilizing influence. The opposite ends up happening, with Idgie encouraging Ruth to express herself and live life to the fullest.

This begins a series of exchanges between Evelyn and Ninny, who become fast friends as Evelyn continues to visit, each time getting a new chapter in the exploits of Ruth, Idgie, and Whistle Stop, Alabama. Meanwhile, in her own life, Evelyn is feeling lost and adrift, struggling with disordered eating while being neglected by her husband. She attends weekly women’s empowerment meetings - with some of the movie’s funniest scenes - but they don’t really help. Instead, hearing about Idgie and Ruth is the inspiration she needs to start to stand up and assert herself.

As the flashback narrative unfurls, we find out that Ruth ends up in an abusive marriage with Frank Bennett (Nick Searcy), a nasty piece of business with a habit of running around in bedsheets once the sun goes down as a member of the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. After Idgie discovers Frank is abusing Ruth, she shows up in Georgia to rescue her when Ruth’s mother dies. They return to Whistle Stop, where they’re given the funds to open a restaurant by Papa Threadgoode (Danny Nelson).

Ruth and Idgie at the Whistle Stop Cafe image credit: Universal Pictures

Although successful, the cafe is controversial as it serves the town’s African-American residents as well as the white. This emboldens Frank and his KKK buddies to terrorize the restaurant, even going so far as to attempt to lynch their friend and employee Big George (Stan Shaw), in some of the movie’s most distressing scenes. Frank returns in short order to attempt to kidnap his infant son, at which point he goes missing.

This sends the film rocketing towards its riveting conclusion, which is far darker, more hardcore and intense than you’d expect from such a life-affirming movie. I’ll not say more, in case anyone’s not yet seen Fried Green Tomatoes. I’ll suffice it to say… “the secret's in the sauce.”

Idgie, Ruth, and Buddy image credit: Universal Pictures

Personal Thoughts on Fried Green Tomatoes

I’m kicking off this new project and space with a review and some personal thoughts on Fried Green Tomatoes as it falls somewhere between “official criticism” and memoir. I first saw this movie in the movie theater with my Mom when I was a little boy. My dad had passed away two years prior and, to be honest, neither my Mom or I had a ton of friends. I can truthfully say between the ages of probably 9 and 13, my Mom was my best friend.

We’d constantly be going to the movies, where we’d take turns switching off between whatever schlock was being peddled to 11-year old boys at that time and the sort of fare directed at aging housewives. I thought it was appropriate to start here as 1. it’s Mother’s Day and 2. Fried Green Tomatoes is not your usual fare for young boys.

Except I absolutely loved it, as well as being horrified and gutted at the way people treated Kathy Bates, in the present day, as well as the women and People of Color in the flashback sequences. It wasn’t as much of a leap as you might imagine. I was already obsessed with period pieces, which remains true to this day, and had a tenderness and a burgeoning social conscience from growing up with movies like these. I can truthfully say that movies like Fried Green Tomatoes, The Color Purple , The Power of One and so on are directly responsible for making me the anti-racist and ardent feminist I am today.

None of these observations seem suitable for “official criticism,” but they absolutely inform how I view Fried Green Tomatoes 30+ years later. Also, I think it should, which strikes at some of what I hope to investigate in this new space and project.

As far as an “official assessment,” Fried Green Tomatoes is not without its critiques. Some take issues with its white savior narrative and the way the Black characters are depicted. Others accuse the movie of lesbian erasure, as it is very strongly implied that Ruth and Idgie are not just “good friends” but, in fact, lovers. There’s also a passing reference to Ninny having a neurodivergent child who is mentioned in passing and then just…. disappears. All of these observations are valid, and worth keeping in mind when you’re watching the movie.

Fried Green Tomatoes is a good movie, nonetheless. It depicts real feminist issues in a highly real and relatable way. It depicts real people with real bodies struggling with real-life issues. Your heart breaks when Evelyn admits to hiding candy bars around the house. You rejoice when she stops taking shit, wrecking a pair of young women’s car with one of the movie’s most memorable lines - “sorry, girls. I’m older and have better insurance.”

Add in some lovely period details, with all of the antique trucks and beer bottles you could ever hope, and you’ve got yourself a true classic ‘90s movie that’s well worth your time and attention.

R.I.P. Phyllis Ann Real Simpson Frost. You will be missed more than you can ever know.

Welcome to Postpostmodernism, a newsletter and soon to be website founded by cultural critic J. Simpson to investigate life after postmodernism, in a bid to make sense of this world we’re living in. We’ll be bringing you book reviews, film criticism, art, design, essays, and thinkpieces on every aspect of modern living.

This space is now live, followed shortly by its compasion website PostPostmodernism.org , so bookmark that website, subscribe, and tell your friends!

Thank you for reading postpostmodernism. This post is public so feel free to share it.

J. Simpson is a prolific academic writer, journalist, and critic, specializing in dark, experimental, and avant-garde art. You can follow him on Letterboxd , Twitter , Instagram , Threads , BlueSky , and GoodReads .

Buy J A Coffee !

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

• TV Listings
• Cast & Crew

Fried Green Tomatoes Reviews

• 64   Metascore
• 2 hr 10 mins
• Drama, Comedy
• Watchlist Where to Watch

A neglected housewife makes an unexpected friend at a nursing home, where she hears a true tale about an independent woman in 1920s Alabama, who ran the town diner, served food to people of color and protected her sister-in-law from an abusive spouse.

Past and present are winningly blended in the gentle comedy FRIED GREEN TOMATOES which became a "sleeper" hit with audiences. Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), an overweight, repressed housewife, meets and befriends Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy), a remarkable octogenarian. Ninny is a permanent resident, though she won't admit it, at a rest home for the aged where Evelyn accompanies her husband Ed (Gailard Sartain) on his weekly visits to his gruff aunt. The aged Alabaman begins to enthrall Evelyn with the fascinating life story--seen in flashback--of one of her relatives, Idgie Threadgoode. An early proto-feminist, Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) owns and operates the local cafe in Whistle Stop, Alabama. Traumatized as a girl by the gory death of a beloved older brother, Idgie has remained a tomboy loner all her life, taking to the trees when the world around her gets to be too much. Idgie literally rescues her best friend, Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), from Ruth's marriage to the abusive Frank Bennett (Nick Searcy). Bringing her young baby with her, Ruth moves in with Idgie and the two women soon have a thriving business at the cafe, with Ruth doing the cooking and Idgie handling the bookwork. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES is an engaging if sentimental tale, charmingly handled by producer-turned-director Jon Avnet (RISKY BUSINESS) and flawlessly acted by its four female stars. Plaudits must also go to Geoffrey Simpson, for his splendid cinematography, and to Thomas Newman for his drama-enhancing musical score.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 82% Speak No Evil Link to Speak No Evil
• 77% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• 95% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge

New TV Tonight

• 90% The Penguin: Season 1
• 86% High Potential: Season 1
• 40% Frasier: Season 2
• 17% Emmys: Season 76
• -- American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez: Season 1
• -- Agatha All Along: Season 1
• -- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Season 2
• -- Twilight of the Gods: Season 1
• -- Tulsa King: Season 2
• -- A Very Royal Scandal: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 61% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 74% Kaos: Season 1
• 63% The Old Man: Season 2
• 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 100% Dark Winds: Season 2
• 100% Slow Horses: Season 4
• 88% How to Die Alone: Season 1
• 99% Shōgun: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 95% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1 Link to Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Weekend Box Office: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Holds on to Top Spot

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

• Trending on RT
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Spanish-Language Movies
• Re-Release Calendar

Essential Spanish Language Movies

New additions include Society of the Snow , When Evil Lurks Huesera: The Bone Woman

Box Office: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Stays on Top

Speak No Evil leads lackluster new releases

2024 Emmy Winners

Big night for Shogun , Hacks , and The Bear

Box Office 2024: Top 10 of the Year

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is currently 9th highest-grossing with $188 million

Emmys Red Carpet Arrival

76th Primetime Emmy Awards

Movie Re-Release Calendar

Back in theaters this week: The Matrix , The Babadook , Whiplash and more

James McAvoy on Becoming Paddy in Speak No Evil

"He's like a smiling predator..."

Transformers One First Reviews

Critics say it's the best Transformers movie yet

100 Best Netflix Movies

Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Firefies streaming now

50 Best Action Movies of 2024

See where The Killer's Game plays out

New & Now In Theaters

WATCH AT HOME

Popular streaming movies.

• Rebel Ridge 95%
• Longlegs 85%
• Civil War 81%
• Ghostlight 99%
• The Crow 23%
• Hit Man 95%
• The Deliverance 35%
• The Perfect Couple 61%
• The Penguin 90%
• The Old Man 63%
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power 85%
• Dark Winds 100%
• Slow Horses 100%
• Kevin Can F**k Himself 91%
• How to Die Alone 88%

Coming Soon To Theaters

Latest certified fresh movies & tv, new reviews added, new tv this week.

• High Potential 86%
• Frasier 40%
• American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez
• Agatha All Along
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
• Twilight of the Gods
• A Very Royal Scandal

Top 10 Box Office

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 77%
• Speak No Evil 82%
• Deadpool & Wolverine 78%
• Am I Racist?
• The Killer's Game 39%
• Alien: Romulus 80%
• It Ends With Us 57%
• The Forge 73%
• God's Not Dead: In God We Trust

Trailers & Videos

Speak no evil.

James McAvoy breaks down his process of becoming Paddy in Speak No Evil

The Wild Robot

Check out the official trailer for The Wild Robot starring Lupita Nyong’o!

Smile 2 , Terrffier 3 , and More

Our recommendations for what horror films to watch this Fall

Pachinko : Season 2

Lee Min-ho is spilling some season 2 secrets

The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Cast on Reuniting with Tim Burton

Plus, how Micheal Keaton brought back his iconic character

Movie & TV guides

Verified Hot Movies

Discover What to Watch

Best Movies of All Time

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Help Kids Build Character Strengths with Quality Media

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Fried green tomatoes.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 12 Reviews
• Kids Say 13 Reviews

Parents Say

Based on 12 parent reviews

Parent Reviews

A wonderful way to teach your children to always stand up for what is right..

This title has:

• Great messages
• Great role models

Report this review

On the right side of history, inspirational story, bates gives a top-notch performance.

• Too much violence

Warm and Rewarding "Best Friends" movie

One of the greatest movies of the 90s.

• Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

A good adaptation of my favorite novel

What to watch next.

Thelma and Louise

The Shawshank Redemption

Cult Classics

Best classic comedy films, related topics.

• Book Characters

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Screen Rant

$119m oscar-nominated movie emerges on netflix chart 33 years later.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

30 Best Movies On Netflix Right Now (September 2024)

What if empire strikes back’s director created attack of the clones instead of george lucas, emma stone's divisive black comedy becomes streaming success following disappointing box office.

• Fried Green Tomatoes , an acclaimed 1991 film, has found renewed success on Netflix's Top 10 list.
• The film, based on the Fannie Flagg novel, was nominated for 2 Oscars.
• Despite being over 30 years old, Fried Green Tomatoes has resonated with audiences and deserves a rewatch, as it continues to captivate viewers on Netflix.

Oscar-nominated drama Fried Green Tomatoes emerges on the Netflix Top 10 decades later. Directed by Jon Avnet, the 1991 movie tells the story of a downtrodden housewife who befriends a woman at a nursing home and becomes transfixed by the stories that she tells about her life. Fried Green Tomatoes features a leading cast of Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker, Cicely Tyson, and Chris O’Donnell.

Years after its release, Fried Green Tomatoes finds success again on Netflix ’s United States Top 10. The movie came in at No. 9 on the chart for the week of January 22 to January 28. Topping the list this week were The Hill and The Legend of Tarzan, both of which are in their second weeks. This is the first week Fried Green Tomatoes has charted.

From Godzilla Minus One to Under Paris and The Gentlemen, here are our picks for the best movies on Netflix for everyone to enjoy this month.

On The Legacy of Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes is based on the Fannie Flagg novel of the same name. The story is known for portraying a heartwarming friendship without developing a saccharine feel, as the story contains serious themes, including run-ins with the Ku Klux Klan in Ninny's recollection of her 1920s Alabama town. Fried Green Tomatoes is also notable for its portrayal of a deep connection between female characters Ruth and Igdie, who are typically interpreted to be in love in the film.

The interweaving of these various elements in Fried Green Tomatoes has contributed to its enduring legacy. The film was also well received during its time, receiving Oscar nominations in 1992 for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Tandy. It is also one of the last movies released starring Tandy, who died in 1994 at the age of 85.

Tandy lost the Best Supporting Actress Oscar to The Fisher King 's Mercedes Ruehl, and the movie lost out on Best Adapted Screenplay to The Silence of the Lambs .

Given its lasting themes, it is nice to see Fried Green Tomatoes regain success on Netflix. Since it is 33 years old at this point, it is slightly unclear how the movie managed to make the list amid several newer films (e.g. Lift and The Super Mario Bros. Movie ). In 2020, a Fried Green Tomatoes TV show was reportedly in development, though no news has since developed on the matter. Nonetheless, Fried Green Tomatoes deserves a rewatch, and hopefully will get even more views after its exposure on the United States Top 10 chart.

Source: Netflix

‘Green Tomatoes’: Why a Little Film Bloomed : Movies: Film starts slowly at the box office but word of mouth, themes, strong cast ignite interest in the $11-million work.

• Copy Link URL Copied!

When “Fried Green Tomatoes” opened to mixed reviews in the last week of 1991, the film seemed destined to be lost amid the higher profile movies also debuting that week--Barbra Streisand’s “The Prince of Tides,” Oliver Stone’s “JFK,” and Lawrence Kasdan’s “Grand Canyon,” not to mention such on-going hits as “Hook,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Father of the Bride.”

But since its opening on only five screens nationally, interest in “Fried Green Tomatoes” has ignited.

“There is a strong word of mouth on this movie,” said John Krier, the owner of Exhibitor Relations Co., Inc., a firm that tracks box-office data. “When they like it in the smaller towns, that’s a sure sign it’s going to be a success.”

For seven weeks, the film’s distributor, Universal Pictures, has systematically expanded the number of theaters where “Fried Green Tomatoes” is showing, to the current 1,229 screens. That was not the typical approach in a business where hit movies, such as “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle” or “Medicine Man,” this past weekend’s box-office leader, typically open “wide,” in more than a thousand theaters.

In the weekend just ended, “Fried Green Tomatoes” sold an estimated $6.1 million worth of tickets, enough business to keep it third or fourth in the nation, based on preliminary figures, down from second a week ago. But its drop in business was minimal--estimated by sources at under 10%--compared to the drop-off of 20% or better among other continuing films.

The box-office gross of $25.4 million to date is not bad for a film that cost $11 million to produce, which is low by major studio standards. With word of mouth still ripe, and potential Oscar nominations in the wings, some feel this batch of tomatoes has only begun to start sizzling at the box office.

“The whole thing is such a turnaround from last September,” recalled the film’s director, Jon Avnet, who made his feature film directing debut with “Tomatoes.” September was the month when several newspapers published lists of what movies were coming out for Christmas.

“I would look down those lists and see the other titles, and I would think: It’s such a long shot, how is anyone going to even know about it?”

One reason suggested by some in the industry for the popularity of “Fried Green Tomatoes” is a bigger-than-expected market for “women’s” films.

“At least half the movies in the current Top 10 are those that hold a special appeal to women,” noted one theater chain executive. And among video rentals, the arrival in video stores of “Thelma & Louise,” a film about female rebellion against men, knocked the macho action picture “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” out of first place.

In addition to “Fried Green Tomatoes,” among the movies in last week’s Top 10 were: “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,” which touches on fears of child safety; “The Father of the Bride,” about the comical preparations for a marriage; the love story “The Prince of Tides”; “Shining Through,” a melodrama involving a female spy; and “Beauty and the Beast,” an animated love story with a feminist twist.

Yet, all these films have moved beyond the original perceptions to become broader-appealing hits. Universal Pictures executives say this pattern has been true for “Fried Green Tomatoes,” which initially was perceived in the industry as a movie appealing to women, as well as an older audience.

One of the film’s producers, Norman Lear, said the perception was based on the fact that the cast is led by two Oscar winners for best actress, who do not conform to Hollywood’s glamorized view of leading ladies--the veteran actress Jessica Tandy (“Driving Miss Daisy”) and Kathy Bates (“Misery”). And the film also stars two lesser-known, younger actresses, Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker.

Director Avnet, who was the producer of the commercially successful Tom Cruise hit “Risky Business,” said he knew from the beginning that “Fried Green Tomatoes” would be different and a tough sell.

“A plot summary of the story would never do this story any justice,” he said. It didn’t, when he first took the film to Universal Pictures and to Lear’s ACT III Communications. And it wouldn’t work in trying to sell the movie to the public, either, he said.

“When you hear the word of mouth on this picture, it’s not about what happens in the movie.” The talk, Avnet said, focuses on the four quirky characters, who are, simply, strong individuals and enduring friends.

“This story is about old-fashioned friendships that are less cosmopolitan and more caring than we know today,” Avnet added. “That may be at the core of what makes this such a strong experience.”

“Fried Green Tomatoes” is set in the South of the present and of 50 years ago. In the present, Evelyn Couch (Bates) is a frustrated, overweight housewife, whose husband ignores her. Her only outlet is a rewarding friendship that develops with Ninny Threadgoode (Tandy), who lives in a Birmingham, Ala., nursing home. The older woman begins telling her tales of her younger days in the town of Whistle Stop, Ala.

In her past, there was Idgie Threadgoode (Masterson) and her intimate friend Ruth (Parker). Together, they ran the Whistle Stop Cafe where such dishes as fried chicken, berry pies and fried green tomatoes are served. From these stories, Bates’ character derives a sense of empowerment that enables her to take control over her own life.

The screenplay, by Fannie Flagg and Avnet, is based on Flagg’s late 1980’s novel, “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.”

“It does hit basic issues among women--support, friendship and loyalty,” said Madelyn Fenton, the director of marketing and advertising for the multi-state AMC Theaters chain. “But it appeals to the ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ crowd as well.” The reference was to the 1989 movie that also was set in the South and starred Tandy. “Daisy” won the Oscar for best picture and became a popular hit, grossing more than $100 million.

Lear said the movie “is touching something that is very deep. I’m getting mail and calls and the message is always the same: In this very alienated time, it’s invoking the longing for friendships and connections.”

Lear credited part of the current success to the nurturing by Universal--the platformed opening pattern, from a few to more than a thousand screens. “They let it bloom,” he said.

“There’s also tremendous goodwill among audiences for the two Academy Award winners (Tandy and Bates),” Lear said.

As audience surveys began revealing a strong appeal to younger audiences, Lear said advertising images were altered to include the additional images of the two younger female actresses. And commercial time was purchased on programs that have primarily younger demographics.

Current surveys show audiences for the film span all age groups and pull in both sexes nearly equally, according to Universal.

“It’s been a discovery for people,” said Universal’s Si Kornblit, executive vice president of worldwide marketing. “Movies like this are hard to capsulize in 30-second commercials. So what we’re seeing is the result of word of mouth. It’s interesting to note that in almost all locations, the second week’s business has been better than the first.”

“These women don’t fit into the mold of what Hollywood thinks of women,” said Sally Van Slyke, Universal’s senior vice president of marketing, who said she took a special interest in the film.

“These women are not victims, they’re survivors. That’s the greatness of this story.”

More to Read

The 8 best movies (and one TV show) we saw at the Toronto International Film Festival

Sept. 12, 2024

Sixty years ago, a photographer rolled with a biker gang. Now his life is a movie

June 19, 2024

Glynis Johns, Tony winner and ‘Mary Poppins’ actor, dies at 100

Jan. 4, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Eric Roberts has no use for fame anymore. He just wants to work

Review: ‘Look Into My Eyes’ is a compassionate profile of psychics, not out to scam but connect

Sept. 13, 2024

Review: In ‘My Old Ass,’ an uncertain teen speaks to her future self, with wry two-way wisdom

Chad McQueen, ‘Karate Kid’ actor and son of legend Steve McQueen, dies at 63

Most read in movies.

Ready to become the filmmaker in his head, Jesse Eisenberg levels up with ‘A Real Pain’

Sept. 6, 2024

Review: A notorious day in L.A. history becomes the backdrop of a so-so heist thriller in ‘1992’

Aug. 29, 2024

How the prison-set ‘Sing Sing’ captures the magic of acting

July 12, 2024

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

(LL, VV, A, D, AB, Ho, M, B) 4 obscenities, 8 profanities; one boy run over by a train, another boy's arm cut off by train, murder, & three beatings, including wife abuse; smoking, drinking and gambling portrayed as liberating; negative stereotype of minister and church in general; lying shown as beneficial; hints of lesbianism & radical feminism; and, use of deceased villain's remains in a barbecue sauce is treated as humorous. However, some positive references to God.

More Detail:

In FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, Evelyn Couch can’t pry her husband from the TV. While visiting a nursing home, she listens to Ninny Threadgoode’s tales about life 60 years ago with Idgie Threadgoode and her friend, Ruth Jamison. In flashbacks, we find that Idgie “liberates” Ruth into the exciting world of drinking, gambling, fighting, and stealing. When Ruth marries a wife-beating racist, Idgie threatens death to the husband unless he leaves. The women open a cafe, and the husband returns. He threatens everyone and disappears. When Ruth dies, we learn that her husband was killed by a black employee. To dispose of the body, Idgie mixed it into the cafe’s barbecue sauce. (This cannibalism is treated as a clever joke.) In the end, Evelyn brings Ninny Threadgoode (really Idgie) home with her.

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES is a tacky effort to dress up worn out feminist cliches in ruffled sleeves and southern drawls. According to the film, to be liberated means to drink, gamble, fight, get a job, and tell men where to get off, or cannibalize them if they don’t. The Church is mocked, and the local preacher’s only redeeming act is lying at Idgie’s trial in order to save her.

Providing content for Lesbians and Queer Women worldwide since 1989

Film Review: Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes is a classic film based on the incredible novel by Fannie Flagg.

Though it might seem an odd choice as a lesbian film, there are nuances that cannot be ignored. In fact, in 2008, it was reported on afterellen.com that Fannie Flagg, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Mary-Louise Parker all advocated for the film to depict the lesbian relationship between Idgie and Ruth that was written in the book.

Unfortunately, Jon Avnet (the director), along with all of the producers, decided against it. Avnet has said that the food fight scene is the one truly “intimate” scene, and is an analogy for their romance.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café is a novel that tackles many issues, including the complex relationship between Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison. In the film, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Mary-Louise Parker bring these women, and their complex relationship, to life. Kathy Bates, Gailard Sartain, and Jessica Tandy provide the framing story, the story telling of the lives of Idgie and Ruth, and they also provide the comic relief. Everyone in this cast is simply perfect.

This movie really focuses on the strength and depth of Idgie and Ruth. Though they are young southern women, they both have an indomitable spirit. Their bond is strong from the beginning. They are anything but weak. They fight the world, they fight prejudice. They even fight each other. In the end, they are stronger together, and nothing will ever change that.

Idgie is clearly in love with Ruth from the beginning. Though the lesbianism is severely downplayed, it is still undeniable. When Ruth goes and marries Frank Bennett, Idgie is devastated. It breaks her heart – and her soul. In a fateful twist, Ruth suffers at his hands, and Idgie rescues her. From that moment on, their devotion to each other is never tested again.

In fact, the women resume a life and a love that is both atypical and amazing. They open the Whistlestop Café. Through that venture, their bonds, as well as their outside friendships solidify even more. They become a family.

Just when life seems to be going well, abusive husband Frank Bennett returns. He attempts to kidnap his and Ruth’s son. Unfortunately for him, she is very well protected by her new family.

Once again, life slowly returns to its usual routine, though an investigator from Georgia appears, and begins to poke and prod around, trying to locate the missing Frank Bennett. Frank’s car is found at the bottom of the lake, but his body is never recovered.

A trial hearing begins. During this trial, Ruth confesses her love to Idgie publically. It is one of the most profound moments in the entire film. The case is eventually dismissed when the local pastor gives an alibi that the women were at a revival when Frank Bennett went missing.

The two women remain inseparable until Ruth succumbs to cancer.

Fried Green Tomatoes is a prolific movie that challenges notions of race and bigotry, prejudices against the homeless and those in great need, and the definition of love. The cast is completely perfect.

Though the movie does not depict the relationship between Idgie and Ruth in nearly as much detail as the book, it is still a classic lesbian film.

Join our email list

'Emily in Paris' Future at Netflix Has Been Decided

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

There's no place like Rome. In a fast move, that shocked no one, Netflix announced that the hit series Emily in Paris is officially renewed for Season 5. The news comes just four days after Part 2 of Season 4 premiered on the platform. The latest batch of episodes confirmed that fans are still very much interested in the title character's (played by Lily Collins ) adventures in Europe, and she'll keep coming back for more.

The question on fans' minds now is... will the series keep its title? Season 4 was all about teasing different cities that might serve as a new home for Emily, and by the season finale (titled "All Roads Lead to Rome"), the woman made a pretty bold decision to neglect work and spend some time in Italy. It could be just a one-episode thing, but Emily ended up accepting to run Sylvie's ( Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu ) Agence Grateau office in Rome, which suggested to viewers that the fashionista will relocate in the upcoming season.

Last week, Emily in Paris showrunner Darren Star ( Sex and the City ) addressed the change in scenery in the series and teased that there's plenty for Emily to explore in Rome, but "but it doesn’t mean that we’re leaving Paris." Star added that including Rome in the series' itinerary just expands its scope, and it's a good change to shake-up Emily's life just as she was getting adjusted to Paris. Additionally, there are still plenty of storylines for viewers to follow in Paris, since Gabriel ( Lucas Bravo ) finally was able to get his Michelin star.

Emily In Paris Season 4 Was A Hit

The news of Emily In Paris ' renewal doesn't come as a shock to anyone who's been keeping an eye on Netflix's most watched titles section . Season 4 of the rom-com not only debuted as the most-watched title on the platform, but it also motivated viewers to binge-watch past seasons in order to either remember the story or catch up in time to check out the new episodes — and this made past seasons of the show also enter the top 10 most-watched lists over the last few weeks.

The renewal is also excellent news for fans because Season 4 left viewers with several cliffhangers to address. In her review of Season 4 Part 2 , Collider's Emily Cappello called the season finale "jaw-dropping" due to its decision to upend Emily's life just when the series was in need of this kind of twist . It's too early to say how Season 5 will be impacted by the changes, but for now, the exciting move will motivate fans to come back and find out what happens next.

You can stream all episodes of Emily In Paris on Netflix.

Emily in Paris

Stream on Netflix

• Lily Collins