Film

Troop Beverly Hills

Name: Troop Beverly Hills
Genre: Family, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 1989
Cast: Shelley Long, Craig T. Nelson, Betty Thomas, Mary Gross, Carla Gugino

Comedy

A 1989 comedy about a newly divorced Beverly Hills socialite who becomes a Wilderness Girls troop leader, bringing high fashion and low survival skills to the wilderness. It's a cheerful, broad film that appeals to families and nostalgic 80s audiences—think aspirational comedy with heart, not sharp edges.

TMDb rating

2.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you have a soft spot for broad, big-hearted 1980s comedies where a privileged misfit blunders into a community she never expected and wins it over with sheer nerve.

Skip it if you want sharp, grounded realism; the jokes are broad, the plot is predictable, and the film leans on its goofy premise rather than surprising you with it.

What it asks of you: About ninety minutes of easygoing, episodic comedy with a bright, cheerful tone; it asks for little more than a willingness to laugh at slapstick and go along with its sunny sincerity.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Working Girl1988

A smart, funny comedy about a woman finding her footing after a major life shake-up. Like Troop Beverly Hills, it celebrates ambition and reinvention with charm and genuine warmth, with excellent ensemble chemistry.

But It's more romantic and career-focused than adventure-driven, so if you're after outdoor comedy hijinks, the tone shifts significantly.

Outrageous Fortune1987

Two women on an unlikely adventure, trading witty banter and getting into ridiculous scrapes. Same era, same spirit of female friendship and comedy, with Shelley Long's energy channeled into a buddy-cop dynamic.

But It's faster-paced and meaner-spirited than Troop Beverly Hills, with darker edges that won't appeal to anyone seeking pure sweetness.

Nine to Five1980

An ensemble comedy about women supporting each other through professional chaos, with real stakes and surprising heart beneath the broad humour. The same balance of accessibility and genuine character work.

But It's a workplace film, not an adventure, and feels significantly less frothy than Troop Beverly Hills, even if the spirit is kindred.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Troop Beverly Hills

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Heavyweights1995

Both centre on a flawed outsider who becomes a troop leader and transforms a ragtag group's sense of possibility through sheer force of personality and care, not authority. Same spiritual DNA.

A summer-camp comedy about an unlikely leader transforming a community through unconventional methods and genuine care for the outcasts around them. Director Barry Levinson brings the same emotional sincerity to ensemble comedy—this isn't cynical; it believes in redemption through connection.

But It's genuinely weird tonally, lurching between kids' slapstick and real pathos, and Ben Stiller's manic energy won't appeal to everyone.

Beaches1988

A female-centred ensemble film about friendship, ambition, and life's unexpected turns. Hits similar emotional beats about women supporting women, though with more melodrama and tears mixed into the laughs.

But It's far more sentimental and deals with heavier themes—you're signing up for a good cry, not just a fun afternoon.

Steel Magnolias1989

Released the same year, it celebrates female friendship with warmth and humour. The ensemble cast dynamic and emphasis on women bonding over shared challenges will feel familiar in spirit.

But It's a drama with tragedy at its core, so the overall mood is richer and sadder—completely different emotional weather from Troop Beverly Hills.

The Parent Trap1998

A Disney film about reinvention and family, with a similar lightness and optimism. The broad comedy and high-stakes personal growth for the protagonist carries the same emotional DNA.

But It's focused on children, not a middle-aged woman's journey, so the stakes and humour scales are entirely different.

Overboard1987

A broad 80s comedy with Goldie Hawn discovering herself through an unexpected life upheaval. It has the same colour-saturated charm and working-with-others-to-succeed energy.

But The premise relies on deception in ways some find dated or uncomfortable, and it plays broader in places Troop Beverly Hills keeps grounded.

Jumpin' Jack Flash1986

Whoopi Goldberg as a woman drawn into espionage, finding agency and confidence through chaos. The same 80s energy of a woman rising to an impossible occasion with humour and guts.

But It's a spy thriller first and a comedy second, so expectations should recalibrate—less heart, more intrigue.

Moonlight2016

Both films understand that belonging is not trivial. Troop Beverly Hills finds humour in that need; Moonlight finds tragedy and grace. Same core conviction: being known matters more than anything.

Three chapters in a Black man's life, how friendship, identity, and resilience emerge from humble circumstances. Shot with visual poetry and emotional precision. A profound meditation on coming-of-age and connection without a single laugh.

But This is a serious, slow-burn drama about marginalization and pain—it's the opposite of 1989 family comedy, and requires complete emotional investment.

Singin' in the Rain1952

The exact same engine: a protagonist discovers purpose by gathering misfits, and their collective energy transforms everything. Troop Beverly Hills learned its structure from films like this one.

A 1952 musical where charismatic leads transform a struggling show through sheer optimism and ensemble work. Pure joy in performance and collaboration. The DNA of every feel-good ensemble film that followed.

But It's a vintage Hollywood musical in Technicolor—if you're not prepared for song-and-dance or the era's theatrical register, it will feel impossibly dated.