Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in the US on Netflix, and in the UK on ITVX Premium. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 1,486 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Kathy Bates — stay for everyone else around them. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Fried Green Tomatoes is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Fried Green Tomatoes land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Amidst her own personality crisis, a southern housewife meets an outgoing old woman who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison, two young women who experienced hardships and love in 1920s Whistle Stop, Alabama. Between them, Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 1991. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Fried Green Tomatoes holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Fried Green Tomatoes. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Kathy Bates's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.