Tin Men

Two rival aluminum siding salesmen collide after a minor car mishap, and the heated tangle that follows drags them into a war of wits and egos set in 1963 Baltimore. BB Babowsky, a fast-talking veteran played by Richard Dreyfuss, squares off against Ernest Tilley, a wily competitor portrayed by Danny DeVito. What begins as a petty dispute over a damaged bumper becomes a test of nerve, ethics, and endurance as each man amps up schemes to outmaneuver the other. The film blends sharp humor with a bruised look at ambition, friendship, and pride in a working class city where every sale counts.

Directed by Barry Levinson and released in 1987, Tin Men sits among his Baltimore set comedies. It stars Richard Dreyfuss and Danny DeVito as rival salesmen, with Barbara Hershey and John Mahoney in supporting roles. The film blends wit with social detail that marks Levinson's early style.

Box office figures for Tin Men are not widely cited, reflecting its status as a solid but modest performer in the late 1980s. It earned respect from critics for its performances and period flavor, rather than chasing blockbuster numbers. Its modest box office left room for later appreciation.

Culturally Tin Men stands as a polished example of Barry Levinson's urban satire. It spots the postwar sales culture with humor and realism, showing two men pushing each other toward new extremes. The film helped anchor the era's look at commercial incentives and male competition, echoing in later works that examine office rivalries.

Reception at the time highlighted strong performances by Dreyfuss and DeVito and Levinson's knack for social observation. Critics noted a sharp voice in its portrayal of 1960s business ethics and a changing city, while some found the pacing uneven. The film leans into themes of rivalry, aging, loyalty, and the price of ambition in a market that rewards aggression.