Steal Big Steal Little

Steal Big Steal Little

Year: 1995

Runtime: 113 mins

Language: English

Director: Andrew Davis

Budget: $35M

ComedyDrama

Ruben and Robby are twin brothers raised by Mona, Santa Barbara’s eccentric billionaire. When Mona bequeaths her estate to Ruben, a bitter feud erupts. Ruben teams with ex‑Chicago cop‑turned‑used‑car dealer Lou Perilli, while Robby hires ruthless businessman Reed Tyler. Family lawyer Eddie Agopian circles both sides, caring only about profit. Their rivalry spirals into madness, mayhem and attempted murder in this dark comedy about greed, power and twisted brotherly love.

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Timeline & Setting – Steal Big Steal Little (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Steal Big Steal Little (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1990s

The events unfold in the contemporary mid-1990s, a time when big family fortunes and rural ranches collide with modern legal schemes. Local authorities and powerful business interests form a backdrop for the drama, with the ranch serving as the central stage for conflicts between family, money, and legitimacy. The era's style and dialogue reflect a blend of crime thriller and family drama of that period.

Location

Santa Barbara, California, Chicago, Illinois, Mexico

Set primarily on Ruben's 40,000-acre ranch in Santa Barbara, California, the story also moves to Chicago where Laura encounters trouble, and to Mexico as the money disappears. The ranch town atmosphere frames a close-knit community of workers and friends living on the vast property. The settings contrast rural wealth with urban trouble as the plot unravels.

❄️ Drama ⚖️ Justice 💰 Wealth

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:34

Main Characters – Steal Big Steal Little (1995)

Meet the key characters of Steal Big Steal Little (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ruben Martinez (Andy García)

Mild-mannered and loyal, Ruben is the rightful heir to the 40,000-acre Santa Barbara ranch. He must navigate his wife’s departure and his brother’s manipulation while keeping his friends and workers together.

💼 Family 🏡 Ranch 🕊️ Loyalty

Robby Martin (Andy García)

Ruben’s slick and unscrupulous twin, Robby schemes to seize the ranch for himself. He hides his true nature behind charm, driving the conflict with calculated deception.

💼 Family 🤑 Greed

Laura (Rachel Ticotin)

Ruben’s wife who leaves him, unsettled by infidelity and torn between love and suspicion. Her choices push the plot toward a reckoning with Robby’s true role.

💔 Relationship 💬 Communication

Lou Perilli (Alan Arkin)

A timid used-car salesman who becomes Ruben’s reluctant ally in the legal fight. He improvises as a makeshift investigator and advocate, helping Ruben confront the corrupt system.

🧭 Outsider 🧰 Resourcefulness

Eddie Agopian (Joe Pantoliano)

The family lawyer who disappears with money, triggering the investigation. His absence exposes the financial and legal vulnerabilities facing Ruben and his ranch.

🗂️ Lawyer 💸 Disappearance

Nick Zingaro (Richard Bradford)

A tough debt collector who becomes entangled in the tensions surrounding the debts and threats linked to the ranch and Robby’s scheme.

🕵️‍♂️ Debt 🥊 Confrontation

Sheriff Otis (Charles Rocket)

A local lawman whose authority is compromised by money and influence, contributing to the corrupt environment surrounding the ranch.

🕶️ Power 👮 Sheriff

Judge Winton Myers (David Ogden Stiers)

A judge whose impartiality is questioned as the case against Ruben unravels in a tainted courtroom, revealing the reach of the powerful Tycoon's interests.

⚖️ Courtroom 🗳️ Justice

Reed Tyler (Kevin McCarthy)

A powerful businessman whose business interests with Robby set the stakes high, driving the conspiracy against Ruben and his ranch.

🏦 Influence 💼 Business

Mona Rowland-Downey (Holland Taylor)

Clifford Downey’s wife and the ranch matriarch who leaves the ranch to Ruben, setting the stage for inheritance drama and family dynamics.

🏠 Inheritance 👩‍👧 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:34

Major Themes – Steal Big Steal Little (1995)

Explore the central themes of Steal Big Steal Little (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Twin Identity

Two brothers share a single name and a single fate, creating a tense dynamic of deception and loyalty. Robby's slick manipulation contrasts Ruben's mild-mannered integrity, driving the central conflict over the ranch's control.

⚖️ Corruption

Corrupt officials and a compromised legal system threaten Ruben's ability to protect the ranch. Eddie's disappearance, along with the sheriff and judge's complicity, reveals how power can bend justice.

💰 Wealth & Power

The vast Downey ranch represents wealth and influence that others seek to seize. The plot exposes how money can corrupt relationships and steer communities toward manipulation, vulnerability, and revenge.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:34

Unlock the Full Story of Steal Big Steal Little

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Steal Big Steal Little Summary

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Steal Big Steal Little Summary

Steal Big Steal Little Timeline

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Steal Big Steal Little Timeline

More About Steal Big Steal Little

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