Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1993 · 93 mins · English
JustWatch #1,606 21
Directed by
Penelope Spheeris
Starring
Cloris Leachman, Lyman Ward, Lily Tomlin, Dabney Coleman, Lea Thompson, Rob Schneider

When a modest Arkansas oilman strikes it rich, Jed Clampett and his family relocate to opulent Beverly Hills. Their rustic innocence clashes with the city's sophisticated world, leading to comic misunderstandings, especially as Jed's search for a new wife attracts opportunistic suitors and schemers looking to profit from their newfound wealth.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (9)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like The Beverly Hillbillies
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)

Where can you watch The Beverly Hillbillies? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

9 main characters · contains spoilers

The Beverly Hillbillies Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Jed Clampett (Jim Varney)

    A hillbilly patriarch from Arkansas who stumbles into wealth when oil is found on his land. He remains rudimentary yet fiercely loyal to his family, navigating Beverly Hills with a mix of pride and naiveté while trying to do right by them. His simple sensibilities contrast with the opulence around him, driving both humor and heart.

    • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
    • 💰 Wealth
    • 🗺️ Rural roots
  • Elly May Clampett (Erika Eleniak)

    Jed's daughter who brings warmth and animal-loving sincerity to the family. She adapts to city life with curiosity and optimism, while remaining loyal to her roots and loved ones. Her straightforward charm helps bridge the gap between rural manners and Hollywood manners.

    • 🌺 Youthful charm
    • 💖 Romance
    • 🐾 Animal-lover
  • Granny Daisy Moses (Cloris Leachman)

    A sharp-witted matriarch who guards the Clampetts' money and heritage. She distrusts outsiders and meddling relatives but acts as a protective voice for her family, foiling scams with boldness and grit. Her feisty meddling anchors the heart of the clan.

    • 🧓 Older woman
    • 🛡️ Protector
  • Jethro Bodine (Diedrich Bader)

    Jed's nephew, a goofy, well-meaning but somewhat clueless relative. His naive optimism adds humor and a touch of innocence to the city's sophisticated setting.

    • 😂 Comedy
    • 🤝 Family ties
  • Milburn Drysdale (Dabney Coleman)

    CEO of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills who manages Jed's fortune with a focus on control and status. He views wealth as leverage over others and becomes a central player in the power games of the Clampetts' new life. His rivalry with the Clampetts creates tension, satire, and opportunities for reconciliation.

    • 🏦 Banking
    • 🧭 Control
  • Jane Hathaway (Lily Tomlin)

    Drysdale's secretary who becomes an ally to the Clampetts. She evolves from initial misjudgments to taking decisive action to protect Jed and Elly May. Her resourcefulness helps foil the con and restore trust.

    • 💼 Secretary
    • 🕵️ Wit
  • Laura Jackson (Lea Thompson)

    Con artist who collaborates with Woodrow to marry Jed and steal his fortune, posing as an etiquette teacher to manipulate him. Her plan hinges on deception and manipulation, threatening the Clampetts' security.

    • 🕵️ Deception
    • 💘 Romance
  • Woodrow Tyler (Rob Schneider)

    A crafty con artist playing partner to Laura, orchestrating the scam to siphon Jed's money. He uses charm and misdirection to manipulate the Clampetts and trusted friends, escalating conflict.

    • 🕵️ Crime
    • 🧠 Schemes
  • Morgan Drysdale (Kevin Connolly)

    Milburn Drysdale's son who is pushed to befriend Elly May. His arc touches on romance and the social expectations of a wealthy circle.

    • 💘 Romance
    • 🏛️ Elite society

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:25

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does The Beverly Hillbillies Take Place?

The setting of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

Arkansas, Beverly Hills, California

The Clampetts begin in rural Arkansas after oil is found on Jed's land and relocate to Beverly Hills, California. The move swaps Ozark country for glamorous urban life, setting up a sharp contrast between simple roots and high-society excess. The new California backdrop fuels wealth-driven conflicts, social intrigue, and a fish-out-of-water comedy.

  • 🏞️ Rural Arkansas
  • 🏙️ Beverly Hills
  • 🏥 Nursing Home

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:25

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

The Beverly Hillbillies Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Wealth Shift

    A sudden leap from poverty to immense wealth exposes the Clampetts to the glitz and greed of Beverly Hills. Money changes family dynamics, trust, and how others treat them, creating both opportunities and tension. The satire centers on how wealth invites calculated schemes and social manipulation.

  • Culture Clash

    The Clampetts' straightforward rural sensibilities collide with the etiquette and ambitions of elite California society. Their blunt honesty undercuts pretension, while romance and friendship test boundaries across social classes. The clash drives humor and growth for the characters.

  • Deception and Rescue

    A con artist scheme targets Jed's fortune, but Granny and Jane Hathaway work to uncover it and save the Clampetts. The plot threads weave crime, family loyalty, and quick wit, culminating in a foiled plan and a celebratory ending.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:25

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

The Beverly Hillbillies Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Beverly Hillbillies (1993): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Beverly Hillbillies set?

The movie begins in rural Arkansas, where the Clampett family lives before striking oil on their land. After discovering wealth, they relocate to Beverly Hills, California, swapping their simple Ozark life for the glamorous world of high society.

  • setting
  • beverly hills
  • arkansas
  • location
  • ozarks
Q2

What are the main themes in The Beverly Hillbillies?

The film explores three core themes: wealth shift (how sudden riches change family dynamics and attract schemers), culture clash (the collision between rural simplicity and elite society), and deception versus rescue (a con artist scheme that Granny and Jane work to foil).

  • themes
  • wealth
  • culture clash
  • deception
  • rescue
Q3

Who is Jed Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies?

Jed Clampett is the hillbilly patriarch who becomes wealthy when oil is found on his Arkansas land. He remains humble and loyal to his family despite sudden riches, using his straightforward rural sensibilities to navigate Beverly Hills with pride and naiveté.

  • jed clampett
  • patriarch
  • oil
  • rural
  • hillbilly
Q4

Who is Granny in The Beverly Hillbillies?

Granny Daisy Moses is the sharp-witted matriarch who fiercely protects the Clampett fortune. She distrusts outsiders and meddling relatives, acting as the family's protective voice. Her boldness and grit help uncover the con artist scheme and foil the scam.

  • granny
  • daisy mos es
  • matriarch
  • protector
  • family
Q5

What is the culture clash about in The Beverly Hillbillies?

The culture clash stems from the Clampetts' blunt, honest rural ways colliding with the etiquette and ambitions of Beverly Hills elite. Their straightforward approach undercuts pretension, while romance and friendship test boundaries across social classes, driving both humor and character growth.

  • culture clash
  • rural
  • society
  • beverly hills
  • class differences
Q6

Who are the villains in The Beverly Hillbillies?

The main antagonists are Laura Jackson and Woodrow Tyler, a pair of con artists who scheme to marry Jed and steal his fortune. They pose as an etiquette teacher and her partner to manipulate him, though their plan is ultimately foiled by Granny and Jane Hathaway.

  • villains
  • con artists
  • laura jackson
  • woodrow tyler
  • scam
Q7

Who is Milburn Drysdale in The Beverly Hillbillies?

Milburn Drysdale is the CEO of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills who manages Jed's fortune. He views wealth as leverage and control, becoming a central figure in the power games surrounding the Clampetts' new life. His rivalry with the family creates tension but eventually leads to reconciliation.

  • milburn drysdale
  • bank
  • ceo
  • wealth
  • power
Q8

What does the wealth shift theme explore in The Beverly Hillbillies?

The wealth shift theme shows how sudden riches transform the Clampett family. Money changes family dynamics, alters how others treat them, and attracts calculated schemes from those seeking to profit. This creates both opportunities for new experiences and tension from those trying to manipulate the family.

  • wealth
  • oil
  • money
  • fortune
  • class mobility
Q9

Who is Jane Hathaway in The Beverly Hillbillies?

Jane Hathaway is Milburn Drysdale's secretary who becomes an unlikely ally to the Clampetts. After initially misjudging the family, she takes decisive action to protect Jed and Elly May, using her resourcefulness to help foil the con artist scheme and restore trust.

  • jane hathaway
  • ally
  • secretary
  • helper
  • rescue
Q10

Who is Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies?

Elly May Clampett is Jed's daughter, bringing warmth and animal-loving sincerity to the family. She adapts to city life with curiosity and optimism while remaining loyal to her rural roots. Her straightforward charm helps bridge the gap between hillbilly and Hollywood manners.

  • elly may
  • dughter
  • animals
  • warmth
  • adaptation
Q11

Who is Jethro Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies?

Jethro Bodine is Jed's nephew, a goofy and well-meaning but somewhat clueless relative. His naive optimism adds humor and innocence to the sophisticated Beverly Hills setting, providing comedic contrast to the elite world around him.

  • jethro
  • nephew
  • comic relief
  • naive
  • clueless
Q12

What is the setting contrast in The Beverly Hillbillies?

The movie contrasts rural Ozark country life with opulent Beverly Hills urban life. This shift from simple roots to high-society excess sets up the comedy of errors, as the Clampetts' rustic innocence collides with the city's sophisticated world, creating persistent misunderstandings.

  • rural
  • urban
  • contrast
  • beverly hills
  • ozarks

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Beverly Hillbillies, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Beverly Hillbillies tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Feel-Good Fish Out of Water Comedies like The Beverly Hillbillies

Hilarious and heartwarming tales of simple people in a sophisticated world. If you enjoyed the culture clash and humorous misunderstandings in The Beverly Hillbillies, you'll love these movies. Discover other feel-good stories where naive but good-hearted characters bring their unique charm to a sophisticated world, leading to comic chaos and heartwarming lessons.

  • feel-good
  • humorous
  • lighthearted
  • whimsical
  • playful
  • comforting
  • Tone: light, whimsical
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist or group from a humble, simple background as they enter a world of wealth, status, or complexity. The central conflict is a comedic culture clash, where their values and methods are unexpectedly triumphant, proving that authenticity can outshine sophistication.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a LIGHT tone, LOW intensity, and a comforting, feel-good vibe. They are united by the central theme of a good-natured fish-out-of-water whose innocence creates humorous situations while ultimately winning the day, providing an uplifting and playful viewing experience.

Movies about Innocence Versus Greed like The Beverly Hillbillies

Charming stories where simple folks outwit greedy schemers with pure hearts. Looking for more movies like The Beverly Hillbillies where clever con artists try to swindle good-natured but surprisingly savvy characters? This collection features lighthearted comedies about greedy schemes being foiled by simple wisdom and unwavering kindness.

  • silly
  • playful
  • comforting
  • humorous
  • lighthearted
  • triumphant
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot revolves around a clear, often cartoonish, villainous scheme to exploit a protagonist perceived as an easy target. The narrative tension is comedic rather than suspenseful, building towards a climax where the con is undone not by violence or genius, but by the hero's inherent goodness and straightforward logic.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their STRAIGHTFORWARD plot structure involving a con, a LIGHT emotional weight, and a silly, playful mood. They offer a comforting reassurance that greed will be outsmarted by innocence, making the victory feel deserved and joyous without ever being tense or dark.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Beverly Hillbillies

Similar movies to The Beverly Hillbillies: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Beverly Hillbillies in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app