IMDb 7.9 1989 HD

L.A. on $5 a Day

L.A. on $5 a Day

1989
19 min NR USA
7.9 IMDB

Four Los Angelenos, a mortician, an ex-con, a suicidal ex-priest, and a stripper are brought together on Christmas Eve by a mixture of circumstances.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Todd Hughes

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

gritty poignant character-driven melancholic hopeful unconventional human bleak compelling affecting thought-provoking raw

Reviews

S
Sophia Lee
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

L.A. on $5 a Day, a 1989 film, presents a fascinating, if somewhat uneven, ensemble piece. The narrative centres on the Christmas Eve convergence of a mortician, an ex-con, a despairing ex-priest, and a stripper. The performances are…

J
Julian Croft
May 19, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A striking piece from 1989, L.A. on $5 a Day is a film that lingers long after the credits roll. Its premise – a mortician, an ex-con, a suicidal ex-priest, and a stripper converging on Christmas Eve –…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

L.A. on $5 a Day (1989) offers a decidedly unconventional take on the Christmas Eve narrative. The film gathers a mortician, an ex-convict, a priest teetering on the brink, and a stripper, weaving their stories together through circumstance.…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 19, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This 1989 gem, L.A. on $5 a Day, delves into the underbelly of Los Angeles with a Christmas Eve setting that amplifies its poignant narrative. The ensemble cast, embodying a mortician, an ex-con, a troubled ex-priest, and a…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 19, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

L.A. on $5 a Day, a curious 1989 offering, presents a Christmas Eve tableau unlike any other. Four souls – a mortician, an ex-con, a priest wrestling with despair, and a stripper – find their paths intersecting through…

FAQs

Expect a character-focused viewing experience. L.A. on $5 a Day centres on the convergence of four individuals: a mortician, an ex-con, a suicidal ex-priest, and a stripper, all brought together by circumstance on Christmas Eve. The film's strength likely lies in exploring the dynamics between these disparate personalities and the potential for connection or conflict that arises from their shared moment in time. It promises a narrative rich in human interaction and thematic depth.