Ever tried to explain the 1983 comedy Easy Money to someone who hasn't seen it? You basically start with Rodney Dangerfield being... well, Rodney. But then you realize the ensemble behind him is actually one of the weirdest, most inspired collections of talent ever put on a single payroll. Honestly, looking back at the easy money movie cast, it’s like a fever dream of 80s icons and future legends before they were "legends."
You’ve got a young Joe Pesci playing the sidekick. A teenage Jennifer Jason Leigh as the daughter. Even the guy who played the creepy serial killer in Manhunter is just hanging out as a drinking buddy. It’s wild.
Most people today probably confuse this with the 2010 Swedish thriller of the same name (Snabba Cash), which launched Joel Kinnaman into the stratosphere. Both are great, but for totally different reasons. Whether you’re here for the Staten Island gambling antics or the gritty Stockholm underworld, the people on screen are why these movies stuck.
The 1983 Comedy: Rodney, Joe, and a Whole Lot of Beer
The heart of the 1983 classic is Montgomery "Monty" Capuletti. Rodney Dangerfield didn't just play Monty; he basically was him. He’s a baby photographer with every vice known to man. If it’s fried, fermented, or involves a parlay, Monty is in.
But the real magic happens when you look at who he’s hanging out with.
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Joe Pesci as Nicky Cerone
Before he was winning Oscars for Goodfellas or biting fingers in Home Alone, Joe Pesci was Nicky. He’s Monty’s best friend and partner in literal crime (mostly involving ruined wedding cakes and joints). There’s this natural, blue-collar chemistry between them that you just can't fake. Pesci plays the "straight man" but with that high-energy Newark edge that makes every scene feel like it’s about to boil over.
Jennifer Jason Leigh and the Family Ties
It’s easy to forget that Jennifer Jason Leigh was just starting out here. She plays Allison, Monty’s daughter, who gets married to Julio. Speaking of Julio, Taylor Negron is an absolute scene-stealer. His delivery is so dry it makes the Sahara look like a rainforest.
Then there's the "villain" of the piece: Geraldine Fitzgerald as the mother-in-law, Mrs. Monahan. She’s the wealthy, snobbish foil to Monty’s chaos. Her performance provides the stakes—give up the booze and gambling for a year, or lose out on $10 million. It’s a classic trope, but she plays it with such genuine disdain that you really want Monty to win just to spite her.
The Weirdly Famous Supporting Players
If you squint at the background, you'll see some faces that’ll make you do a double-take.
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- Jeffrey Jones: He plays Clive Barlow, the scheming nephew. He built a career on being the guy you love to hate, and he’s in peak form here.
- Tom Noonan: He plays Paddy. If he looks familiar, it’s because he usually plays terrifying villains (like in Manhunter or Last Action Hero). Seeing him as a goofy drinking buddy is sort of surreal.
- Val Avery: A legendary character actor who plays Louie the Bartender. He’s one of those "I know that guy" actors who appeared in everything from The Magnificent Seven to Columbo.
Switching Gears: The 2010 "Snabba Cash" Crew
If you typed easy money movie cast looking for the Swedish crime drama, you’re looking at a completely different animal. This movie didn't just give us a cool story; it gave Hollywood a new leading man.
Joel Kinnaman as JW
This was the role. Before Suicide Squad or Altered Carbon, Kinnaman was JW, a business student living a double life. He’s pretending to be a wealthy "jetsetter" while driving a cab and running errands for the mob to fund his facade. Kinnaman captures that desperation perfectly—the way a person can be smart enough to know better but too ambitious to stop.
The Gritty Ensemble
- Matias Varela (Jorge): He plays the fugitive on the run. Varela brings a frantic, nervous energy that keeps the movie’s blood pressure high.
- Dragomir Mrsic (Mrado): Honestly, this might be the best performance in the film. He’s a Serbian hitman who suddenly has to take care of his young daughter. It adds a weirdly touching layer to a movie that is otherwise incredibly bleak.
Why These Casts Worked (and Still Do)
What's interesting is how both movies—despite being decades and genres apart—rely on "outsider" energy. Rodney's Monty is the low-class guy in a high-class world. Kinnaman’s JW is the poor kid faking it with the elite.
The actors sell the struggle. In the 1983 version, you root for Rodney because he’s a lovable mess. In the 2010 version, you watch Kinnaman because he’s a tragic mess.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re planning a rewatch or diving in for the first time, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the 1983 version for the chemistry: Pay attention to the improv-style timing between Dangerfield and Pesci. It’s a masterclass in buddy comedy.
- Look for the 2010 Director’s Cut: Daniel Espinosa (the director) has a very specific "anti-Scandi" style. It’s faster and more aggressive than typical Nordic Noir.
- Check out the "Snabba Cash" Netflix Series: If you loved the 2010 cast, there’s a spiritual successor on Netflix that carries the same name and vibe, though with a fresh group of actors.
Both films prove that a title is just a title—it’s the people on the screen that turn a script into something you actually remember ten years later. Whether you want a laugh or a panic attack, these casts delivered.
To get the full experience, start by tracking down the original 1983 theatrical cut of the Rodney Dangerfield version, as some streaming edits trim the weird, dream-sequence humor that makes the movie unique. For the 2010 version, ensure you're watching with the original Swedish/Serbian/Spanish audio and subtitles; the dubbed versions lose the nuanced performances of Kinnaman and Mrsic that made the film an international hit.