The Story of Opportunity Knocks
Opportunity Knocks tells the story of Eddie and Lou, a pair of two-bit con men running from a loan shark with a very short temper and an even shorter fuse. They're not career criminals in any sophisticated sense—they're the kind of hustlers who survive on quick thinking and quicker exits. When they stumble upon an empty house in the suburbs, they see exactly what they need: a temporary hideaway. But here's where luck actually breaks in their favor. On the answering machine, they discover something almost too perfect: the homeowner is out of the country for a month or two, and the housesitter who was supposed to look after the place has bailed on the gig to take a job elsewhere. It's the kind of setup that makes a con man's eyes light up. Eddie and Lou don't hesitate—they move in, settle in, and prepare to ride out the heat in comfort. Then the relatives show up. And everything unravels.
Behind the Making of Opportunity Knocks
Opportunity Knocks arrived in 1990 as a comedy vehicle from Imagine Entertainment, Brad Grey Pictures, and The Meledandri/Gordon Company—a production slate that suggested some real backing behind the project. The film runs 103 minutes and lands in the comedy genre, though what kind of comedy it is depends largely on your tolerance for physical humor and mistaken-identity plotting. The cast and creative team brought pedigree to the table, though the film itself would struggle to break through the noise of 1990's crowded theatrical slate. Box office performance was modest at best, and the picture didn't generate significant awards buzz or critical consensus. What's striking is how many films from this era—mid-budget comedies with solid production values and recognizable talent—have simply evaporated from cultural memory, and Opportunity Knocks is a textbook example. The IMDb rating of 5.7/10 tells you something about where audiences and critics landed on the execution, even if the premise itself had genuine comedic potential.
What Makes Opportunity Knocks Stand Out (and What Doesn't)
The central conceit is actually clever. Two con men pretending to be a housesitter, forced to maintain the lie when family members drop by—that's a solid foundation for comedy. The kind of scenario that could generate real tension and laughs if the writing and performances hit the mark. What's less clear is whether Opportunity Knocks ever quite figures out what it wants to be. Is it a slapstick farce? A character-driven buddy comedy? A satire of suburban life? The film seems to want to be all of these at once, which means it doesn't fully commit to any of them. The performances likely carry the weight of the material—comedy this dependent on execution lives or dies based on whether the actors can sell the absurdity—but the script itself doesn't give them much to work with beyond the surface-level premise. The thing nobody mentions is that 1990 was a weird year for comedy in general; the genre was caught between the broad physical humor of the 80s and the more character-focused comedies that would dominate the 90s. Opportunity Knocks feels caught in that exact transition, which might explain some of its identity crisis.
Where to Stream Opportunity Knocks Online
Opportunity Knocks is available on major OTT services, and you can check the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page to see exactly which platforms currently have it in your region. Streaming availability shifts regularly—what's on one service today might move to another next month—so Movie OTT keeps tabs on where titles are actually available rather than guessing. If you're hunting for 90s comedies, you'll find this one in the catalog, though it's not the kind of film that tends to get heavy promotion or algorithmic push. It's more the sort of thing you discover when you're scrolling through a specific decade or genre and think, "Wait, I remember this one." That's not a knock—some of the best streaming discoveries are the ones that don't come with a lot of fanfare.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who stars in Opportunity Knocks?
The film features a cast built around the con-artist premise, though the specific performances aren't what audiences remember decades later. The talent involved brought credibility to the project, but the material didn't always give them standout moments to work with.
Q: Is Opportunity Knocks based on a true story?
No, it's an original screenplay. The premise—con men hiding out in a stranger's house—is entirely fictional, though it draws on familiar comedic tropes about mistaken identity and the chaos that ensues when lies unravel.
Q: How long is Opportunity Knocks?
The film runs 103 minutes, which is a fairly standard length for comedies from this era. It doesn't overstay its welcome in terms of runtime, though some viewers might feel like certain sequences drag on longer than the joke warrants.
Q: Why is Opportunity Knocks rated 5.7 on IMDb?
The middling score reflects mixed reactions to the execution. While the premise has merit, critics and audiences felt the film didn't quite nail the comedic timing or character development needed to make the story sing. It's competent without being memorable.
Q: Where can I watch Opportunity Knocks right now?
Check the Where to Watch widget above to see which streaming services have it available in your area. Availability varies by region and changes frequently, so that's your best real-time source.
Final Thoughts on Opportunity Knocks
Opportunity Knocks is the kind of 90s comedy that exists in a weird middle ground—not bad enough to be interesting as a failure, not good enough to be a hidden gem. It's got a solid premise, decent production values, and a cast that's trying. But somewhere between the script, the direction, and the execution, the spark doesn't catch. If you're deep in a 90s comedy rabbit hole or have a real affection for con-artist capers, it's worth a watch on a streaming service where you're not paying extra. Just don't expect it to stick with you. That's not a criticism, really—it's just the nature of the film. Some movies are meant to be discovered late on a lazy afternoon, enjoyed for what they are, and then forgotten by dinner time.
