Trading Places four stars out of five, classifying "Trading Places" as "Excellent" per the magazine's star rating system, stating that Murphy and Aykroyd are the show-stealers. A review of the film published by "Variety" magazine called the film "a light romp geared up by the schtick shifted by Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy." The review gave further commendations to supporting actors, stating that Murphy and Aykroyd "couldn't have brought this one off without the contributions of three veterans - Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche and the droll Englishman, Denholm Elliott" and calling the presence of Jamie Lee Curtis "enjoyable." The film received several
Trading Places rich master who tried to steal Figaro's bride to be. The music from "The Marriage of Figaro" is used as a cinematic narrative in the film when the viewers are introduced to the daily routine of protagonist Louis Winthorpe's privileged life with the opera's overture playing in the background. The work also takes inspiration from Twain's "The Million Pound Bank Note". American philosopher and professor at Harvard University Stanley Cavell wrote about "Trading Places" in his 2005 book "Cavell on Film". Cavell postulates that film is sometimes used as a new technology in the production and experience of an opera.