Komedija u kojoj crni skitnica i bogati, sretno zaručeni, perspektivni broker jednog dana zamijene mjesta. Louis Winthorpe III. (Dan Aykroyd) uspješni je mladi njujorški broker s raskošnim stanom, lijepom zaručnicom i slugom po imenu Coleman (Denholm Elliott). Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) s druge strane sitni je varalica i prosjak beskućnik. Nakon nezgode u kojoj se Valentine susretne s Winthorpom i njegovim poslodavcima, basnoslovno bogatom braćom Duke, nestašna vremešna braća odluče napraviti mali eksperiment zamijeniti živote dvaju mladića. Tako Winthorpu namjeste krađu zbog koje on izgubi ugled, zaručnicu, stan i karijeru, a njegovo mjesto zauzima zbunjeni Valentine. Winthorpe je na rubu samoubojstva, svi misle da je izgubio razum, a pomaže mu jedino inteligentna i privlačna prostitutka Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis)...
Mortimer and Randolph Duke are commodity brokers who enjoy a little wager now and then. For the latest bet, Randolph believes they can take a common criminal and make him a successful businessman in the company. The criminal, Billy Ray, is to be given the job and home of Louis, who in turn is set up for crimes he didnt commit, to see if he resorts to crime once hes lost his rich environment and friends.