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Death Becomes Her

  • 1992
  • PG-13
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
145K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
748
22
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Watch Official Blu-Ray Trailer
Play trailer2:10
8 Videos
99+ Photos
Body HorrorDark ComedySatireComedyFantasyHorror

When a fading actress learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival.When a fading actress learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival.When a fading actress learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival.

  • Director
    • Robert Zemeckis
  • Writers
    • Martin Donovan
    • David Koepp
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Bruce Willis
    • Goldie Hawn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    145K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    748
    22
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Martin Donovan
      • David Koepp
    • Stars
      • Meryl Streep
      • Bruce Willis
      • Goldie Hawn
    • 283User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 5 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos8

    Official Blu-Ray Trailer
    Trailer 2:10
    Official Blu-Ray Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer
    The Sick Sense of Humor in 'The Monkey'
    Clip 4:28
    The Sick Sense of Humor in 'The Monkey'
    Death Becomes Her: We See Right Through Goldie Hawn
    Clip 2:46
    Death Becomes Her: We See Right Through Goldie Hawn
    Death Becomes Her: Something Wrong With Meryl Streep's Neck
    Clip 2:56
    Death Becomes Her: Something Wrong With Meryl Streep's Neck
    Death Becomes Her: Cinematography And The Sets
    Featurette 1:47
    Death Becomes Her: Cinematography And The Sets

    Photos275

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    + 268
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    Top cast80

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Madeline Ashton
    Bruce Willis
    Bruce Willis
    • Ernest Menville
    Goldie Hawn
    Goldie Hawn
    • Helen Sharp
    Isabella Rossellini
    Isabella Rossellini
    • Lisle Von Rhuman
    Ian Ogilvy
    Ian Ogilvy
    • Chagall
    Adam Storke
    Adam Storke
    • Dakota
    Nancy Fish
    Nancy Fish
    • Rose
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    Alaina Reed-Hall
    • Psychologist
    • (as Alaina Reed Hall)
    Michelle Johnson
    Michelle Johnson
    • Anna
    Mary Ellen Trainor
    Mary Ellen Trainor
    • Vivian Adams
    William Frankfather
    William Frankfather
    • Mr. Franklin
    John Ingle
    John Ingle
    • Eulogist
    Clement von Franckenstein
    Clement von Franckenstein
    • Opening Man
    Petrea Burchard
    Petrea Burchard
    • Opening Woman
    Jim Jansen
    • Second Man
    Mimi Kennedy
    Mimi Kennedy
    • Second Woman
    Paulo Tocha
    Paulo Tocha
    • Landlord
    Mark Davenport
    • Eviction Cop
    • Director
      • Robert Zemeckis
    • Writers
      • Martin Donovan
      • David Koepp
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews283

    6.7145.1K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    anzy_chick

    A genius combination of three great actors makes this worth while!

    Ok, call me crazy but wasn't this the first film that anyone had ever seen Bruce Willis play a character that didn't involve him blasting bad guys into the air with a machine gun? Don't get me wrong, I loved "Die Hard" and am a big fan of Bruce but it was just so refreshing to see him play a character that was so different to his previous (and, indeed, later) roles. His performance of the downtrodden, weedy "Ernest" is masterful as he strikes a perfect balance between the comedy and darkness of the film. If you like black comedies (like me), you'll love this! Whoever thought of casting such a genius combination of these three great actors in this film should be applauded. Hawn and Streep are excellently cast as the two feisty women competing over Ernest, desperately hanging on to their long-gone youth and stopping at NOTHING to get what they want - the bitch fight between the two gals is a scene NOT to be missed!

    All in all, "Death Becomes Her" is a deliciously dark comedy with a brilliant cast, great direction and some pretty convincing special effects - considering it was made way back in 1992!
    7Tweetienator

    Got Its Moments

    Fun little flick - for sure Death Becomes Her is not made for everyone, but well, if that mix of macabre horror fantasy comedy and whatever hits you, you will be well entertained. On top, we get a fine cast. Recommended, if you like such movies as The Witches of Eastwick, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Dark Shadows and the like.
    8HorrorFan112490

    Robert Zemeckis at his best!

    I mean, I doubted this movie at first from the beginning in Broadway. But as it progressed, I was laughing so hard on certain scenes like when Dr. Menville is reporting the murder of Madelyn and she suddenly gets up and starts walking toward him. It was too funny and the effects were so phenomenal. I mean literally. But then again, it won an Oscar for its effects. I mean, the fight scene where the 2 start fighting with shovels and Helen breaks off the metal end of Mad's and she throws it right through her. "Yes! I mean No! Oh Damn!" That scene was just side-splitting. Overall it was a good black comedy and I'd recommend it to anybody. And Robert Zemeckis, I never knew he did such a great movie because he's a head producer for Dark Castle Entertainment and he's done some pretty bad movies from there like Ghost Ship and Thir13en Ghosts. But wow, he has really made an excellent movie.
    7claudio_carvalho

    The Living Dead in Beverly Hills

    In 1978, in Broadway, the decadent and narcissist actress Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) is performing Songbird, based on Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth. Then she receives her rival Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), who is an aspiring writer, and her fiancé Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), who is a plastic surgeon, in her dressing-room. Soon Menville calls off his commitment with Helen and marries Madeline. Seven years later, Helen is obese in a psychiatric hospital and obsessed in seeking revenge on Madeline. In 1992, the marriage of Madeline and Menville is finished and he is no longer a surgeon but an alcoholic caretaker.

    Out of the blue, they are invited to a party where Helen will release her novel Forever Young and Madeline goes to a beauty shop. The owner gives a business card of the specialist in rejuvenation Lisle Von Rhuman (Isabella Rossellini) to her. When the envious Madeline sees Helen thin in a perfect shape, she decides to seek out Lisle and buys a potion to become young again. Further, she advises that Madeline must take care of her body. Meanwhile Helen seduces Menville and they plot a scheme to kill Madeline. When Madeline comes home, she has an argument Menville and he pushes her from the staircase. She breaks her neck but becomes a living dead. When Helen arrives at Menville's house expecting that Madeline is dead, she is murdered by Madeline. But she also becomes a living dead and they conclude they need Menville to help them to maintain their bodies. But Menville wants to leave them.

    "Death Becomes Her" is an American black comedy with excellent special effects even after twenty-three years after the release and great cast. The trash storyline is strange and original and the black humor may not be pleasant for everyone. But there are funny and witty quotes and situations and this film has not aged. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "A Morte Lhe Cai Bem" ("Death Fits Well to Her")
    9juliereed50

    A Cult Classic

    I never saw "Death Becomes Her" when it first come out because of a review I had read somewhere. The review was dismissive and made a lot of sense, so I decided to give it a miss. What a terrible mistake! This is a movie I would love to see on a big screen. The script is so brilliantly clever. Disguised as a silly comedy there is a world of serious themes executed by a knowing cast. Meryl Streep in particular, playing convincingly an actress without talent. I remember the bad review criticized the writers for setting the story in a rainy, stormy Los Angeles when California was going through a drought. Imagine if a comedy about magic potions should worry about the accuracy of the weather. In fact the Los Angeles of "Death Becomes Her" feels more like Los Angelers than most realistic movies and it does it with nerve and wit. "In 12 years in Los Angeles have you ever seen a neighbor?" screams Meryl to his mousy Bruce. An absolute delight. Other hidden treasures are a cameo from Sidney Pollack and a very funny and very sexy "76 years old" Isabella Rossellini. A new cult classic and a total must.

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    Related interests

    Jeff Goldblum in The Fly (1986)
    Body Horror
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Meryl Streep accidentally scarred Goldie Hawn's cheek with a shovel during the fight scene.
    • Goofs
      After Madeleine drinks the potion, Lisle pins a 'brooch' to the right side of her dress. When Madeleine goes to the hall to leave it's on the left side of her dress.
    • Quotes

      Madeline Ashton: Bottoms up!

      [Madeline drinks the potion]

      Lisle Von Rhoman: Now, a warning.

      Madeline Ashton: NOW a warning?

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Unforgiven/Mistress/Death Becomes Her/Enchanted April/London Kills Me (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Me
      Written by Geoff Aymar

      Lyrics by Martin Donovan & David Koepp

      Arranged by William Ross

      Performed by Meryl Streep (uncredited)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 31, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La muerte le sienta bien
    • Filming locations
      • Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA(funeral home)
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $58,422,650
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,110,355
      • Aug 2, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $149,022,650
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo

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