Death Becomes Her

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Death Becomes Her

PG-13

Released Jul 31, 1992

1h 43m

Comedy

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

59 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When a novelist loses her man to a movie star and former friend, she winds up in a psychiatric hospital. Years later, she returns home to confront the now-married couple, looking radiant. Her ex-husband's new wife wants to know her secret, and discovers that she has been taking a mysterious drug which grants eternal life to the person who drinks it. The actress follows suit, but discovers that immortality has a price.

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Critics Consensus

Hawn and Streep are as fabulous as Death Becomes Her's innovative special effects; Zemeckis' satire, on the other hand, is as hollow as the world it mocks.

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

The target of the movie's jokes is female vanity, but since Zemeckis exhibits not a trace of affection for the actresses (or for any of the men, either), one feels humiliated merely watching his crude-spirited wit.

May 11, 2021

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

This new horror-comedy has to be one of the most heartless mainstream pictures ever made.

Jan 3, 2019

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

If there were something resembling genuine satire of human behavior beyond the simple pretexts for fancy special effects and relentless sadism, I might have found some of this funny.

Jan 3, 2019

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Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

It’s funny, horrifying, and tightly plotted. It goes down a little too smooth, but it may have been all that was possible at the time.

Feb 11, 2025

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Streep and Hawn are divine in their respective roles, but it's Bruce Willis who steals the show in Robert Zemeckis' special effects showcase.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 4, 2024

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

A delightfully bitchy camp fest that features absolutely committed comedic performances by Streep, Hawn and a surprisingly understated Bruce Willis. An absolute treat of a film, even if the third act is a little too Ernest-centric.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 30, 2024

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Madi S

if you watched the substance, this is an amazing next watch for gen z. if you're reading this after substance watch it right now and say I'm wrong. nothing is a new concept at heart but different approaches are captivating in different ways.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Cleve H

This is my absolute all-time favorite movie. The special effects are fantastic for a film of its era, not to mention great acting across the board. Meryl Streep is fantastic as the aging actress grasping at youth, and Goldie Hawn does not disappoint as the bitter, revenge-stricken friend. Bruce Willis gives what I consider an Oscar-nominating performance as the bumbling Ernest. His ability to transform himself from a built action star to this character shows he has some serious chops. Isabella Rossellini oozes sexiness and the movie always leaves me wanting to seek out and take the potion myself.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/25

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Audience Member

Such a fun movie! It’s campy. Loved the story and the acting, and the outfits were 10/10 👏🏼 I especially loved the potion scenes, and the very comedic (de)evolution of Meryl Streep’s character. Goldie Hawn had some pretty brilliant campy moments too. Would recommend ⭐️

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

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AL m

Very comical i love it! Women empowerment 😆

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

Full Review

Audience Member

My wife has been insisting we watch this movie together (we just saw the new musical), and the musical was, in my opinion, far better than the movie. I feel like DBH might have been better at the time it was released, but now it’s just… not so good. The special effects were great (especially for their day), but that’s all I can really say I was impressed with. Just my opinion.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/24

Full Review

Anton H

31 DAYS OF HORROR FLICKS 🎃🎃🎃 12 This one deserves all the praise it can get. Zemeckis himself refers to this as an unofficial “Tales from the Crypt” movie, which perfectly fits. Macabre, bizarre, hilarious, thoroughly satisfying.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

Full Review

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Robert Zemeckis

Director

Meryl Streep

Madeline Ashton

Bruce Willis

Ernest Menville

Goldie Hawn

Helen Sharp

Isabella Rossellini

Lisle Von Rhuman

Ian Ogilvy

Chagall

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Helen Pays Ernest a Visit

1:30

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Plotting Madeline's Death

2:00

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Eternal Youth

2:59

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Medical Mystery

2:59

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Madeline Takes a Fall

2:35

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Shovel Showdown

2:48

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Ernest's Escape

2:35

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Madeline's Revenge

2:58

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - Friends Forever

1:18

Death Becomes Her: Official Clip - At Home With Helen

1:54

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Synopsis

When a novelist loses her man to a movie star and former friend, she winds up in a psychiatric hospital. Years later, she returns home to confront the now-married couple, looking radiant. Her ex-husband's new wife wants to know her secret, and discovers that she has been taking a mysterious drug which grants eternal life to the person who drinks it. The actress follows suit, but discovers that immortality has a price.

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey
Screenwriter: Martin Donovan, David Koepp
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 31, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.4M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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