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

57%

Tomatometer

58 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

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

Full Review

B.L. Panther

Paste Magazine

Death Becomes Her is a magical and delightful illustration of queerness without sexuality.

Rated: A-

Oct 2, 2023

Full Review

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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

Jay H

This horror/comedy is entertaining, but it's not as funny as it should be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

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Amanda P

I really like all 3 main actors, but I did not like this movie 😒 but now I've seen it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

Full Review

Constantinos X

A brilliant film that feels perfectly in tune with today’s conspiracy-driven culture. It masterfully weaves together elements of comedy, thriller, and action, taking audiences on a wild and unpredictable ride. With its gripping plot, the film strikes a perfect balance between entertainment and thought-provoking storytelling, making it both timely and highly engaging.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

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Kelsey E

Death becomes her was a great movie that I can’t wait to see become a Broadway musical.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

Alec B

Death Becomes Her is darkly comedic, blending satire, fantasy, and elements of horror with biting humor. Starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis, the film follows two rival women who, after taking a potion for eternal youth, grapple with the unintended consequences of immortality. Its witty dialogue and exaggerated performances highlight the absurdity of vanity and obsession with beauty, creating a clever commentary on Hollywood's unrealistic beauty standards. While the special effects were groundbreaking for its time, the film’s mix of camp and satire gave it a cult status, making it uniquely entertaining, and entirely queer-coded for a new generation to love.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

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

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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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