Drop Dead Gorgeous

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1:59

Drop Dead Gorgeous

PG-13

1999

1h 39m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

An annual beauty pageant in small-town Minnesota turns ridiculously competitive and ultimately chaotic in this biting comedy. Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst), the daughter of hard-drinking mom Annette (Ellen Barkin), and Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), who is motivated by her former beauty-queen mother, Gladys (Kirstie Alley), are among the top contenders in the event. As Amber, Becky, and other local girls prepare for the big day, bizarre incidents occur, leading up to an ending with a bang.

Critics Consensus

It's dark humor sometimes hits, but mostly misses the target.

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Jia Tolentino

The New Yorker

The smile of a beauty queen, the glinting crown and the heaps of flowers, always holds the faint scent of bloodlust, and a whisper of the grave.

Jul 8, 2019

Full Review

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

Drop Dead Gorgeous hasn't enough structural savvy to make it a winner.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

Variety

Fitfully amusing!

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Acerbic and hilariously un-PC, Drop Dead Gorgeous stands the test of time as one of the best comedies ever made.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 12, 2022

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

This cult classic is horribly offensive and devastatingly funny. Featuring a stacked cast of powerful female performers and a razor sharp screenplay, Drop Dead Gorgeous is a misunderstood classic that we will never see the likes of again.

Jul 1, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

While funny at times, it doesn't resonate beyond the gleeful, acidic surface

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 17, 2022

Full Review

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Gerry K

This film could’ve changed my life but I didn’t let it. However, I did buy a caravan and affected an American accent when dressing as a lady.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/25

Full Review

Brian L

This is one of the most underrated movies with an all star cast. Some of the most iconic lines and comedy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

Full Review

Michael M.

Most underrated dark comedy ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/25

Full Review

Andrea W

This is one of my favorite movies I could watch over and over again! I don’t understand the low score. Allison Janney is one of the best parts of this movie and also Ellen Barkin! Denise Richard is great! Will Sasso is hilarious! Kirstie Alley is amazing and I love her accent. I mean, I could just go on and on about how good this movie is!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/25

Full Review

Julian S.

It might just be Kirstie Alley’s finest performance.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/04/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

Full Review

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Michael Patrick Jann

Director

Kirsten Dunst

Amber Atkins

Ellen Barkin

Annette Atkins

Allison Janney

Loretta

Denise Richards

Rebecca 'Becky' Ann Leeman

Kirstie Alley

Gladys Leeman

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Drop Dead Gorgeous: Trailer 1

1:59

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Synopsis

An annual beauty pageant in small-town Minnesota turns ridiculously competitive and ultimately chaotic in this biting comedy. Amber Atkins (Kirsten Dunst), the daughter of hard-drinking mom Annette (Ellen Barkin), and Becky Leeman (Denise Richards), who is motivated by her former beauty-queen mother, Gladys (Kirstie Alley), are among the top contenders in the event. As Amber, Becky, and other local girls prepare for the big day, bizarre incidents occur, leading up to an ending with a bang.

Director: Michael Patrick Jann
Producer: Judy Hofflund, Gavin Polone
Screenwriter: Lona Williams
Distributor: New Line Cinema, Capella International, Icon Film Distribution Ltd., Pony Canyon Inc., Metropolitan Filmexport [fr], Filmes Castello Lopes [pt], Concorde Filmverleih, New Line Home Video [us]
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Capella International, KC Medien AG
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 3, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.6M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)