Drowning Mona

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Drowning Mona

PG-13

Released Mar 3, 2000

1h 35m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

78 Reviews

47%

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10,000+ Ratings

The recently deceased Mona Dearly (Bette Midler) was many things: an abusive wife, a domineering mother, a loud-mouthed neighbor and a violent malcontent. So when her car and corpse are discovered in the Hudson River, police Chief Wyatt Rash (Danny DeVito) immediately suspects murder rather than an accident. But, since the whole community of Verplanck, N.Y., shares a deep hatred for this unceasingly spiteful woman, Rash finds his murder investigation overwhelmed with potential suspects.

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Critics Consensus

A whodunnit that stacks its lists of suspects with wasted character actors, Drowning Mona is a twee farce that will prompt audiences to tune out before the mystery is solved.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Talented cast wasted in an awful movie.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 19, 2002

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

There are a couple of funny lines, and the cast is game, but it just doesn't work.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 1, 2000

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a watchable yet entirely forgettable comedy...

Rated: 2.5/4

May 3, 2024

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Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 2/5

Aug 7, 2008

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Betsy Bozdech

Reel.com

So determined to be wacky and offbeat that it overshoots its goal and winds up cartoonish and ridiculous instead.

Rated: 1.5/4

Sep 1, 2006

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Affleberry F

This is a nice little gem from 2000. Great cast & written well. The story does get convoluted a wee bit, but overall ties everything up in the end. Definitely a movie I enjoyed quite a bit & definitely worth the watch! ✌️

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/05/25

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Robin H

I am surprised at the low number of positive reviews for this movie. It is a silly, lighthearted comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you are looking for something deep and cerebral, you will want to look elsewhere. If you enjoyed A Fish Called Wanda you will most likely enjoy Drowning Mona. And if you do enjoy the movie please give it a positive review on Rotten Tomatoes. It breaks my heart to see such a low rating for this fun little movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

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Richard D

Drowning Mona is a darkly hilarious whodunit with a stellar cast, quirky small-town charm, and sharp humor. Bette Midler and Danny DeVito shine in this clever, offbeat mystery-comedy. A hidden gem! My wife and i can't believe we didn't watch this sooner.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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mark g

It's got major league talent and there are plenty of laughs. It's not a classic by any means, but entertaining enough. And Yugos, lot's of Yugos

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/25

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Audience Member

This film is an absolute classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

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Audience Member

This was made too early. The humor plays a lot better now

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/24

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Nick Gomez

Director

Danny DeVito

Chief Wyatt Rash

Bette Midler

Mona Dearly

Neve Campbell

Ellen Rash

Jamie Lee Curtis

Rona Mace

Casey Affleck

Bobby Calzone

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Synopsis

The recently deceased Mona Dearly (Bette Midler) was many things: an abusive wife, a domineering mother, a loud-mouthed neighbor and a violent malcontent. So when her car and corpse are discovered in the Hudson River, police Chief Wyatt Rash (Danny DeVito) immediately suspects murder rather than an accident. But, since the whole community of Verplanck, N.Y., shares a deep hatred for this unceasingly spiteful woman, Rash finds his murder investigation overwhelmed with potential suspects.

Director: Nick Gomez
Producer: Al Corley, Eugene Musso, Bart Rosenblatt
Screenwriter: Peter Steinfeld
Distributor: Columbia Tristar, Destination Films
Production Co: Jersey Shore, Neverland Films
Rating: PG-13 (Mature Themes|Language|Brief Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 3, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.4M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

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