Why Don't You Play in Hell?

Released Nov 7, 2014

2h 9m

Action

Comedy

List

83%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

80%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

In Japan, gonzo filmmakers hatch a three-pronged plan to save an actress's career, end a yakuza war and make a hit movie.

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Critics Consensus

Deliriously manic and gleefully tasteless, Why Don't You Play in Hell? delivers infectious genre fun.

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Samuel B. Prime

Slant Magazine

A minor character at one point buoyantly asks, "What's 35mm?" Sono's mission is to create a film that answers this vacant, if innocent, question.

Sep 24, 2019

Full Review

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

The Blue Lenses

Why Don't You Play in Hell is a frenzy of joy and colour, held together by an unrelenting disinterest in narrative logic.

Aug 25, 2018

Full Review

Scott Tobias

The Dissolve

Alternately exhilarating and tedious, Why Don't You Play In Hell? is Sono's tribute to moviemaking.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 10, 2014

Full Review

C.J. Prince

Way Too Indie

Once the two plots merge, it leads to a massive sequence that's hilarious in its gleeful bloodlust and self-awareness.

Rated: 7.3/10

Jun 27, 2019

Full Review

Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

As much as the film overflows with blood, the movie's other major problem is that it overflows with contrived plot and incident.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 28, 2018

Full Review

Deirdre Crimmins

Film Thrills

Their passion and enthusiasm, no matter how misguided, remind you of how exciting the movies are.

Aug 21, 2018

Full Review

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William D

This movie is so far over the top it makes for one helluva ride. Hiroki Hasegawa is superb as the obsessed director wannabe, he was cracking me up constantly.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/02/23

Full Review

Gian P

Wholesome and inspiring in its own messed up way, Sono's "Why Don't You Play in Hell" manages to perfectly balance comedy, drama and over the top violence in the best way possible.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

全员嗑药，没有一个脑子正常的角色，非常欢乐。

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

I'm a fan of every Sion Sono film I've seen except for this one. Found it to be pretty stupid which puts me in the minority group who didn't get the humour. It was funny in the start but then just got irritating after a while.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Can't stop yourself from liking this.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/26/18

Full Review

Audience Member

There is so much going on you won't be bored. If you like movies you will enjoy the references to a bygone era of Bruce Lee movies, 70's action, yakuza movies, etc. it is a dark comedy/yakuza movie/fantasy/action/love story/arthouse piece and that is far as I am going to go to classify it. Enjoy!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Sion Sono

Director

Jun Kunimura

Muto

Shinichi Tsutsumi

Jun Ikegama

Hiroki Hasegawa

Don Hirata

Gen Hoshino

Koji Hashimoto

Fumi Nikaidô

Mitsuko

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Synopsis

In Japan, gonzo filmmakers hatch a three-pronged plan to save an actress's career, end a yakuza war and make a hit movie.

Director: Sion Sono
Producer: Atsushi Moriyama
Screenwriter: Sion Sono
Distributor: Drafthouse Films
Production Co: King Records
Genre: Action, Comedy
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.5K
Runtime: 2h 9m

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