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Why Don't You Play in Hell?

Play trailer Poster for Why Don't You Play in Hell? 2014 2h 9m Action Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 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.
Why Don't You Play in Hell?

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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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Critics Reviews

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Samuel B. Prime Slant Magazine 09/24/2019
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. Go to Full Review Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses 08/25/2018
Why Don't You Play in Hell is a frenzy of joy and colour, held together by an unrelenting disinterest in narrative logic. Go to Full Review Scott Tobias The Dissolve 11/10/2014
3/5
Alternately exhilarating and tedious, Why Don't You Play In Hell? is Sono's tribute to moviemaking. Go to Full Review Justine Smith Vague Visages 06/06/2024
The director, at the expense of his sanity, has completely transcended these needs and wants, attaining a higher power by way of cinema. Go to Full Review C.J. Prince Way Too Indie 06/27/2019
7.3/10
Once the two plots merge, it leads to a massive sequence that's hilarious in its gleeful bloodlust and self-awareness. Go to Full Review Pat Padua Spectrum Culture 08/28/2018
2/5
As much as the film overflows with blood, the movie's other major problem is that it overflows with contrived plot and incident. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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William D @acsdoug 04/02/2023 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. See more 10/28/2020 全员嗑药，没有一个脑子正常的角色，非常欢乐。 See more 01/14/2019 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. See more 09/26/2018 Can't stop yourself from liking this. See more 08/17/2017 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! See more 04/03/2017 That was... interesting... See more Read all reviews
Why Don't You Play in Hell?

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Cast & Crew

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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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Why Don't You Play in Hell?

Why Don't You Play in Hell? (2013) View more photos

Movie Info

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
Takeshi Suzuki, Takuyuki Matsuno
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