Death Becomes Her

Name: Death Becomes Her
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Comedy
Released: July 31, 1992
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 56
Cast: Adam Storke, Alaina Reed Hall, Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, Ian Ogilvy

1992

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Mixed or average reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 47 Ratings

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 47 Ratings

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Death Becomes Her: Something Wrong With Meryl Streep's Neck

Now Playing: Death Becomes Her: Something Wrong With Meryl Streep's Neck

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 31, 1992 | PG-13

Starring: Adam Storke, Alaina Reed Hall, Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, Ian Ogilvy, Isabella Rossellini, Mary Ellen Trainor, Meryl Streep, Michelle Johnson, Nancy Fish

Summary: When a woman learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival.

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Genre(s): Fantasy, Horror, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

Eric Henderson

Death Becomes Her is one of the few mainstream comedies that you don’t feel even had to try to be outlandish. It was simply born that way. Read full review

Edward Guthmann

Death Becomes Her may be crude and tasteless, but it's also irresistibly funny and very well played by Streep, Hawn and Willis -- each of whom suffered career disappointments of late, and each of whom shines in a role that casts them against type. [31 July 1992, p.D1]

Staff (Not Credited)

Sporadically very funny indeed, the script features some nicely wicked one-liners, which are well complemented by Zemeckis' sight gags and by performances of great gusto. Far from sophisticated in its satire of narcissism, but enormous fun. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The trouble with Death Becomes Her isn’t that its comic vision is too dark but that it has no shadings, no acerbic glee. Zemeckis gives nastiness such a hard sell he forgets to take any delight in it. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The end result is a film that tries to do too many things at once and does none of them quite right. Read full review

Lloyd Sachs

As Hollywood experiments go, the new black comedy by Robert Zemeckis has more than its share of witty lines, sight gags and special effects. But even while you're appreciating its better moments, the cast is numbing them with their Arctic charm. [31 July 1992, p.43]

Steve Persall

Death Becomes Her is a comedy so dark and disjointed that not even some terrific makeup effects can cover its blemishes. [31 July 1992, p.5]

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User Reviews

joelsantana17

May 6, 2020

Amazing acting by Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, and Goldie Hawn - they had great rapport in this dark comedy. I really loved the unique story and the special effects were great considering it was the early 90's. You won't be disappointed by this hidden gem!

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

EerieEgg

Jun 28, 2020

It's unreal how underrated this film is -- really enjoyed it and like the premise. If anything casting for Streep's character seemed a little wonky to me, but I think the critics were far too harsh on this.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

FilipeNeto

Sep 15, 2021

This is one of the best black comedies I know, even though it suffers from the transversal problems of black humor: it's caustic, it's irreverent, it's sarcastic and has an acidity that isn't for all tastes. And most interesting: it brings together an extraordinary cast full of guys we knowThis is one of the best black comedies I know, even though it suffers from the transversal problems of black humor: it's caustic, it's irreverent, it's sarcastic and has an acidity that isn't for all tastes. And most interesting: it brings together an extraordinary cast full of guys we know well and whose talent needs no introduction.

In the film, two childhood friends come to hate each other to death: they competed with each other for years, mainly in terms of their own beauty and love, stealing each other's husbands whenever possible. After a defeat, one of her friends goes into a deep depression, gains immense weight and ends up in a mental institution, where she develops a murderous obsession against her old enemy. When she steps out into the outside world, however, she looks beautiful, stunning, powerful... and determined to get revenge. All thanks to a mysterious elixir, jealously guarded by a strange woman.

The film is truly unmissable for fans of black humor, and will surely please others thanks to its comic tone and a roguish story, full of twists and turns, in which the characters conspire against each other, determined to kill themselves, and they survive, albeit with hilarious marks on their bodies. It's one of those movies that you lose when you try to explain it, so the best thing is to see it. I saw it many years ago, and now I have been able to see it again and enjoy it again.

The cast, as I said, is full of famous names, starting with the lead duo Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. The two actresses are great and even better when they're together. It was truly a surprise to see Streep in work so far from what she's used to, but there's no doubt that the hard work of the two actresses is a strong reason to see this film. Bruce Willis is also very good and works well, stripping away his usual charisma and taking on the role of the idiot and deeply comic husband/lover. To make things even more bizarre, we have the iconic Isabella Rosselini, slim and magnificent in the role of an exotic and exuberant malefic figure, as strange and surreal as a sphinx cat.

Technically, the film is an unrecognized gem thanks to the talent of Robert Zemeckis. It was one of the most innovative films of its decade, where several new solutions were tested in terms of CGI, visual and special effects, and where photorealistic human skin software was used for the first time. Everything that would be used later, and with more mastery, in movies that we love and that make this movie even more surreal. The cinematography fulfills its role well and the sets and costumes are truly iconic, with the beautiful mansions of the characters and the dresses worn by the two protagonists (or the almost absence of clothes by Rosselini). The soundtrack doesn't deserve much attention, but it fulfills its role.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GeraltDaWitcher

Jul 5, 2020

cult classic. For once a movie Meryl Streep is in it where she doesn’t win an Oscar

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

HellHoleHorror

Feb 16, 2022

This is a very well done silly yarn about immortality. It is a kid’s film but it is still very darkly humoured with cartoon a style. Some parts are a little tame but any stronger would have detracted from this brilliant story of jealousy and revenge. The acting is stunning and Bruce WillisThis is a very well done silly yarn about immortality. It is a kid’s film but it is still very darkly humoured with cartoon a style. Some parts are a little tame but any stronger would have detracted from this brilliant story of jealousy and revenge. The acting is stunning and Bruce Willis is truly hilarious in the riotous fun for all the family. You have to like ridiculous dark comedy mind you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jun 30, 2018

Is not one of the best roles of Meryl Streep but maybe it's one where I've seen her more loose than ever, alongside Mamma Mia! And Ricki and the Flash.
Goldie Hawn is a funny companion, yet Bruce Willis is the weak link in this dark comedy.
It's not like it leaves you with a big impressionIs not one of the best roles of Meryl Streep but maybe it's one where I've seen her more loose than ever, alongside Mamma Mia! And Ricki and the Flash.
Goldie Hawn is a funny companion, yet Bruce Willis is the weak link in this dark comedy.

It's not like it leaves you with a big impression but I wouldn't call it disposable.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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