19926.8 / 101h 44mComedyFantasyHorror

Death Becomes Her

"In one small bottle... The fountain of youth. The secret of eternal life. The power of an ancient potion. Sometimes it works... sometimes it doesn't."

Madeline is married to Ernest, who was once her arch-rival Helen's fiancé. After recovering from a mental breakdown, Helen vows to kill Madeline and steal back Ernest. Unfortunately for everyone, the introduction of a magic potion causes things to be a great deal more complicated than a mere murder plot.

Quick Stats
6.8
TMDB Rating
3,009
Votes
1h 44m
Runtime
$55.0M
Budget
$149.0M
Box Office
271%
Return
Key Crew
DirectorRobert Zemeckis
WriterDavid Koepp
CinematographyDean Cundey
ComposerAlan Silvestri
EditorArthur Schmidt
Production DesignTim Donelan
Produced by
Universal PicturesSouth Side Amusement Company

Where to Watch

Streaming
YouTube TV
Rent
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Buy
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home

See more on TMDB → JustWatch

Critics & Reviews

2 featured
CinemaSerf
7/10

"Helen" (Goldie Hawn) has always lived in the shadow of her friend, the successful actress "Madeline" (Meryl Streep), but when she loses her fiancée - renowned, if rather dowdy, plastic surgeon "Dr. Menville" (Bruce Willis) to her, she loses the plot. Eventually twice the size and evicted from her apartment with her hands still glued to the ice cream pot, she is sent to a mental institution were she finally concocts a plan for revenge. Meantime, the marriage has rather gone to seed. "Madeline" seeks comfort in the arms of younger men, but when her latest beau rejects her, she finds herself - via the kindly intervention of an almost unrecognisable Ian Ogilvy ("Chagall") - in the lair of the seductive "Lisle von Rhuman" (Isabella Rossellini) who offers her eternal youth. Of course there is a price - but will she pay it? What ensues for the last forty five minutes is really quite entertaining. Streep and Hawn look like they are enjoying themselves as their antics become comically macabre. Willis, the now bottle-hitting doctor - who has been largely reduced to manicuring corpses - is also clearly having some fun and Rossellini hams up wonderfully. The ending isn't my favourite, but I suppose it was "fair" and desserts were just. This is an amiable, feel-good, comedy with everyone on good form, some lovely snide dialogue and I liked it.

Written Jun 29, 2022 · read original
daniel_carr
7/10

Funny, great story and a twist in the plot! I'm a sci-fi, fantasy guy and this checked all the boxes for my. Even had romance, so it was a good movie. Had some big names so only thing missing for me was a little more action and a deeper history.

Written Dec 30, 2025 · read original

Cast

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Madeline Ashton Menville
Goldie Hawn
Goldie Hawn
Helen Sharp
Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Dr. Ernest Menville
Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini
Lisle von Rhuman
Ian Ogilvy
Ian Ogilvy
Chagall
Adam Storke
Adam Storke
Dakota
Alaina Reed Hall
Alaina Reed Hall
Psychologist
Nancy Fish
Nancy Fish
Rose
Michelle Johnson
Michelle Johnson
Anna
Mary Ellen Trainor
Mary Ellen Trainor
Vivian Adams
W
William Frankfather
Mr. Franklin
John Ingle
John Ingle
Eulogist
C
Clement von Franckenstein
Opening Man
Petrea Burchard
Petrea Burchard
Opening Woman
Jim Jansen
Jim Jansen
Second Man

Similar Films