Death Becomes Her
Performance & Direction: Death Becomes Her Review
Last updated: February 16, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Death Becomes Her (1992) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Death Becomes Her features a noteworthy lineup led by Meryl Streep . Supported by the likes of Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Death Becomes Her
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1992, Death Becomes Her is a Comedy, Fantasy, Horror film directed by Robert Zemeckis. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Meryl Streep.
Story Breakdown
The comedic structure relies on both situational humor and character-based comedy. 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. The production finds humor in relatable situations while maintaining narrative momentum. The jokes serve the story, with callbacks that reward attentive viewers.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening establishes the comedic tone and introduces the central conflict through humor and character quirks.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Meryl Streep's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The comedic climax ties together recurring jokes and character arcs, delivering both laughs and emotional satisfaction.
Ending Explained: Death Becomes Her
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Death Becomes Her concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions involving Meryl Streep, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Death Becomes Her reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Death Becomes Her?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Meryl Streep or the director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Box Office Collection: Death Becomes Her
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $55.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $149.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Death Becomes Her Budget
The estimated production budget for Death Becomes Her is $55.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Death Becomes Her
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Where to Watch Death Becomes Her Online?
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Apple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeDeath Becomes Her Parents Guide & Age Rating
1992 AdvisoryWondering about Death Becomes Her age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Death Becomes Her is 104 minutes (1h 44m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.8/10, and global performance metrics, Death Becomes Her is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1992 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Death Becomes Her worth watching?
Death Becomes Her is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Death Becomes Her parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Death Becomes Her identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Death Becomes Her?
The total duration of Death Becomes Her is 104 minutes, which is approximately 1h 44m long.
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How Death Becomes Her Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Death Becomes Her
"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.
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.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.