Death Becomes Her

1992 104 min ★ 6.8 Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

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.

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Cast

Meryl Streep

Madeline Ashton Menville

Goldie Hawn

Helen Sharp

Bruce Willis

Dr. Ernest Menville

Isabella Rossellini

Lisle von Rhuman

Ian Ogilvy

Chagall

Adam Storke

Dakota

Alaina Reed Hall

Psychologist

Nancy Fish

Rose

Michelle Johnson

Anna

Mary Ellen Trainor

Vivian Adams

Details

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Tagline

"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."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$55,000,000

Revenue

$149,000,000

Production

Universal Pictures, South Side Amusement Company

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

June 29, 2022

★ 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 s...

D

daniel_carr

December 30, 2025

★ 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.