Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis are totally unhinged in this campy ’90s comedy — stream it free on YouTube

News
By published

'Death Becomes Her' is outrageous from start to finish — and as relevant today as it was in the '90s

Death Becomes Her
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

“Death Becomes Her” fooled me the first time I saw it. I saw the weird effects and the hole in Goldie Hawn’s stomach, and wrote it off as a glossy, over-the-top comedy.

But after rewatching it years later, it’s clear this movie knew exactly what it was doing. "Death Becomes Her" is actually a razor-sharp satire disguised as a campy farce, and it’s way more ruthless — and relevant — than it gets credit for.

What's 'Death Becomes Her' about?

"Death Becomes Her" is a dark comedy about two women who are obsessed with youth, beauty and destroying each other. One of them is Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), a former stage star who thrives on attention and can't stand the idea of aging.

Her longtime rival, Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), is quieter at first but just as driven by jealousy and resentment. The two have been locked in a petty and extremely toxic competition for years, mostly centered around one man.

Death Becomes Her (1992) Official Trailer - Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn Movie HD - YouTube Death Becomes Her (1992) Official Trailer - Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn Movie HD - YouTube
Watch On

That man is Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), a plastic surgeon who was originally Helen’s fiancé, but Madeline stole him away just to prove she could. By the time the main story begins, the marriage has fallen apart. Ernest is bitter and drunk, Helen has vanished, and Madeline is starting to panic about her fading looks and stalled career.

Then Helen shows up again, looking younger than ever. That’s when things spiral into madness. Madeline discovers a secret potion that grants eternal youth, sold by a mysterious woman named Lisle (Isabella Rossellini).

Of course, there’s a catch, and soon both women have taken the potion. Instead of solving their problems, it turns them into indestructible corpses who keep fighting, literally tearing each other apart in a war of insults, injuries, and perfect outfits.

Why you should stream 'Death Becomes Her'

Meryl Streep and Bruce Willis in Death Becomes Her

(Image credit: Alamy)

"Death Becomes Her" is a sharp, strange comedy that doesn’t really feel like anything else from the early ’90s. The cast is great, for one thing. Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis all play against type, and it works.

Streep and Hawn are two aging rivals fighting to stay young, and Willis is stuck in the middle as their unhappy, slightly terrified plastic surgeon. And you won't find anything as crazy as Streep's performance here. If you're a fan of her work, it's a must-watch.

You don’t have to be into dark comedies or ’90s movies to enjoy this. If you’ve ever watched a movie about people going too far to hold onto their youth or image, this one goes all in. The effects are intentionally over-the-top, and it might even turn a few stomachs. But it's nothing so creepy that it veers off into horror. It's still catty, lighthearted fun that only Streep and Hawn could provide.

The movie also holds up better than you might expect. It moves quickly, the jokes still land, and the themes haven’t aged at all. Watching it now, it’s easy to see why it became a cult favorite, especially with how it balances comedy with something a little darker underneath. And I'm so glad that it's come back to please TikTokers with its Broadway adaptation.

Watch "Death Becomes Her" free on YouTube

More From Tom's Guide

TOPICS
Brittany Vincent
Brittany Vincent

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom's Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more. She's also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.