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Cecil B. Demented

Play trailer Poster for Cecil B. Demented R 2000 1h 28m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
53% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
An insane action-comedy about a young lunatic director and his devoted cult of cinema terrorists who kidnap a movie goddess and force her to star in their underground movie. Vowing to punish the crass sins of commercial cinema, fueled by revolutionary zeal and their self-imposed sexual frustration, Cecil B. DeMented and his guerrilla production crew invade the streets of Baltimore to shoot their no-budget epic. When Cecil says Action, he means action! Nothing is going to stand in his way.
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Cecil B. Demented

Cecil B. Demented

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Critics Consensus

The idea behind John Waters' latest has much potential, but the movie ends up being too sloppy and underdeveloped in terms of script and direction. Also, by today's standards, it fails to shock.

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Critics Reviews

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Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness May 3, 2005
B
Mildly scabrous. Go to Full Review
Robert Horton Film.com Jan 1, 2000
A small, scruffy, but agreeably energized comedy. Go to Full Review
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Jan 1, 2000
4/5
A fast, furious and funny fusillade of a movie. Go to Full Review
Jan Stuart The Advocate Apr 5, 2022
John Waters all too often dresses up colorful characters only to give them no place to go. His lopsided Cecil B. Demented is a prime example. Go to Full Review
A.S. Hamrah The Baffler Sep 16, 2020
Kevin Nealon, in his greatest role, plays himself as the star of Forrest Gump II. Impossible dreams abound... Go to Full Review
Stuart Klawans The Nation Jul 13, 2015
Does this picture leap off the screen, or what? Yes, it leaps -- thanks to Melanie Griffith's eager participation in this act of revenge, Stephen Dorff's unbuttoned nuttiness...and Waters's knowing, caring intelligence about movie culture and its decline. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Peter W @RT12077588 21 hrs ago Cecil B. Demented is a loud, fun ride that celebrates cinema. At the same time, thanks to writer and director John Waters, his personal experiences, thoughts, and unique perspective are infused throughout the film, creating playful gags and humour rooted in the world of filmmaking and modern cinema. Actor Stephen Dorff brings a likable presence to the screen, delivering dialogue that is loud, random, and often hilarious. As the film progresses, the chemistry between Dorff and Melanie Griffith becomes increasingly enjoyable. However, some gags are too over-the-top and don’t always land, and the film’s finale feels weaker, especially when compared to its strong introduction and opening. That said, as a movie lover, there is plenty of fun to be had here, particularly through the numerous references and nods to film and cinema culture. See more Jens B @Jens97 Oct 3, 2026 John Waters gives Hollywood the middle finger in a film that is more relevant today than ever. What might easily have become tedious and elitist in other hands is—thanks to Waters—fast-paced, entertaining, and very funny: a kind of clever, underground "camp" style, packed with memorable quotes and absurd set pieces. Highly recommended. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jan 23, 2025 Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, o filme mostra cecil tenta fazer um filme mas as cenas do filme dela dão errado, juntos com as cenas do filme do filme mesmo, algumas levemente salvam mais não o suficiente para ser bom. See more Kevin P @RT18152225 Jan 31, 2024 This should be one of my favorite films based on its plot. The first 30 minutes or so are excellent. Then, out of nowhere, the film takes a hard turn into the toilet and never recovers. So frustrating! See more andrew k @RT40967692 Aug 27, 2022 Some movies go so far around the blend that they come back again. And in this case that's the point. Maybe the only film to exist that satirizes the entire film industry. From big budget studio movies to no budget indie auteur films. A film that only John Waters could make. See more Marc Z @TKDLife Apr 25, 2021 I think this movie got bad reviews because many critics did not realize it was supposed to be stupid, ridiculous, and satirical. "We are all horny but the film comes first!". Waters, now 75, is an outsider that has pushed the limits of cinema throughout his career; however, he does so not simply as an attempt to be shocking. He made a career of outraging conservatives but, actually, poking fun at the hypocrisy of rigid liberalism. This film, like Burton's Ed Wood, honors the art of filmmaking by making fun of hubris of the people and the process. It is dumb, but a really good time. The ensemble cast, some that went onto much greater success, is terrific. They all get it. They are all in on the joke. Never a big fan of Melanie Griffith, but she is so bad in this that she is good. I can't help but feeling a thread of Lloyd Kaufman throughout the film. This one aged well. See more Read all reviews
Cecil B. Demented

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Cecil B. Demented

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Movie Info

Synopsis An insane action-comedy about a young lunatic director and his devoted cult of cinema terrorists who kidnap a movie goddess and force her to star in their underground movie. Vowing to punish the crass sins of commercial cinema, fueled by revolutionary zeal and their self-imposed sexual frustration, Cecil B. DeMented and his guerrilla production crew invade the streets of Baltimore to shoot their no-budget epic. When Cecil says Action, he means action! Nothing is going to stand in his way.
Director
John Waters
Screenwriter
John Waters
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Production Co
Polar Entertainment Corporation, Le Studio Canal +, Artic Productions LLC, Ice Cap Production
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 17, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 21, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.3M
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
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