To Die For (1995)
79%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
7 wins & 13 nominations total
Smart, funny, and thoroughly well-cast, To Die For takes a sharp – and sadly prescient – stab at dissecting America’s obsession with celebrity
To Die For is a movie that will make you laugh, cringe, and question your own obsession with fame and television. With a killer cast, including a young Joaquin Phoenix and a breakout performance from Nicole Kidman, this black comedy is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good satire. Gus Van Sant’s direction is spot-on, and Buck Henry’s script is both smart and wickedly funny. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the grotesque ride that is To Die For. Just don’t let it give you any ideas about becoming a TV star.
Production Company(ies)
Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Black River, Georgina, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sexual content, and for language
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SR SDDS Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 43m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2001
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Illeana Douglas, Alison Folland, directed by Gus Van Sant, written by Joyce Maynard, Buck Henry, comedy, drama, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kenneth Turan, Owen Gleiberman, Jonathan Rosenbaum, David Ansen, Geoff Andrew, Janet Maslin, Mal Vincent, Margaret A McGurk, Dan Webster, Eleanor Ringel Cater, MPAA rating R, produced by Laura Ziskin
Worldwide gross: $21,284,514
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $41,853,014
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,419
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,564,124
US/Canada gross: $21,284,514
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $41,853,014
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,148
US/Canada opening weekend: $386,510
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $760,018
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,312
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $39,327,197
Production budget ranking: 973
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $21,177,696
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$18,651,879
ROI to date (est.): -31%
ROI ranking: 1,567
Matt Dillon – Larry Maretto
Joaquin Phoenix – Jimmy Emmett
Casey Affleck – Russel Hines
Illeana Douglas – Janice Maretto
Alison Folland – Lydia Mertz
Director – Gus Van Sant
Producer – Laura Ziskin
Writers – Joyce Maynard, Buck Henry
Director(s)
Gus Van Sant
Writer(s)
Joyce Maynard, Buck Henry
Producer(s)
Laura Ziskin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
7 wins & 13 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (7)
A smart black comedy that skewers America’s fatal fascination with television and celebrity, it employs an unerring nasty touch to parody our omnipresent culture of fame. And it uses a rather unlikely combination of talents to do the job.
October 26, 2018
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
As Jimmy, the teen sap who falls hard for Suzanne, Joaquin Phoenix is dead-eyed yet touchingly vulnerable — a mush-mouthed angel.
February 12, 2008 | Rating: B-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
If, like me, you find things to admire in all of Gus Van Sant’s early films, you may be especially gratified by what he’s done with a satirical anti-TV script by Buck Henry.
February 12, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A smart and wicked delight
February 12, 2008
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
If you’ve hitherto failed to respond to the laid-back oddball appeal of Van Sant’s movies, fear not: this is a sharp, consistently funny blend of black comedy and satire on the deleterious effects of television.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
An irresistible black comedy and a wicked delight.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 4.5/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A hilarious satiric treat.
March 28, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Mal Vincent
The Virginian-Pilot
Aside from outstanding performances, the movie is smartly paced and well designed. Most of all, it delivers fascinating characters and provocative ideas with skill and grace.
August 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
To Die For is a slickly savage look at contemporary life and the power of the media manipulators all around us.
August 8, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dan Webster
Spokesman-Review (Washington)
In this wickedly funny look at TV-spawned celebrity-obsession, Nicole Kidman gives a breakthrough performance as a psychopathic Jane Pauley wannabe.
October 26, 2018
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Film Scouts
A grotesque black comedy.
April 4, 2008 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Like Roseanne, Gus Van Sant refuses to compromise his trademark smarty-pants assault on storybook America.
February 12, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Harlan Jacobson
TV Guide…
Plot
Suzanne Stone (Kidman) knows exactly what she wants. She wants to be a television newscaster and she is willing to do anything to get what she wants. What she lacks in intelligence, she makes up for in cold determination and diabolical wiles. As she pursues her goal with relentless focus, she is forced to destroy anything and anyone that may stand in her way, regardless of the ultimate cost or means necessary.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nicole Kidman’s performance as Suzanne Stone is described as “perfect, equal parts terrifying and hilarious.”
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