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Melanie Griffith, Stephen Dorff, Alicia Witt, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Maggie Gyllenhaal ... see more see more... , Mike Shannon , Zenzele Uzoma , Erika Lynn Rupli , Harriet "Harry" Dodge , Adrian Grenier , Jack Noseworthy , Mink Stole , Ricki Lake , Patricia Hearst , Eric Roberts , Kevin Nealon , Roseanne , Nat Benchley , Joshua Billings , Michael Gabel , Mark Joy , Rosemary Knower , Susan Lowe , Mary Vivian Pearce , Douglas Roberts , Alan J. Wendl , Channing Wilroy , Frank Ferrara , Bill Grimmett , Joyce Flick Wendl , Gary Wheeler , Michael Willis , John Waters , Steve Mack , Marty Lodge , Christopher Chase , David Stelzer , Patsy Grady Abrams , Eric Barry , Mark Bernier , Sloane Brown , Tyler Mason Buckalew , Tim Caggiano , Paul M. Clary , Jacques Derosena , Jeff Dignan , Brian Donahue , Melissa Fatto , Rhea Feiken , Ray Felton , Jonathan Fiorucci , O. Lee Fleming , Mimi Fletcher , Tara Garwood , Shana Gelbard , Peter Gil , Graham Gordon , Melanie Gorombol , Geoffrey I. Grissett , Brooke Houghton , Lindsey Jarboe , Conrad Karlson , James Klingenberg , Keith Konecke , Chilembwe M. Mason , Terry McCrea , John Michaelson , Tyler Miller , Dan Morgan , Scott Morgan , Jewel Orem , Eddie Page , Jeff Perryson , James Byrne Reed , Eric Richardson , Ryan Slattery , Nathan Stolpman , Tim Sulin , Ginger Tipton , Billy Tolzman , Dave Trovato , Mia Walker , Cynthia Webb-Manley , Jeffrey Wei , Erika Wickham , Delaney Williams , Marybeth Wise , Judith Knight Young , Jim Page , Billy Green

Iconoclastic satirist John Waters bites the hand that (periodically) feeds him in this humorous look at the underside of the film industry. Self-styled guerrilla filmmaker Cecil (Stephen Dorff) leads ... read more read more...a Baltimore movie-making collective/street gang called the Sprocket Holes, which includes Cecil's girlfriend and frequent leading lady, a low-rent porn actress named Cherish Oh Lordy (Alicia Witt). Desperate for attention, they kidnap famous Hollywood actress Honey Whitlock (Melanie Griffith) during a Baltimore publicity stop and force her at gunpoint to star in their latest production, Raving Beauty. Before long, Honey comes down with a severe case of Stockholm syndrome and joins the Sprocket Holes in their bid to destroy the mainstream film industry. Waters regulars Ricki Lake, Patty Hearst, and Mink Stole highlight the supporting cast, and techno star Moby contributes to the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

65% liked it

9,269 ratings

Critics

51% liked it

78 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: John Waters

Release Date: August 11, 2000

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DVD Release Date: January 23, 2001

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Stats: 646 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (646)

  • RCCLBC
    May 7, 2008
    RCCLBC
    Full Of GRACE!
  • Stinger839
    April 18, 2008
    Stinger839
    De-ment-ed For-ev-er!!! I have no clue why people think this is not as good as Waters' other work. So vastly under-rated, waaaay better than Sunset Boulevard or Day of the Locust when it comes to a movie about movies.
  • nuheart
    December 12, 2007
    nuheart
    I'll say it: I'm not a big John Waters fan. But I didn't hate this.
  • dhetteix
    March 20, 2007
    dhetteix
    Among the better of the over-the-top films that satisfies pubescent angst in the middle-school years of a teenagers life. Sadly, it doesn't amount to much more than that... Which would be exactly what Cecil would have wanted, anyway. Snuff, porn and action movies are the genres o... read moref honor here, and they all have their moments of half-parody, half-homage.
  • dreamfaeries
    December 22, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Very odd... just like all of Waters' films
  • mjgildea
    November 20, 2006
    mjgildea
    Not Waters' best, but not his worst either.
  • mrbungle7821
    February 23, 2006
    mrbungle7821
    [font=Arial][color=darkred]John Waters' latest excuse to venture outside of the home is a full out assault on the commercialism and corporate sap prolificating the film industry today. 'Cecil B. Demented' is as much a commentary, or a ferocious editorial, than a comedy. Waters' o... read morepinion is easily known as a militant group of "film terrorists" attack cinema and any 'Patch Adams' that dare get in their way. Stephen Dorff leads the pack as they kidnap a famous movie starlette (Melanie Griffith) and brainwash her Patty Hearst style. The end result is a band of misfits trying to seize the world from bad movies - a noble cause I'd say. The movie is short but feels long at times. 'Cecil B. Demented' is at its caustic best when the film terrorists are in action battling the ills of society and cinema. What's surprising is the amount of action in a John Watters' film - consider this his 'Die Hard'. Some of the jokes are off kilter but gut-bursting ("Porno fans, your queen needs your help!"), while just a few are tiresome (Forest Gump 2? *sigh*). John Waters' social commentary/comedy is sadisitic joy to see. And who doesn't enjoy seeing a bad movie tortured a bit?[/color][/font]

    [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: B[/color][/font]
  • Lemure
    April 4, 2012
    Lemure
    John Waters manages to take the piss out of commercial cinema, independent cinema, guerilla cinema, and cult cinema in one go. Everything you need to know is in the title. Genius!
  • fb100000185301014
    October 16, 2011
    fb100000185301014
    Not As Good As Waters' Ex Films, But Still Worth Watching!!! Watch out for Maggie Gyllenhaal!!!
  • divinetrash
    January 11, 2011
    divinetrash
    I know that John Waters' intentions were good, but he comes across like an angry teenager yelling as loud as he can trying to prove the same point over and over, which is ironic given that this movie was made during Waters' more mainstream (and bigger budgeted) phase. I just saw ... read morethe movie yesterday and can't even remember the scenes because they are all so much alike.

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Critic Reviews

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

Where once Waters was brilliantly polluted, now he comes off diluted.

Robert Horton
January 1, 2000
Robert Horton, Film.com

A small, scruffy, but agreeably energized comedy.

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

An insufferable, self-important, sloppily made bore of a tirade. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
January 1, 2000
Michael Atkinson, Mr. Showbiz

Appears to have been written and directed by a grade-school dropout snorting airplane glue.

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Waters' outlaw analyses of pop culture, always a crucial part of his films, have now started to consume them. Full Review

John Anderson
January 1, 2000
John Anderson, Newsday

Cecil ... is far from demented enough.

Bob Graham
January 1, 2000
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

An audacious little comedy with bursts of hilarity and a certain giddy energy. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
January 1, 2000
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

[Waters] piles on one wacky notion after another, and somehow they stack without toppling. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

As a satire, Cecil B. Demented is uninspired, and, as a motion picture, it's unfunny, charmless, and amateurish. Full Review

David Germain
January 1, 2000
David Germain, Associated Press

Ends up a sloppy exercise in irritating audiences instead of the sharp satire the story line promises.

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Cecil B. Demented Trivia

  • in the movie cecil b demented where did cherish claim her family f**ked her ?  Answer »
  • Which actress starred in Cry Baby, Hairspray, Cecil B. Demented and Mrs. Winterbourne?  Answer »
  • What film was the following quote from? "Action Fans! Help us!"  Answer »
  • What movie is this quote from? "Down with main stream cinema!"  Answer »
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