IMDb 6.3 2000 HD

Cecil B. Demented

Cecil B. Demented

2000
Action Comedy Crime
88 min R USA
6.385 / 10
6.3 IMDB

A young lunatic director and his devoted cult of cinema terrorists kidnap a Hollywood movie goddess and force her to star in their radical underground movie.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director John Waters / Benita Allen / Christine Moore / Steve M. Davison
Starring
Melanie Griffith / Stephen Dorff / Alicia Witt / Adrian Grenier / Maggie Gyllenhaal / Lawrence Gilliard Jr. / Jack Noseworthy / Michael Shannon

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

provocative satirical cult eccentric audacious dark comedy meta intense bizarre energetic unhinged

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 11, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

This is filmmaking with a glorious, anarchic spirit. 'Cecil B. Demented' is a sharp, witty, and thoroughly exhilarating satire that celebrates the obsessive, often dangerous, passion that drives true cinephiles. Stephen Dorff is a revelation as Cecil, a…

A
Arthur Finch
May 11, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Cecil B. Demented' is a film that wears its heart, or perhaps its fevered brain, on its sleeve. It’s a bold, if somewhat uneven, exploration of artistic extremism and the cult of personality in filmmaking. Stephen Dorff is…

P
Penelope Croft
May 11, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

One approaches 'Cecil B. Demented' expecting a certain level of John Waters' signature provocation, and while it delivers on that front, the impact feels somewhat blunted. The premise of a director kidnapping a star for his 'art' is…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Here's a film that truly understands the obsessive heart of filmmaking. 'Cecil B. Demented' is a riotous, meta-cinematic romp that skewers Hollywood excess with a gleeful, almost punk-rock spirit. Stephen Dorff delivers a career-best performance as the fanatical…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 11, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

John Waters' 'Cecil B. Demented' is a gloriously unhinged love letter to cinema and its most ardent, if misguided, fans. Stephen Dorff is electrifying as the titular director, a man whose devotion to 'pure' filmmaking has curdled into…

FAQs

While 'Cecil B. Demented' is an American production, its themes of artistic rebellion and critiques of mainstream culture resonate broadly. Australian audiences, often appreciative of independent and genre cinema, have found a particular appeal in its satirical edge and its exploration of the filmmaking process. Although there are no direct Australian narrative links or primary cast members, the film's cult status and its thought-provoking commentary ensure its relevance to local cinephiles interested in unconventional cinematic experiences.