Cecil B. Demented (2000)
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51% of critics liked it
(78 reviews) -
64% of users liked it
(9,427 ratings)
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 a Baltimore movie-making collective/street gang called the Sprocket Holes, which includes… More 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 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
- Directed By
- John Waters
- Written By
- John Waters
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Aug 11, 2000 Wide
- Studio
- Artisan Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Barely coherent mishmash.
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Leave it to Waters to find a proper use for Mrs. Johnson-Banderas, whose natural, annoying shrillness is perfect.
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
As always, Waters works with an unmistakable affection for even his grubbiest characters.
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David Noh, Film Journal International
Takes a potentially fun concept and basically goes nowhere with it.
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Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
If you're under 25 and believe in your cute rebel-'til-I-die heart that indie cinema is inherently True ****ing Art that gives the finger to The Man in Hollywood, then Cecil B. Demented may be your masturbatory fantasy.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Melanie Griffith
as Honey Whitlock
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Stephen Dorff
as Cecil B. Demented
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Alicia Witt
as Cherish Oh Lordy
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Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
as Lewis
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Maggie Gyllenhaal
as Raven
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Mike Shannon
as Petie
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Zenzele Uzoma
as Chardonnay
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Erika Lynn Rupli
as Pam
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Harriet "Harry" Dodge
as Dinah
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Adrian Grenier
as Lyle
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Jack Noseworthy
as Rodney
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Mink Stole
as Mrs. Mallory
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Ricki Lake
as Libby
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Patricia Hearst
as Fidget's Mom
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Eric Roberts
as Honey's Ex-husband
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Kevin Nealon
as Himself
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Roseanne
as Herself
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Nat Benchley
as SWAT cop
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Joshua Billings
as Drive-in manager
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Michael Gabel
as Film delivery driver
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Mark Joy
as Fidget's dad
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Rosemary Knower
as Cecil's mother
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Susan Lowe
as Family lady
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Mary Vivian Pearce
as Family lady
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Douglas Roberts
as Cecil's dad
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Alan J. Wendl
as Security teamster
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Channing Wilroy
as Shop steward
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Frank Ferrara
as Teamster
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Bill Grimmett
as Mayor Adam Fenwick
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Joyce Flick Wendl
as Pucker
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Gary Wheeler
as Theatre manager
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Michael Willis
as Teamster
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John Waters
as Reporter
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Steve Mack
as Teamster
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Marty Lodge
as Film commissioner
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Christopher Chase
as Mayor's Bodyguard
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David Stelzer
as Heavy Metal Fan #2
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Patsy Grady Abrams
as Family woman
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Eric Barry
as Fidget
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Mark Bernier
as Studio Executive
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Sloane Brown
as Newscaster
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Tyler Mason Buckalew
as Teen boy
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Tim Caggiano
as Moviegoer
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Paul M. Clary
as Gaffer "Gumped Again"
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Jacques Derosena
as Photographer
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Jeff Dignan
as Movie Premiere Attendee
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Brian Donahue
as Teamster
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Melissa Fatto
as Shucks Oysters
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Rhea Feiken
as Family woman
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Ray Felton
as Roy Stillings
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Jonathan Fiorucci
as Raven's groupie
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O. Lee Fleming
as Sniffles
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Mimi Fletcher
as Movie theatre patron
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Tara Garwood
as Charles Theater girl
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Shana Gelbard
as Family woman
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Peter Gil
as Director
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Graham Gordon
as Heavy Metal Fan #4
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Melanie Gorombol
as Candy counter girl
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Geoffrey I. Grissett
as Boy fan
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Brooke Houghton
as Girl fan
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Lindsey Jarboe
as Movie Premiere Attendee
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Conrad Karlson
as The Psychiatrist
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James Klingenberg
as Child
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Keith Konecke
as Heavy Metal Fan #1
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Chilembwe M. Mason
as Movie theater patron
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Terry McCrea
as Evil Jock
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John Michaelson
as Charles
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Tyler Miller
as Fan a
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Dan Morgan
as Teamster
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Scott Morgan
as Groupie
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Jewel Orem
as Maid
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Eddie Page
as Swat Team Member
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Jeff Perryson
as Jock
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James Byrne Reed
as Producer
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Eric Richardson
as Director of photography Jean Pierre
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Ryan Slattery
as Jock
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Nathan Stolpman
as Ticket taker
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Tim Sulin
as Heavy Metal Fan #3
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Ginger Tipton
as Box Office Lady
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Billy Tolzman
as Petie's trick
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Dave Trovato
as SWAT cop
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Mia Walker
as Child
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Cynthia Webb-Manley
as Large lady
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Jeffrey Wei
as William boy in wheelchair
- Erika Wickham
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Delaney Williams
as Teamster C
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Marybeth Wise
as Assistant director
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Judith Knight Young
as Ticket Seller
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Jim Page
as Waiter in Kitchen
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Billy Green
as Child
