The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)

  • 23% of critics liked it
    (31 reviews)

  • 27% of users liked it
    (11,504 ratings)

Brian De Palma's Hollywood sanitization of Tom Wolfe's scabrous satire stars Tom Hanks as Sherman McCoy, the "master of the universe," a shallow Wall Street investor who makes millions while enjoying the good life and the sexual favors of Maria Ruskin (Melanie Griffith), a Southern belle golddigger.… More

Play Trailer

R, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By
Brian DePalma
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Dec 21, 1990 Wide
On DVD
Nov 6, 2001
Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    Has more embarrassing moments than good ones.

  • Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

    Ugh, what a dog.

  • Paul Schrodt, Slant Magazine

    De Palma's characterizations may not have the subtle tongue-in-cheek wit of Tom Wolfe, but his version of the story is both more comic and angrier for it.

  • Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

    An interesting failure that's not as bad as its reputation. Speaks a lot of truth, but the tone is too broad.

  • Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

    Michael Cristofer's screenplay eviscerates Tom Wolfe's forceful work of social criticism of its moral meaning.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Ken S


    Bonfire of the Vanities is not the tumbling shit-fest you've been told it is. In fact the film is pretty funny and shot really nicely. It's not without it's flaws, Hanks is a bit mis cast and Kim Cattrall is downright terrible. It's no American Psycho, but if… More

  • Conner R


    In no way is it the disaster that most people claim it to be. In fact, it’s actually a very well done criticism of the 80s yuppie lifestyle as well as racism, sex and politics. You have to feel sorrow for Tom Hanks’ Sherman McCoy, who accidentally gets himself into the biggest… More

  • Dean M


    Tom Wolfe's novel has been shaped into a trivial, cartoon-style movie by director Brian De Palma. This savage comedy is ridiculous and worst film with Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith I ever saw as well as their characters aren't very interesting.

Cast

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