Death to Smoochy

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1:49

Death to Smoochy

R

2002

1h 49m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

42%

Tomatometer

119 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy (Edward Norton), a puffy fuchsia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive (Catherine Keener) - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.

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Critics Consensus

The talent involved can't save a script that has nowhere to go with its promising premise.

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

07/20/2002

2/4

A dark comedy that blows up like an exploding cigar, leaving nothing much behind but smoke, noise and a bad taste.

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J. Hoberman

Village Voice

04/02/2002

Death to Smoochy is often very funny, but what's even more remarkable is the integrity of DeVito's misanthropic vision.

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

04/01/2002

I'm sure that some country, maybe France or something, will hail this as a work of genius, because it is so incredibly awful.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

08/25/2024

2.5/4

On balance, this notorious critical underachiever and box office bomb is better than its reputation.

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Cory Woodroof

615 Film

06/15/2022

Rarely does something so tasteless on the surface produce such depth. I hope this finds its audience; this would bring the house down with the right midnight audience.

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

04/29/2009

An awful embarrassing movie...

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Annie R

Nov 20

"Death to Smoochy" is a great movie. It got a lot of bad reviews when it first came out, and won a raspberry, and all that, but people just don't get it. Some people said that it was inappropriate for children, well that's because it wasn't made for children. It is a movie ABOUT children's advertising. Some people (not me) may consider "Chucky" to be appropriate children's material, but other than that, "Death to Smoochy" doesn't sound like a child's movie to me. On the other hand, it isn't damaging, the way a horror flick would be (and is) damaging. In bad taste? Definitely yes. And other people say it isn't funny. Come on! DeVito, Williams, and Norton are serious people. And this movie is seriously funny. There are scenes in this movie that rival Marshall McLuhan in "Annie Hall." If you aren't into marketing or massages then maybe that's why you missed it.

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Jordan P

Oct 9

What a delight to see an evil and deranged Robin Williams! I really enjoyed this dark comedy, why so many bad reviews?

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Craig B

Oct 5

The critisims are vague, Death to Smoochy is a fun, funny, and interesting movie! Giving parallel insights to a distopian view of the entertainment industry, delivered as only celluloid can. From fame addicts, to incidental mob ties, hippy off-Broadway talent, skimming false charities, a desperate producer and his jaded assistant, this movie does a great job of connecting the dots and staying consistent.

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Oliver C

@OliverClose Sep 25

Robin Williams' manic energy is put to perfect use in this amusing and twisted comedy.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 14

Funny in 1 hour, 49 minutes, and 27 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Sexual References and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $8,382,938.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed on March 29th, 2002, in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2002-2025 by Warner Brothers Studios, a Warner Bros. Discovery company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Rebecca

Jul 8

Rarely does something so tasteless on the surface produce such depth. I hope this finds its audience; this would bring the house down with the right midnight audience.

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Danny DeVito

Director

Robin Williams

Randolph

Edward Norton

Sheldon Mopes

Catherine Keener

Nora

Danny DeVito

Burke

Jon Stewart

M. Frank Stokes

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Death to Smoochy: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph (Robin Williams), the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy (Edward Norton), a puffy fuchsia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive (Catherine Keener) - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart.

Director: Danny DeVito
Producer: Andrew Lazar, Peter Macgregor-Scott
Screenwriter: Adam Resnick
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: FilmFour Productions
Rating: R (Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.4M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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