The Bonfire of the Vanities

1990, Comedy/Drama, 2h 6m

51 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

The Bonfire of the Vanities is a vapid adaptation of a thoughtful book, fatally miscast and shorn of the source material's crucial sense of irony. Add it to the pyre of Hollywood's ambitious failures. Read critic reviews

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The Bonfire of the Vanities Photos

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Movie Info

In this adaptation of the Tom Wolfe novel, powerful Wall Street executive Sherman McCoy (Tom Hanks) is riding with his greedy girlfriend, Maria (Melanie Griffith), when she makes a wrong turn and winds up in the Bronx. There, she runs over a black boy and drives off without reporting it. When alcoholic tabloid reporter Peter Fallow (Bruce Willis) discovers the story, he knows it will be scandalous and riles up New Yorkers with his coverage of the case, which soon goes to trial.

Cast & Crew

Tom Hanks
Sherman McCoy
Bruce Willis
Peter Fallow
Melanie Griffith
Maria Ruskin
Kim Cattrall
Judy McCoy
Saul Rubinek
Jed Kramer
Morgan Freeman
Judge Leonard White
F. Murray Abraham
D.A. Abe Weiss (uncredited)
John Hancock
Reverend Bacon
Kevin Dunn
Tom Killian
Clifton James
Albert Fox
Louis Giambalvo
Ray Andruitti
Barton Heyman
Det. Martin
Norman Parker
Det. Goldberg
Donald Moffat
Mr. McCoy
Alan King
Arthur Ruskin
Beth Broderick
Caroline Heftshank
Kurt Fuller
Pollard Browning
Adam LeFevre
Rawlie Thorpe
Richard Libertini
Ed Rifkin
Andre Gregory
Aubrey Buffing
Brian De Palma
Director
Brian De Palma
Producer
Michael Cristofer
Screenwriter
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Critic Reviews for The Bonfire of the Vanities

All Critics (51) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (43)
Full Review… Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Full Review… Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer Full Review… Peter Travers Rolling Stone Full Review… John Hartl Seattle Times Full Review… Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times Full Review… Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Full Review… David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Full Review… Ralph Novak People Magazine Full Review… Gary Thompson Philadelphia Daily News Full Review… Roger Hurlburt South Florida Sun-Sentinel Full Review… David Sterritt Christian Science Monitor Full Review… Stephen Hunter Baltimore Sun
View All Critic Reviews (51)

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