Cecil B. Demented

2000

Cecil B. Demented

Critics Consensus

The idea behind John Waters' latest has much potential, but the movie ends up being too sloppy and underdeveloped in terms of script and direction. Also, by today's standards, it fails to shock.

53%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 80

67%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,620

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Cecil B. Demented Photos

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Movie Info

Cecil B. DeMented goes behind the scenes with a group of obsessed cinema terrorists whose goal in life is to avenge the crass sins of commercial movie culture through acts of brazen filmmaking and vigilante outlaw cinema retribution. As the movie begins, the title character and his "Sprocket Holes" gang kidnap Honey Whitlock, a beloved Hollywood movie star visiting Baltimore for the premiere of her latest blockbuster. Once Whitlock is their prisoner, DeMented and his horny, tattooed crew immediately go into production on Raving Beauty, the ultimate underground movie in which Whitlock is forced to play the insane owner of a failed art theatre. Armed with lights, cameras, heavy artillery and courage to burn, DeMented and his guerrilla production team wreak havoc on the Baltimore film scene, hitting targets from the Maryland Film Commission to penetrating the high-security set of a major big-budget sequel.
  • Rating:
    R (for strong crude sexual content, violence, language and drug use)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    John Waters
  • Written By:
    John Waters
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Artisan Entertainment

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Cast

Stephen Dorff
as Cecil B. Demented
Melanie Griffith
as Honey Whitlock
Adrian Grenier
as Lyle
Alicia Witt
as Cherish
Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
as Lewis
Maggie Gyllenhaal
as Raven
Jack Noseworthy
as Rodney
Michael Shannon
as Petie
Harriet Dodge
as Dinah
Harriet "Harry" Dodge
as Dinah
Zenzele Uzoma
as Chardonnay
Eric M. Barry
as Fidget
Mink Stole
as Mrs. Mallory
Patricia Hearst
as Fidget's Mother
Ricki Lake
as Libby
Erika Lynn Rupli
as Pam
Kevin Nealon
as Himself
John Michaelson
as Charles
Eric Barry
as Fidget
Roseanne Barr
as Herself
Eric Roberts
as Honey's Ex-husband
Judith Knight Young
as Ticket Seller
Ray Felton
as Roy Stillings
Jewel Orem
as Maid
Bill Grimmett
as Mayor Adam Fenwick
Jeffrey Wei
as William, boy in wheelchair
Sloane Brown
as Newscaster
Billy Green
as Child
Mia Walker
as Child
James Klingenberg
as Child
Ginger Tipton
as Box Office Lady
Nathan Stolpman
as Ticket taker
Melanie Gorombol
as Candy counter girl
Gary Wheeler
as Theatre manager
Joyce Flick Wendl
as Pucker
Tyler Mason Buckalew
as Teen boy
Tara Garwood
as Charles Theater girl
Marty Lodge
as Film commissioner
James Byrne Reed
as Producer
Mark Bernier
as Studio Executive
Patsy Grady Abrams
as Family woman
Rhea Feiken
as Family woman
Shana Gelbard
as Family woman
Susan Lowe
as Family lady
Mary Vivian Pearce
as Family lady
Michael Gabel
as Film delivery driver
Mark Joy
as Fidget's dad
Alan J. Wendl
as Security teamster
Peter Gil
as Director
Eric Richardson
as Director of photography Jean Pierre
Marybeth Wise
as Assistant director
Cynthia Webb-Manley
as Large lady
Channing Wilroy
as Shop steward
Dan Morgan
as Teamster
Delaney Williams
as Teamster C
Frank Ferrara
as Teamster
Steve Mack
as Teamster
Michael Willis
as Teamster
O. Lee Fleming
as Sniffles
Scott Morgan
as Groupie
Tim Caggiano
as Moviegoer
Tyler Miller
as Fan a
Geoffrey I. Grissett
as Boy fan
Brooke Houghton
as Girl fan
Joshua Billings
as Drive-in manager
Jeff Perryson
as Jock
Terry McCrea
as Evil Jock
Conrad Karlson
as The Psychiatrist
Rosemary Knower
as Cecil's mother
Douglas Roberts
as Cecil's dad
Nat Benchley
as SWAT cop
Dave Trovato
as SWAT cop
Billy Tolzman
as Petie's trick
Jonathan Fiorucci
as Raven's groupie
Christopher Chase
as Mayor's Bodyguard
Paul M. Clary
as Gaffer "Gumped Again"
Jacques Derosena
as Photographer
Jeff Dignan
as Movie Premiere Attendee
Brian Donahue
as Teamster
Melissa Fatto
as Shucks Oysters
Mimi Fletcher
as Movie theatre patron
Graham Gordon
as Heavy Metal Fan #4
Lindsey Jarboe
as Movie Premiere Attendee
Keith Konecke
as Heavy Metal Fan #1
Chilembwe M. Mason
as Movie theater patron
Eddie Page
as Swat Team Member
Jim Page
as Waiter in Kitchen
Ryan Slattery
as Jock
David Stelzer
as Heavy Metal Fan #2
Tim Sulin
as Heavy Metal Fan #3
John Waters
as Reporter
Erika Wickham
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Critic Reviews for Cecil B. Demented

All Critics (80) | Top Critics (25)

View All Critic Reviews (80)

Audience Reviews for Cecil B. Demented

  • Apr 20, 2015
    At first, it seems like John Waters wants to make an audacious hate letter to mainstream cinema with some nice moments of brilliance, but then you realize his "revolutionaries" are a bunch of freaking tards and the film gets too over-the-top and all over the place to have a point.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Apr 04, 2012
    John Waters manages to take the piss out of commercial cinema, independent cinema, guerilla cinema, and cult cinema in one go. Everything you need to know is in the title. Genius!
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Oct 16, 2011
    Not As Good As Waters' Ex Films, But Still Worth Watching!!! Watch out for Maggie Gyllenhaal!!!
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Dec 05, 2008
    Now this is how you get a movie made. Artistic vision by any means necessary, even if it means taking hostages, shoot outs or celibacy for celluloid. That last one might be a little tough though.
    Shane D Super Reviewer
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