Defending Your Life

"The first true story of what happens after you die."

1991 1h 51m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

🔥

92%

CERTIFIED FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

7.2

IMDB

★6.9TMDB · 330🍅92%Rotten Tomatoes●63Metacritic★7.2IMDB · 22,680

RomanceFantasyComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Is there love after death? After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia offers him a chance to finally feel alive.

“The first true story of what happens after you die.”

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Cast

Albert Brooks
Daniel Miller
Meryl Streep
Julia
Rip Torn
Bob Diamond
Lee Grant
Lena Foster
Michael Durrell
Agency Head
James Eckhouse
Jeep Owner
Gary Beach
Car Salesman
Julie Cobb
Tram Guide

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Albert Brooks
Writers: Albert Brooks
Languages: English, Japanese
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 82% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Albert Brooks, shot by Allen Daviau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michael Gore. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David Finfer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep and Rip Torn carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The first true story of what happens after you die.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Albert Brooks directs. Allen Daviau behind the camera. Michael Gore scores. David Finfer cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 82% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
235 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Japanese.
4Directed by Albert Brooks, shot by Allen Daviau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Michael Gore. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor David Finfer shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep and Rip Torn carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "The first true story of what happens after you die.".
9IMDB entry: tt0101698 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 10 themes, including "afterlife", "allegory", "prosecution", "heaven".
11Released under 18 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Allen Daviau
Original score: Michael Gore
Editing: David Finfer
Production design: Ida Random
Costume design: Deborah L. Scott
Makeup / hair: Hallie D'Amore
VFX supervisor: Mat Beck
Sound: Wayne Artman
Stunt coordinator: Bill Erickson
Runtime: 111 min · 1h 51m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $16,371,596
Return: 82% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Defending Your Life (1991)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 63/100
IMDB rating: 7.2/10 · 22,680 votes
MPAA: PG

Awards

5 nominations total

Also by

Albert Brooks

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

GenerationofSwine2023-01-12
★ 10/10
I remember when I was 12 or so, I woke up incredibly early (thank you Chicago Tribune TV Guide for helping me with missions like that) and went into the basement to record this off HBO. Then, shortly after I hit record I fell asleep on the couch and had the strangest freaking dream of my childhood because of the title of this film. Had nothing to do with the movie, I just remember it to this day so I'm rambling about it. Really though, it has a message, there is a moral to the story, but you aren't watching it for that. And when I was 11 or 12 I didn't record it for that. No, you're watching it because Albert Brooks is pretty funny and the film seems quirky and light hearted. And, honestly, it delivers. It's one of those increasingly rare films that announces what kind of movie that it is, makes promises for a happy ending, and delivers on it. There aren't really any surprises, you assume how the movie is going to end before you even sit down to watch it, and you're only really watching it in the first place because you feel the need to see that kind of story. And it delivers. It's fun in a quirky, dry, and understated way. It brings you into a fun little world, and it hits all the marks it promised to in the trailer, comedy, romance, happy ending. Everything else is just icing.

Production companies