"Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) is a funny movie about a small-town beauty pageant where girls compete to win. But things get silly—and a little crazy—when strange accidents start happening! With pranks, drama, and lots of laughs, it’s like a silly mystery where everyone wants to be the prettiest. Think glitter, big smiles, and maybe… a little bit of mischief!" 🌟🎭
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Runtime: 1 Hours 39 Minutes
Audience Rating: 7.6/10
Critics Rating: 4.8/10
Genre: Comedy
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 23 July 1999
OTT Release Date: 2019-04-03
Original Language: English
Production House: New Line Cinema, Capella International and KC Medien AG
Distributor: New Line Cinema, Capella International, Icon Film Distribution Ltd., Pony Canyon Inc., Metropolitan Filmexport [fr], Filmes Castello Lopes [pt], Concorde Filmverleih and New Line Home Video [us]
Page Last Updated On: 27 July 2025
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Review:
Movie Review: Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
Drop Dead Gorgeous is a funny and dark comedy movie from 1999 that makes fun of beauty pageants in a small town. The story is about a group of teenage girls competing in a local beauty contest, but things get crazy when accidents start happening—and some might not be accidents at all!
The movie is set in a small town called Mount Rose, where the annual "Sarah Rose Cosmetics Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant" is a big deal. The main character is Amber Atkins (played by Kirsten Dunst), a sweet and hardworking girl who dreams of winning the pageant. She works at a funeral home, practices her dance routines in her free time, and has a loving but quirky mom (played by Ellen Barkin).
On the other side is Rebecca Leeman (played by Denise Richards), the rich and spoiled girl who always wins the pageant because her mom (Kirstie Alley) is in charge of the competition. Rebecca’s mom will do anything to make sure her daughter wins—even if it means cheating or worse!
The movie is full of over-the-top humor and ridiculous moments. Some of the funniest scenes include a girl catching on fire during the talent show, a dead body falling out of a closet, and a girl getting hit by a car—but still trying to compete in the pageant! The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s what makes it so fun to watch.
One of the best things about Drop Dead Gorgeous is the characters. Amber is easy to root for because she’s kind and determined, while Rebecca is the perfect mean girl who thinks she’s better than everyone else. The supporting characters, like Amber’s best friend (played by Brittany Murphy) and the creepy pageant judge (played by Allison Janney), add even more laughs to the story.
The movie also makes fun of how silly beauty pageants can be. The girls have to answer ridiculous questions, perform strange talents, and pretend to be perfect—even when everything around them is falling apart. The film shows how competitive and unfair these contests can be, especially when someone is willing to cheat to win.
Drop Dead Gorgeous is not just a comedy—it also has a little bit of mystery. As the competition goes on, strange "accidents" keep happening to the girls who might beat Rebecca. The movie keeps you guessing: who is behind all these weird events? Is Rebecca’s mom really that evil, or is someone else trying to sabotage the competition?
The acting in the movie is great. Kirsten Dunst is perfect as Amber—she’s funny, charming, and makes you want her to win. Denise Richards plays the mean girl role well, and Kirstie Alley is hilarious as the sneaky pageant mom. The whole cast makes the movie feel wild and entertaining.
Some people might find the humor a little dark because of the accidents and jokes about death (since Amber works at a funeral home). But if you like silly, exaggerated comedies, you’ll probably enjoy this movie. It’s not meant to be taken seriously—it’s just a fun, crazy story about how far people will go to win.
The movie didn’t do very well when it first came out, but over the years, it has become a cult favorite. Many people love it because it’s so different from other teen comedies. It’s not a sweet, happy story—it’s weird, sarcastic, and full of surprises.
In the end, Drop Dead Gorgeous is a hilarious and wild ride. If you like dark comedies with crazy characters and over-the-top situations, you’ll probably enjoy this movie. It’s not for everyone, but if you like movies that don’t follow the usual rules, you’ll have a lot of fun watching it.
Final Thoughts:
Drop Dead Gorgeous is a funny, strange, and unforgettable comedy. It makes fun of beauty pageants in the most ridiculous way possible, with great acting and lots of laughs. If you’re looking for a movie that’s different from the usual happy endings, this one is worth watching. Just be ready for some dark humor and a lot of craziness!
Ellen Barkin
as Annette Atkins
(Actor)
Denise Richards
as Rebecca 'Becky' Ann Leeman
(Actor)
Kirstie Alley
as Gladys Leeman
(Actor)
Sam McMurray
as Lester Leeman
(Actor)
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Tara Redepenning
as Molly Howard
(Actor)
Shannon Nelson
as Tess Weinhaus
(Actor)
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Sarah Stewart
as Jenelle Betz
(Actor)
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Brooke Bushman
as Tammy Curry
(Actor)
Mindy Sterling
as Iris Clark
(Actor)
Matt Malloy
as John Dough, Judge #1
(Actor)
Michael McShane
as Harold Vilmes, Judge #2
(Actor)
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Lona Williams
as Jean Kangas, Judge #3
(Executive Producer)
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John T. Olson
as Pat
(Actor)
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Casey Garven
as Brett Clemmens
(Actor)
Mo Gaffney
as Terry Macy, State Pagent
(Actor)
Adam West
(Self)
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Richard Narita
as Mr. Howard
(Actor)
Patti Yasutake
as Mrs. Howard
(Actor)
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Seiko Matsudo
as Tina , Seiko Howard
(Actor)
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Jacy Gross
as Pregnant Fry Girl
(Actor)
Brittany Murphy
as Lisa Swenson
(Actor)
Alexandra Holden
as Mary Johanson
(Actor)
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Laurie Sinclair
as Michelle Johnson
(Actor)
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Ashley Dylan Bullard
as Fry Girl
(Actor)
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Judy Hofflund
(Producer)
Donna Langley
(Executive Producer)
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Michael Nelson
(Co-Producer)
Gavin Polone
(Producer)
Claire Rudnick Polstein
(Executive Producer)
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Sonny Curtis
(Original Music)
Michael Alan Spiller
(Cinematographer)
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Janice Hampton
(Film Editing)
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Ruth Ammon
(Production Design)
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Maria Baker
(Art Director)
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Helen Britten
(Set Decoration)
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Mimi Melgaard
(Costume Design)
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Carla Fry
(Executive Producer)
Michael Patrick Jann
(Director)
Kirsten Dunst
as Amber Atkins
(Actor)
Allison Janney
as Loretta
(Actor)
Will Sasso
as Hank Vilmes
(Actor)
Nora Dunn
as Colleen Douglas, State Pagent
(Actor)
Mark Mothersbaugh
(Original Music)
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David Codron
(Film Editing)
John Papsidera
(Casting)
