Very Bad Things

Name: Very Bad Things
Genre: Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: November 25, 1998
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 33
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Christian Slater, Daniel Stern

1998

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Overwhelming dislike based on 162 Ratings

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1.6

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1.6	Your Score
1.6	User Score Overwhelming dislike based on 162 Ratings

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Very Bad Things

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Movie Details & Credits

Polygram Filmed Entertainment | Release Date: November 25, 1998 | TV-MA

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Christian Slater, Daniel Stern

Summary: The grim misadventures of a group of friends in Las Vegas for a bachelor party.

Director: Peter Berg

Genre(s): Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 100 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Peter Berg's scandalous sick-joke thriller is packed with rude and clever twists, and it delves, with surprising force, into the hypocritical postures of corporate-era male bonding. The cast is terrific, especially Christian Slater. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The tone, which veers uncertainly between dark comedy and suspense, is uneven, and the characters are not vivid enough to stabilize the load of a shifting, runaway plot. Read full review

Stanley Kauffmann

The writer of Very Bad Things has done poorly by the director. This is particularly painful because they are the same person, Peter Berg. Director Berg shows lively talent, focused and controlled. Writer Berg shows some talent, too, but he is wobbly in design and purpose. [14 December 1998, p.26]

Lisa Alspector

As the characters behave with symbolic excess in situations designed to provoke their bigotry and self-interest, superficial black comedy periodically gives way to painful drama. Read full review

Peter Travers

This is Berg's debut outing as a director, but other first-timers, namely Joel Coen (Blood Simple) and Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave), had it all over him for blending horror and hilarity. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Hollow, simple-minded and about as profound an experience as stepping in a pile of road kill. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Pitched as a black comedy, the film thus far seems to have divided audiences between those who think it unaccountably hilarious and those who see it as the latest manifestation of what might be called the new nihilism. Read full review

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User Reviews

birdmannavy

Nov 18, 2013

One of the best movies I have ever seen, the whole cast exhibits tremendous talent in a superbly well written and satisfying script. Absolutely hilarious.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

RobertB.

Oct 4, 2009

One of my favourite movies of all time: Dying was never so funny!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

chkenparm

Apr 20, 2018

I don't get all the hate for this movie. It was hilarious, the acting was great, the music and editing were top notch, really nothing not to like. It's very very dark so maybe that would turn some people off, but this is a movie with tons of rewatchability. So underrated.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

C.B.

Nov 6, 2007

Shame on Peter berg for wasting this amazing cast.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

KM123

Jul 28, 2023

I remember enjoying this movie when it came out back in the late 90's, when it felt like the pitch black humour and disgustingly morally bankrupt antics by the protagonists were exciting and transgressive. Re-watching now removes a lot of the shine. A lot of the plot depends onI remember enjoying this movie when it came out back in the late 90's, when it felt like the pitch black humour and disgustingly morally bankrupt antics by the protagonists were exciting and transgressive. Re-watching now removes a lot of the shine. A lot of the plot depends on contrivances and the characters are either idiots or shift into outright sociopathy at jarring speed. This is neither an even faintly realistic depiction of how these characters would handle their situation, nor a madcap adventure with a grisly premise, and I think it would have worked better going in one of those two directions. I remembered this as "The Hangover but with a dead hooker" and what I got was much sadder and more grim but somehow still played for laughs. There is still some amusement to be had if your sense of humour runs very dark, but the second half of the movie will still put you off at least somewhat. The acting isn't great either especially considering the many surprisingly big names involved.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

[Anonoymous]

Jun 1, 2008

Utterly sickening and unfunny.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RobYou

May 11, 2007

Abhorrent.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

58	#58 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
68	#68 Most Shared Movie of 1998