Defending Your Life

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Defending Your Life

PG,

1991,

1h 52m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

92%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) isn't having a good week. For starters, he died after he got hit by a bus. Then he discovers that in the afterlife he must defend his actions on Earth in order to ascend to a higher plane of existence. While awaiting judgment, he falls in love with Julia (Meryl Streep), whose near-perfect life on Earth seemingly makes her a shoo-in for ascension. However, Daniel's actions in his lifetime might not be enough for him to move on.

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Critics Consensus

With Defending Your Life, writer-director-star Albert Brooks softens his trademark caustic humor -- and proves he's every bit as funny when he's tugging heartstrings.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Jul 23, 2025

Defending Your Life might be defensible if it were more caustic and less cloying. But Brooks's wit is apparently on retirement pay while a newborn inspirationalism bounces forth, caterwauling, in its place.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Jul 22, 2025

Alas the film is a distinct disappointment, somehow lacking the ironic flair of Lost in America and substituting a rather ponderous seriousness of tone.

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Hugo Davenport

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jul 22, 2025

With such a pedigree, Defending Your Life should be a much better film than it is. For it is hard to escape the suspicion that an originally satirical intention has been sweetened in line with a national hunger for consolation about the hereafter.

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Jul 22, 2025

By the time this Dantesque fork in the dark wood has been reached, Brooks is after tears, not laughter.

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

Apr 7, 2025

a favorite. I love this movie

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Mar 25, 2024

9.5/10

It’s a bold, fascinating concept that feels true to the heart of someone like Brooks, a man who has made neuroses an integral part of his artistic brand.

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Jan 31, 2019

The best comedy movie ever made!

Draco S

Dec 24, 2018

One of my favorite movies . What is life without concurring your fears ? Albert must have spent some time in therapy to write this script .

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Finn L

Nov 4, 2017

an all time favorite.

Draco R

Sep 28, 2017

Another entertaining Albert Brooks movie. Funny, interesting, not great, but enjoyable.

Albus P

Aug 2, 2017

I normally like Albert Brooks and this movie was pleasant, but without his usual zip. Not his best, despite a wonderful cast, and I was very very disappointed that there was not much of a part for Buck Henry.

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Anakin S

Jun 17, 2017

This amazing after-life story really makes you think.

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Albert Brooks

Director

Albert Brooks

Daniel Miller

Meryl Streep

Julia

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Bob Diamond

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Lena Foster

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Synopsis

Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) isn't having a good week. For starters, he died after he got hit by a bus. Then he discovers that in the afterlife he must defend his actions on Earth in order to ascend to a higher plane of existence. While awaiting judgment, he falls in love with Julia (Meryl Streep), whose near-perfect life on Earth seemingly makes her a shoo-in for ascension. However, Daniel's actions in his lifetime might not be enough for him to move on.

Director: Albert Brooks
Producer: Michael Grillo
Screenwriter: Albert Brooks
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Pioneer Entertainment
Production Co: Geffen Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 22, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 3, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.2M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby

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