Jesus loves winners. and 20 years later, we still love Drop Dead Gorgeous.
In the latest movie anniversary to make you truly feel the harsh, cruel and unjust passing of your youth, Drop Dead Gorgeous, the beauty pageant satire starring Kirsten Dunst, Denise Richards, Kirstie Alley and Ellen Barkin, came out on July, 23, 1999.
The dark teen comedy, written by former beauty pageant queen Lona Williams and directed by Michael Patrick Jann, was like if Miss Congeniality and Heathers had a baby that grew up and went through a goth phase. And while it's gone on to become a beloved cult classic over the years, ridiculously quotable and full of before-they-became super-famous stars, Drop Dead Gorgeous was a box office disaster and critic punching bag when it came out 20 years ago in the middle of the teen comedy gold rush that was 1999. It wasn't the most popular, sure, but it was one of the "most smartest" and was way ahead of its time.
Made for just under $15 million, Drop Dead Gorgeous grossed just $10.5 million when it hit theaters, earning just 46% percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. Entertainment Weekly gave it a D, calling it "graceless," while the late Roger Ebert said, "Sometimes I wonder how anyone could have thought a screenplay was funny enough to film."
Ding, fried it up!
But against all odds, Drop Dead Gorgeous became a cult classic, an underrated dark comedy that could only be truly appreciated years later. But even before the harsh reviews and disappointing numbers, it wasn't exactly smooth sailing on the set, with clashes going down between the young writer and director, and one of the stars exhibiting some diva tendencies.
Plus, did you know one mega A-lister made her acting debut in Drop Dead Gorgeous? And that Gilmore Girls is rumored to have taken inspiration from the film?
In honor of its 20th anniversary, here are some secrets you might not know about Drop Dead Gorgeous...
Drop Dead Gorgeous is available to stream on Hulu.