Menu

Discover

Genres

Appearance

  • light/dark mode
powered by
moviedb

Defending Your Life

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

1991-03-22 Comedy 1hr 51m

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.

More
Trailer
Amazon Video

Watch on Amazon Video

close
Defending Your Life
Amazon Video

Watch on Amazon Video

Storyline

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.

  • Released
    1991-03-22
  • Revenue
    $16,400,000
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 51m
  • Genre
    Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.2
  • Production
    Geffen Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Crew

Albert Brooks
Director
Albert Brooks
Screenplay
Michael Grillo
Producer
Keywords:
afterlife allegory prosecution heaven satire reincarnation car accident courtroom advertising agency past life

Stream and watch Defending Your Life

similar movies

Gabriel

Gabriel

Neil Hamburger: Western Music and Variety

Neil Hamburger: Western Music and Variety

Election

Election

My Cousin Vinny

My Cousin Vinny

Switch

Switch

Fido

Fido

History of the World: Part I

History of the World: Part I

The Revenge of the Woman in Black

The Revenge of the Woman in Black

Daň z pohodlí

Daň z pohodlí

Ghost

Ghost

Ghost Song

Ghost Song

SHROOM TRIP OPERA Italiano

SHROOM TRIP OPERA Italiano

Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the Dead

The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob

The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Scoop

Scoop

The Beta Test

The Beta Test

Spaceballs

Spaceballs

Cast

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks
Daniel Miller
Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
Julia
Rip Torn

Rip Torn
Bob Diamond
Lee Grant

Lee Grant
Lena Foster
Michael Durrell

Michael Durrell
Agency Head
James Eckhouse

James Eckhouse
Jeep Owner
Gary Beach

Gary Beach
Car Salesman
Julie Cobb

Julie Cobb
Tram Guide
Peter Schuck

Peter Schuck
Stan
Time Winters

Time Winters
Porter
Sharlie Stuart

Sharlie Stuart
Susan
Beth Black

Beth Black
Soap Opera Woman
Clayton Norcross

Clayton Norcross
Soap Opera Man
Jim McKrell

Jim McKrell
Game Show Moderator
Wil Albert

Wil Albert
Game Show Contestant
Sage Allen

Sage Allen
Game Show Contestant
Mary Pat Gleason

Mary Pat Gleason
Waitress
Maxine Elliott Hicks

Maxine Elliott Hicks
Elderly Woman on Tram
Marilyn Rockafellow

Marilyn Rockafellow
Helen
Roger Behr

Roger Behr
Comedian
Art Frankel

Art Frankel
Arthur
Ernie Brown

Ernie Brown
Ernie
George D. Wallace

George D. Wallace
Daniel's Judge
Lillian Lehman

Lillian Lehman
Daniel's Judge
Raffi Di Blasio

Raffi Di Blasio
Daniel as a Boy
Kristopher Kent Hill

Kristopher Kent Hill
Bully
Eric Ehasz

Eric Ehasz
Child in Schoolyard
Matthew Scharch

Matthew Scharch
Daniel as an Infant
S. Scott Bullock

S. Scott Bullock
Daniel's Father
Carol Bivins

Carol Bivins
Daniel's Mother
Ethan Embry

Ethan Embry
Steve
Gary Ballard

Gary Ballard
Mr. Wadworth
Mary Mukogawa

Mary Mukogawa
Sushi Hostess
Toshio Shikami

Toshio Shikami
Head Sushi Chef
Samee Park

Samee Park
Sushi Chef
Kagko Shikami

Kagko Shikami
Sushi Chef
Tommy Inouye

Tommy Inouye
Sushi Chef
Ken Thorley

Ken Thorley
Frank
Bob Braun

Bob Braun
Talk Show Host
Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

Jennifer Barlow Grodsky
Talk Show Guest
Buck Henry

Buck Henry
Dick Stanley
Joey Miyashima

Joey Miyashima
Casio Tipster
Nurit Koppel

Nurit Koppel
Daniel's Date
Susan Walters

Susan Walters
Daniel's Wife
Sidney Chankin

Sidney Chankin
Used Car Salesman
Greg Finley

Greg Finley
Used Car Salesman
Leonard O. Turner

Leonard O. Turner
Sam
Clifford Einstein

Clifford Einstein
Julia's Prosecutor
Rachel Bard

Rachel Bard
Julia's Judge
Newell Alexander

Newell Alexander
Julia's Judge
Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Hal Landon Jr.

Hal Landon Jr.
Man in Past Lives Pavilion
Ida Lee

Ida Lee
Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
Noley Thornton

Noley Thornton
Victorian Girl
Glen Chin

Glen Chin
Sumo Wrestler
James Ekim

James Ekim
Native
Clarke Coleman

Clarke Coleman
Knight
Ronald L. Colby

Ronald L. Colby
Majestic Doorman
David Purdham

David Purdham
Peter
James Paradise

James Paradise
Stage Manager
Jerry Prell

Jerry Prell
Banquet Manager
Arell Blanton

Arell Blanton
Fire Marshall
Shana Ballard

Shana Ballard
Julia's Daughter
Chris Macris

Chris Macris
Julia's Son
Joseph Darrell

Joseph Darrell
Maitre d'
James Manis

James Manis
Eduardo
Alex Sheafe

Alex Sheafe
Martin
Cathleen Chin

Cathleen Chin
Ticket Counter Agent
Lisa Sears

Lisa Sears
Tram Port Attendant
Mark Dunlap

Mark Dunlap
Tram Port Attendant
Vernon Roguen

Vernon Roguen
Tram Port Attendant
Dennis Germain

Dennis Germain
Tram Driver
Jorga Caye

Jorga Caye
Deceased Lady (uncredited)
Robert Gatewood

Robert Gatewood
Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)
John Michael Quinn

John Michael Quinn
Man in Heaven (uncredited)
Douglas M. Nelson

Douglas M. Nelson
Tram Attendee (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

video-bd
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Defending Your Life
reviewer avatar

A Review by GenerationofSwine 10

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-01-12

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 w... read more

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.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by GenerationofSwine

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 ...

reviewer avatar

A Review by GenerationofSwine 10

Written by GenerationofSwine on 2023-01-12

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 ...

read more