24 Years Later, Dark Comedy "Death to Smoochy" Deserves a Second Look

This outrageous satire about the entertainment industry, directed by Danny DeVito and starring Robin Williams and Edward Norton, was a box office bomb but has since gained a cult following.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The 2002 dark comedy "Death to Smoochy" was panned by critics and bombed at the box office upon its release, but over 20 years later, it has developed a loyal cult following. Directed by Danny DeVito and starring Robin Williams, Edward Norton, and Catherine Keener, the film is a wicked satire about the entertainment industry that was ahead of its time with its abrasive and intentionally offensive humor.

Why it matters

"Death to Smoochy" represents a shift in comedic sensibilities, as its boundary-pushing satire is more in line with today's caustic humor found in shows like "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", which also featured DeVito. The film's critical reappraisal shows that a new generation of viewers is learning to appreciate its edgy, no-holds-barred approach to skewering the entertainment industry.

The details

The film centers on Sheldon Mopes (Edward Norton), who plays the children's television character "Smoochy" (a Barney-like rhino), and his predecessor "Rainbow" Randolph Smiley (Robin Williams), who loses his hosting gig and becomes murderously jealous of Smoochy's success. The film kicks off an absurd rollercoaster ride of dark comedy hijinks with a surprisingly high body count for a comedy.

  • "Death to Smoochy" was released in 2002.

The players

Danny DeVito

The director of "Death to Smoochy" and a cast member of the TV series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", known for his dark and edgy sense of humor.

Robin Williams

The acclaimed actor who starred as "Rainbow" Randolph Smiley, the predecessor to the children's character "Smoochy".

Edward Norton

The acclaimed actor who played Sheldon Mopes, the man behind the "Smoochy" character.

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What they’re saying

“Death to Smoochy mystified audiences and critics when it came out. Roger Ebert declared it 2002's worst movie.”

— Roger Ebert, Film critic (ScreenRant)

The takeaway

"Death to Smoochy" represents a shift in comedic sensibilities, as its boundary-pushing satire is more in line with today's caustic humor. While it was panned upon release, a new generation of viewers is learning to appreciate the film's edgy, no-holds-barred approach to skewering the entertainment industry.