Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Bonfire of the Vanities

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
25K
YOUR RATING
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:08
2 Videos
56 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
After his mistress runs over a young teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight and attracts the interest of a down-and-out reporter.After his mistress runs over a young teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight and attracts the interest of a down-and-out reporter.After his mistress runs over a young teen, a Wall Street hotshot sees his life unravel in the spotlight and attracts the interest of a down-and-out reporter.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Brian De Palma
  • Writers
    • Michael Cristofer(screenplay)
    • Tom Wolfe(novel)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Bruce Willis
    • Melanie Griffith
Top credits
  • Director
    • Brian De Palma
  • Writers
    • Michael Cristofer(screenplay)
    • Tom Wolfe(novel)
  • Stars
    • Tom Hanks
    • Bruce Willis
    • Melanie Griffith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 169User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 27Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations

    Videos2

    Bonfire of the Vanities
    Trailer 2:08
    Bonfire of the Vanities
    What Roles Has Tom Hanks Turned Down?
    Video 3:22
    What Roles Has Tom Hanks Turned Down?

    Photos56

    Tom Hanks and Melanie Griffith in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Don Johnson at an event for The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson at an event for The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Edward Van Halen at an event for The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, and Melanie Griffith in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, and Melanie Griffith in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, and Melanie Griffith in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks, Andre Gregory, and Adina Winston in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks, Kirsten Dunst, and Donald Moffat in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Tom Hanks in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Hanks
    Tom Hanks
    • Sherman McCoyas Sherman McCoy
    Bruce Willis
    Bruce Willis
    • Peter Fallowas Peter Fallow
    Melanie Griffith
    Melanie Griffith
    • Maria Ruskinas Maria Ruskin
    Kim Cattrall
    Kim Cattrall
    • Judy McCoyas Judy McCoy
    Saul Rubinek
    Saul Rubinek
    • Jed Krameras Jed Kramer
    Morgan Freeman
    Morgan Freeman
    • Judge Leonard Whiteas Judge Leonard White
    John Hancock
    John Hancock
    • Reverend Baconas Reverend Bacon
    Kevin Dunn
    Kevin Dunn
    • Tom Killianas Tom Killian
    Clifton James
    Clifton James
    • Albert Foxas Albert Fox
    Louis Giambalvo
    Louis Giambalvo
    • Ray Andruittias Ray Andruitti
    Barton Heyman
    Barton Heyman
    • Det. Martinas Det. Martin
    Norman Parker
    Norman Parker
    • Det. Goldbergas Det. Goldberg
    Donald Moffat
    Donald Moffat
    • Mr. McCoyas Mr. McCoy
    Alan King
    Alan King
    • Arthur Ruskinas Arthur Ruskin
    Beth Broderick
    Beth Broderick
    • Caroline Heftshankas Caroline Heftshank
    Kurt Fuller
    Kurt Fuller
    • Pollard Browningas Pollard Browning
    Adam LeFevre
    Adam LeFevre
    • Rawlie Thorpeas Rawlie Thorpe
    Richard Libertini
    Richard Libertini
    • Ed Rifkinas Ed Rifkin
    • Director
      • Brian De Palma
    • Writers
      • Michael Cristofer(screenplay)
      • Tom Wolfe(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Raising Cain
    6.0
    Raising Cain
    Casualties of War
    7.1
    Casualties of War
    Body Double
    6.8
    Body Double
    Obsession
    6.7
    Obsession
    The Black Dahlia
    5.6
    The Black Dahlia
    Snake Eyes
    6.1
    Snake Eyes
    Redacted
    6.1
    Redacted
    Home Movies
    5.1
    Home Movies
    Wise Guys
    5.6
    Wise Guys
    Passion
    5.3
    Passion
    Femme Fatale
    6.2
    Femme Fatale
    Mission to Mars
    5.6
    Mission to Mars

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Steadicam operator Larry McConkey coordinated the complex, nearly 5-minute opening tracking sequence that included a cramped ride in a service elevator. It was the first of McConkey's collaborations with Brian De Palma.
    • Goofs
      When McCoy gets off the subway, he is riding the number 1 train and he gets off at 77th Street station. The number 1 train runs on the West Side of Manhattan, nowhere near his Park Avenue residence on the East Side, and there are no 77th Street stops on the number 1 line.
    • Quotes

      Judge Leonard White: [to court room] Racist? You dare call me racist? Well I say unto you, what does it matter the color of a man's skin if witnesses perjure themselves. If a prosecutor enlists the perjurers. When a district attorney throws a man to the mob for political gain, and men of the cloth, men of God, take the prime cuts? Is that justice?

      Judge Leonard White: I don't hear you...

      Judge Leonard White: Let me tell you what justice is. Justice is the law, and the law is man's feeble attempt to set down the principles of decency. Decency! And decency is not a deal. It isn't an angle, or a contract, or a hustle! Decency... decency is what your grandmother taught you. It's in your bones! Now you go home. Go home and be decent people. Be decent.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Havana/Mermaids/The Sheltering Sky/Awakenings/The Long Walk Home (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Pennies From Heaven
      Written by Johnny Burke and Arthur Johnston

    User reviews169

    Review
    Top review
    splendid cartoon
    Before I talk about the movie itself, I'd like to get ugly for a quick sec..

    I am sick and tired of people whining that a movie isn't as good as a book. First of all, we all already know that 99% of the time a book is not equally rendered in film. How can it? The physiological experience of reading is totally different from that of taking in audio-video. Hello? A book often can't fit into a 90 minute movie anyway, and we all complain when a director tries to stretch our minute-rice attention span more than 2 hours, which would allow the space to capture more of the subtle nuances that we love in a book.

    If you want to read the book, do us all a favour, don't watch a movie, go read the #@%$ book. Does anyone think that a painting could represent each facet of a poem? They are two separate and distinct mediums. Sheesh.

    Now, book aside, this movie is trying to talk about an issue. And it does so quite fine. If you need the book to get the message, that's your business.

    Each character was a caricature, a spoof, hyperbolized to help drive home the message that truth is often irrelevant to the socio-political motives behind people's actions. From the "assistant DA" looking for recognition to the "hymie racist" angling for the office of mayor to the "good reverend" looking for sympathy for his people (and a payday) to Fallow trying to save his career to McCoy's lawyer who has to patiently deal with his naive client who doesn't grasp that his life is insignificant to all those who somehow have generated a vested interest in his demise...

    I got the message, it didn't take me the 6 hours or two days (or however long it would take me to make time to read the book), and I had some fun.
    helpful•23
    10
    • MovieMusings
    • Oct 14, 2001

    FAQ1

    • What does the title mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 21, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Вогнище марнославства
    • Filming locations
      • 346 E 59th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $47,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $15,691,192
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,216,063
      • Dec 25, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,691,192
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.