The first true story of what happens after you die.
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.
Defending Your Life (1991) is a romance, fantasy, comedy and drama film directed by Albert Brooks, released on March 22, 1991 with a runtime of 1h 51m. It stars Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn and Lee Grant. Viewers rate it 6.9 out of 10 across 329 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Defending Your Life before you stream it.
Albert Brooks
as Daniel Miller
Meryl Streep
as Julia
Rip Torn
as Bob Diamond
Lee Grant
as Lena Foster
Michael Durrell
as Agency Head
James Eckhouse
as Jeep Owner
Gary Beach
as Car Salesman
Julie Cobb
as Tram Guide
Peter Schuck
as Stan
Time Winters
as Porter
Sharlie Stuart
as Susan
Beth Black
as Soap Opera Woman
Directed by Albert Brooks, written by Albert Brooks, produced by Michael Grillo.
Average viewer score of 6.9/10 from 329 ratings.
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…
Reviewed on January 12, 2023
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Defending Your Life (1991) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
The main cast of Defending Your Life (1991) includes Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant and Michael Durrell. The film was directed by Albert Brooks. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Defending Your Life was released on March 22, 1991 and runs for 1h 51m.
Defending Your Life (1991) holds an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from 329 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy romance, fantasy and comedy films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Defending Your Life trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
