So, you’re scrolling through cable or a streaming app late at night and you see it. A guy who looks exactly like George of the Jungle is dressed as a seven-foot-tall basketball player with a very questionable haircut. Then, he’s a Colombian drug lord. Then, he’s crying over a sunset.
Honestly, if you grew up in the early 2000s, the brendan fraser devil movie—officially titled Bedazzled—is probably burned into your brain.
It’s one of those weirdly specific cultural touchstones. It isn't just a "deal with the devil" flick. It’s a showcase of Brendan Fraser at the absolute height of his physical comedy powers, paired with Elizabeth Hurley playing a version of Satan that was, let's be real, a formative experience for an entire generation.
But why are we still talking about it in 2026?
Maybe because it’s surprisingly wholesome. Or maybe because the "monkey’s paw" tropes in the writing are actually clever. Whatever the reason, Bedazzled (2000) has survived the "bargain bin" reputation to become a legitimate cult favorite.
What Exactly Is the Brendan Fraser Devil Movie?
Basically, Bedazzled is a remake. The original came out in 1967 and starred Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. But while the 60s version was very British and very dry, the 2000 remake, directed by the legendary Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters), is pure, unadulterated American slapstick.
The plot is simple. Elliot Richards (Fraser) is a "tech support" guy who is painfully socially awkward. He’s that guy in the office who tries way too hard to be liked, and as a result, nobody likes him. He’s obsessed with a co-worker named Alison, played by Frances O'Connor.
After a particularly brutal rejection at a bar, Elliot mutters that he’d give anything for her to be in his life.
Enter the Devil
Elizabeth Hurley shows up in a red dress, looking like she just stepped off a runway, and offers him seven wishes in exchange for his soul. It’s the classic Faustian bargain, but with a lot more costume changes.
The catch? The Devil is a literal troll. She finds a loophole in every single wish to make Elliot’s life a living hell while technically giving him exactly what he asked for.
The Wishes That Went Horribly Wrong
One of the reasons this movie works is that Fraser doesn't just play Elliot. He plays six or seven different versions of himself. It’s a masterclass in range that people didn't really appreciate until his recent "Brenaissance" and Oscar win for The Whale.
The Colombian Drug Lord
Elliot’s first wish is to be "rich and powerful." He wakes up as a wealthy drug kingpin. Great, right? Except his wife (Alison) hates him, and his "associates" are currently in the middle of a bloody coup to assassinate him. Oh, and he finds out he's speaking Spanish but has no idea what he's saying until it's too late.
The Most Sensitive Man in the World
This is arguably the funniest segment. Elliot wants to be sensitive so Alison will love his soul. He ends up on a beach, weeping uncontrollably at the beauty of the sunset while playing a guitar and singing about "the dolphins." It’s so over-the-top that Alison eventually leaves him for a "strong, silent" guy who doesn't cry every five seconds.
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The Basketball Star
Elliot wishes to be a superstar athlete. He gets the height, the fame, and the skills. But the Devil decides to give him an IQ of about 10 and, in a joke that definitely wouldn't fly in a PG movie today, a very, very small "package" in the locker room.
- The Intellectual: He wishes to be witty and sophisticated. He becomes a famous, gay author.
- The President: He wishes to be the President of the United States. He becomes Abraham Lincoln... at the Ford Theatre.
- The Big Mac: He actually wastes his first "test" wish on a Big Mac and a Coke. The Devil makes him pay for it.
Why Elizabeth Hurley’s Satan Actually Works
A lot of movies make the Devil scary or gravel-voiced. In the brendan fraser devil movie, Hurley plays her as a mischievous, bored administrative assistant for the universe.
She’s not necessarily "evil" in a way that feels threatening; she’s just doing her job. She changes outfits in every single scene—police uniforms, schoolgirl outfits, nurse scrubs—symbolizing how the Devil can be anyone and anything.
Interestingly, some of the outfits Hurley wears in the movie were actually from her own personal wardrobe.
She and Fraser have this weird, bickering chemistry that makes the ending feel earned. By the time they’re playing chess in the park at the end of the film, you kind of realize she was the only one who actually gave Elliot the attention he was so desperate for.
The Secret Moral Center of the Story
Most people remember the "gay writer" or the "basketball" scenes, but the ending is surprisingly deep for a silly comedy.
Elliot eventually realizes he can't "make" someone love him. His final wish—his seventh wish—is the turning point. When the Devil tries to force him to use it to save himself, he instead wishes that Alison could have a happy life, whether he’s in it or not.
Because this is a selfless wish, it voids the contract.
There’s a great scene where Elliot is in a jail cell talking to a "cellmate" who is heavily implied to be God (played by Gabriel Casseus). The message is pretty clear: Heaven and Hell are just things we create on Earth based on how we treat ourselves and others.
It’s a bit "New Age," sure. But coming from Harold Ramis, who explored similar Buddhist-adjacent themes in Groundhog Day, it fits.
How Bedazzled Ranks Today
If you look at the reviews from 2000, critics weren't exactly kind. Roger Ebert gave it two stars, saying it was "lacking in wickedness."
But the internet has a way of redeeming things.
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On sites like Letterboxd and Reddit, the movie is now seen as a quintessential 2000s comedy. It doesn't rely on "gross-out" humor as much as American Pie or Scary Movie did back then. It’s more of a character study hidden inside a high-concept premise.
Factual Details to Remember:
- Director: Harold Ramis
- Budget: $48 million
- Box Office: Roughly $90 million worldwide
- Runtime: A very tight 93 minutes
Actionable Steps for Fans and First-Timers
If you’re planning a rewatch or checking it out for the first time, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the "Deleted Wish": There is a famous deleted segment where Elliot becomes a rock star. It’s often included in DVD extras or can be found on YouTube. It was cut because it was felt it made the movie too long, but it’s some of Fraser’s best work.
- Look for the "Easter Eggs": Throughout the film, there are constant references to the number 7 and various devilish puns (like the "Syn" corporation logo).
- Compare it to the 1967 version: If you like the concept but want something more cynical and British, the original Bedazzled is a fascinating watch to see how the story was "Americanized" for Brendan Fraser.
- Double Feature: Pair this with The Mummy or Blast from the Past. It really highlights why Fraser was the king of the "lovable but confused guy" archetype.
The brendan fraser devil movie might not be high art, but it's a reminder of a time when comedies had big budgets, big ideas, and stars who weren't afraid to look absolutely ridiculous for a laugh.
Go find it on your preferred streaming platform. Just maybe don't wish for a Big Mac if a lady in a red dress asks you what you want for lunch. You'll still have to pay the four dollars.