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Celebrity Deathmatch

Celebrity Deathmatch

The clay will fly!

1998–2007Ended7 seasons101 episodes~25 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

Celebrity Deathmatch is a claymation television show that depicts celebrities against each other in a wrestling ring, almost always ending in the loser's gruesome death. It was known for its excessive amount of blood used in every match and exaggerated physical injuries. The series was created by Eric Fogel; with the pilots airing on MTV on January 1 & 25 1998. The initial series ran from May 14, 1998 to October 20, 2002, and lasted for a 75-episode run. There was one special that did not contribute to the final episode total, entitled "Celebrity Deathmatch Hits Germany", which aired on June 21, 2001. Professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin gave voice to his animated form as the guest commentator. Early in 2003, a film based on the series was announced by MTV to be in the making, but the project was canceled by the end of that year. In 2005, MTV2 announced the revival of the show as part of their "Sic 'Em Friday" programming block. Originally set to return in November 2005, the premiere was pushed back to June 10, 2006 as part of a new "Sic'emation" block with two other animated shows, Where My Dogs At and The Adventures of Chico and Guapo. The show's fifth season was produced by Cuppa Coffee Studios and the premiere drew over 2.5 million viewers, becoming MTV2's highest rated season premiere ever.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Celebrity Deathmatch?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Celebrity Deathmatch streaming on Paramount+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Celebrity Deathmatch?

Celebrity Deathmatch earns 4 badges, led by Preferred by Critics and Preferred by Men.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Celebrity Deathmatch worth watching?

Celebrity Deathmatch's Midcredits score is the 47th percentile of all shows, from 13K ratings across 2 sources. 66% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

47th percentile

Better received than 47% of shows

55th percentile among Animation33rd percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)53rd
Approval (how many liked it)42nd

Acclaim

Broadly Agreed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

71 /100

53rd percentile of all shows

59th percentile among Animation41st percentile among 1990s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

66% liked it

42nd percentile of all shows

50th percentile among Animation29th percentile among 1990s
66% rated it 7–1034% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

86th percentile

13K ratings across platforms

85th percentile among Animation75th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a spoof of celebrities and wrestling built around claymation fights and funny commentary, with the original era largely judged superior to the revival.

Fans praised

  • clever match pairings and pop-culture in-jokes
  • hilarious running commentary from Gomez and Diamond
  • gorgeous, inventive claymation and over-the-top gore

Detractors panned

  • revival's visuals look cheap and dated
  • overly-PC new reporter and stale jokes
  • matches feel rushed and too talky, not enough fighting

What stands out

HumorDivisive78

nonstop puns, celebrity jabs, and host banter; revival jokes called stale

Originality75

unique blend of WWE, Mortal Kombat and MAD magazine; revival feels derivative

Effects and spectacleDivisive72

gory claymation fights, inventive kills; revival visuals cheap and rushed

CharactersDivisive70

hosts Johnny and Nick, referee Mills Lane as memorable ringleaders; revival hosts mishandled

DialogueDivisive70

clever puns and celebrity-movie references; revival's writing called corny

AtmosphereDivisive65

absurd, playful wrestling-show parody tone

PacingDivisive55

fast, snackable segments; revival rushed and overly talky

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 21 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 24 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Episodes

6 seasons

Season 6 · 2007 · 8 episodes

  • S6E1
    S6E1

    The Beginning of Celebrity Deathmatch

    Feb 9, 2007
  • S6E2
    S6E2

    Vaughn vs. Wilson

    Feb 16, 2007
  • S6E3
    S6E3

    The Banter Bloodbath

    Feb 23, 2007
  • S6E4
    S6E4

    King of the Lil People

    Mar 2, 2007
  • S6E5
    S6E5

    Celebrity Death Mash

    Mar 9, 2007
  • S6E6
    S6E6

    What Did Nick Do?

    Mar 16, 2007
  • S6E7
    S6E7

    Where's Lohan?

    Mar 23, 2007
  • S6E8
    S6E8

    Barry vs. Bud

    Mar 30, 2007Finale

Watch experience

What is Celebrity Deathmatch like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Ironic, light and intense — a relentless watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
AbsurdTenseTriumphant
Heaviest: middle
Dark humor
Register
Satirical · 5% of showsPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Procedural · 7% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show plays its violent premise as absurd comedy, with a knowing wink at celebrity culture and wrestling tropes.
The rideEpisodes are packed with exaggerated, sudden violence and quick-paced matches, keeping the mood at a constant high-energy absurdity; the most extreme gore often occurs mid-episode.
StructureEach episode follows a simple setup, fight, and outcome.
Episode formatEach episode has a self-contained match or set of matches; no ongoing story arc across episodes, though the announcers and arena remain consistent.
Season formatSeasons are interchangeable; any episode is an entry point, as the format and premise remain unchanged across all seven seasons.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves viewers entertained and lighthearted after watching satirical celebrity beatdowns.
How it ends · evidence
Cyclical ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).ComedyFarce
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% (this title) · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Farce: Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEach episode pits two celebrities in a satirical wrestling match to the death, with the contest driving the comedy.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFameSociety
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% (this title) · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% (this title) · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

Fame · 5% of showsViolence · 2% of shows
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show satirizes celebrity culture by subjecting famous figures to absurdly violent contests, exploring how fame turns people into commodities and targets for public spectacle.
StanceThe show satirizes the absurdity of celebrity culture and the public's appetite for violent spectacle, presenting famous figures as cartoonish icons to be destroyed for entertainment.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalFantasy
RockExperimentalSupportive music · hybrid
Settinga wrestling arena where celebrity deathmatches are staged
MusicThe show features a driving, aggressive rock soundtrack and the theme song 'Celebrity Deathmatch' by the band The Vandals.

Content guide

Is Celebrity Deathmatch okay for kids?

TV-14

Celebrity Deathmatch is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (88/100), sexual content at mild (28/100), language at moderate (49/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (21/100) and frightening material at intense (64/100). Overall it is heavier than 84% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 1 other country
  • Canada18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 68% of all showsHeavier than 84% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 96%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 26%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 71%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for a TV-14 show
heavier than 17%
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 79%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Celebrity Deathmatch have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Celebrity Deathmatch?

Cast

At least 4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Maurice Schlafer
as Johnny Gomez
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Len Maxwell
as Nick Diamond
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Mills Lane
as Mills Lane
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
André Sogliuzzo
as Al Pacino
Jim Conroy
as Various
Steve Austin
as Stone Cold Steve Austin
Debbie Matenopoulos
as Debbie Matenopoulos
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
David Wills
as Nicolas Cage
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jim Thornton
as Johnny Gomez
Chris Edgerly
as Nick Diamond
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

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