Die, Mommie, Die! is a 1999 comedic play written by Charles Busch, who also plays the lead role (in drag). Partly spoof and partly homage, it draws heavily on the tropes and themes of American "grand guignol" movies from the 1950s and 1960s that featured strong, sometimes dominating female leads, such as those by Bette Davis (Dead Ringer), Joan Crawford, and Lana Turner (Portrait in Black). It was adapted for film in 2003 under the same name; Charles Busch wrote the screenplay and it was directed by Mark Rucker. Busch's 40+ costumes were designed by Bottari and Case, his longtime costume designers who are award winning New York theatre costume and set designers

Charles Casillo alleged that Charles Busch had plagiarized his 1989 play "One Night Stand In A Lonely Hotel" and a temporary restraining order was issued ordering that he be given credit for the story and play. On 7 November 2003, a judge ruled that there were "no substantial similarities of protectible expression" between the play and the film and ordered that the injunction be removed, and that Busch be given sole credit for the film.

One of the framed photos the camera pans by while Angela (Charles Busch) is administering the deadly suppository to her husband is of Busch in his stage appearance as Gertrude(Gertie) Garnet in his play "The Lady in Question". The photo was used on all the play's promotional materials.

During one of the black and white flashbacks, Barbara is shown at a jewelry counter that reads "Kenwrights", named after the film's producer Bill Kenwright.

In the flashback scene where Angela signs with RCA records, she is flanked by two RCA executives. These executives were played by two of the film's producers, Anthony Edwards (on the right in the glasses) and Dante Di Loreto (on the left.)