Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie 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 WinnersIndependent Spirit AwardsWomen's History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards 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
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • 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 Killing Fields

  • 19841984
  • RR
  • 2h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
57K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,440
128
Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
Home Video Trailer from Lionsgate
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
A journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.A journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.A journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
57K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,440
128
  • Director
    • Roland Joffé
  • Writer
    • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sam Waterston
    • Haing S. Ngor
    • John Malkovich
  • Director
    • Roland Joffé
  • Writer
    • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sam Waterston
    • Haing S. Ngor
    • John Malkovich
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 228User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 28 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Killing Fields
    Trailer 2:27
    Watch The Killing Fields

    Photos121

    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    John Malkovich, Julian Sands, Sam Waterston, and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    John Malkovich, Julian Sands, and Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    The Killing Fields (1984)
    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Sydney Schanberg
    Haing S. Ngor
    Haing S. Ngor
    • Dith Pran
    • (as Dr. Haing S Ngor)
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Al Rockoff
    Julian Sands
    Julian Sands
    • Jon Swain
    Craig T. Nelson
    Craig T. Nelson
    • Military Attaché
    Spalding Gray
    Spalding Gray
    • U.S. Consul
    Bill Paterson
    Bill Paterson
    • Dr. MacEntire
    Athol Fugard
    Athol Fugard
    • Dr. Sundesval
    Graham Kennedy
    Graham Kennedy
    • Dougal
    Katherine Krapum Chey
    • Ser Moeum (Pran's Wife)
    Oliver Pierpaoli
    • Titony (Pran's Son)
    Edward Entero Chey
    • Sarun
    Tom Bird
    • U.S. Military Advisor
    Monirak Sisowath
    • Phat (K.R. Leader 2nd Village)
    Lambool Dtangpaibool
    • Phat's Son
    Ira Wheeler
    • Ambassador Wade
    David Henry
    • France
    Patrick Malahide
    Patrick Malahide
    • Morgan
    • Director
      • Roland Joffé
    • Writer
      • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Mission
    7.4
    The Mission
    Empire of the Sun
    7.7
    Empire of the Sun
    The Right Stuff
    7.8
    The Right Stuff
    The Name of the Rose
    7.7
    The Name of the Rose
    Killing Fields
    7.5
    Killing Fields
    The Last Emperor
    7.7
    The Last Emperor
    Salvador
    7.4
    Salvador
    Doctor Zhivago
    7.9
    Doctor Zhivago
    Exit
    7.0
    Exit
    Staying on Top
    5.1
    Staying on Top
    The Great Hunger
    The Great Hunger
    All the President's Men
    7.9
    All the President's Men

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In real life, Haing S. Ngor's wife died under the Khmer Rouge regime, haemorrhaging during childbirth (the baby also died). She knew that she couldn't contact her husband as doctors were all being murdered by the regime so by keeping her silence and dying of internal bleeding, she effectively saved his life.
    • Goofs
      When Dith Pran is in the French embassy, he is wearing his watch which he previously gave to a Khmer soldier in order to be taken with the American photographers.
    • Quotes

      [last lines - at their reunion, with warm smiles]

      Sydney Schanberg: You forgive me?

      Dith Pran: Nothing to forgive, Sydney. Nothing.

    • Connections
      Featured in Omnibus: The Killing Fields (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Imagine
      Written by John Lennon (uncredited)

      Performed by John Lennon & The The Plastic Ono Band (uncredited)

      Courtesy of EMI Records Limited

    User reviews228

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Thrilling story about loyalty , friendship and political intrigue during the horrible war in Cambodia
    Thoughtful and thought-provoking war-drama based on the memoirs of N.Y. Times correspondent named Sidney (Sam Waterston) and his relationship to journalist assistant and guide named Pran (Haing S Ngor ) . Extraordinary feature debut for Ngor who won Best Supporting Actor Academy Award . Haing S. Ngor a real-life doctor who had never acted before and who lived through the deeds depicted at the movie , he became the first Southeast Asian , and the first Buddhist , to win an Oscar ; furthermore also first film for John Malkovich who gives an awesome portrayal as an intrepid photographer . Ngor's own experiences (in real life he lived Cambodian war ) echoed those of his character and usually played Vietnam roles (Tortures of war, Heaven and Earth , In love and war , Vietnam Texas , Eastern condor) until his violent death by an Asian band . This exciting story depicts the war chaos , Cambodian turmoil and primal bloodletting , but most of the movie is a shattering re-creation of hell on Earth . Marvellous cinematography by Chris Menges who also deservedly won Academy Award and filmed in Phuket , Railway Hotel , Hua Hin, Thailand and Royal York Hotel , Toronto, Ontario, Canada . Screeching and sensitive musical score by Mike Oldfield that accompanies perfectly to the film . Roland Joffe's direction shows a generally sure-hand with a bit of melodrama at the end . Alain Resnais's seminal documentary ¨Nuit et Brouillard (1955)¨ was a touch-point for both director Roland Joffé and prestigious producer David Puttnam when they were preparing this magnificent movie .

    This excellent movie contains a relentless criticism to Pol Pot regime , but also US and an exact description about historic events . In power , the Khmer Rouge carried out a radical program that included isolating the country from foreign influence, closing schools, hospitals and factories, abolishing banking, finance and currency, outlawing all religions, confiscating all private property and relocating people from urban areas to collective farms where forced labor was widespread. The purpose of this policy was to turn Cambodians into "Old People" through agricultural labor. These actions resulted in massive deaths through executions, work exhaustion, illness, and starvation. In Phnom Penh and other cities, the Khmer Rouge told residents that they would be moved only about "two or three kilometers" outside the city and would return in "two or three days." Some witnesses say they were told that the evacuation was because of the "threat of American bombing" and that they did not have to lock their houses since the Khmer Rouge would "take care of everything" until they returned.Money was abolished, books were burned, teachers, merchants, and almost the entire intellectual elite of the country were murdered, to make the agricultural communism, as Pol Pot envisioned it, a reality. The planned relocation to the countryside resulted in the complete halt of almost all economic activity: even schools and hospitals were closed, as well as banks, and industrial and service companies.During their four years in power, the Khmer Rouge overworked and starved the population, at the same time executing selected groups who had the potential to undermine the new state (including intellectuals or even those that had stereotypical signs of learning, such as glasses) and killing many others for even breaching minor rules . The Khmer Rouge forced people to work for 12 hours non-stop, without adequate rest or food. They did not believe in western medicine but instead favoured traditional peasant medicine; many died as a result. Family relationships not sanctioned by the state were also banned, and family members could be put to death for communicating with each other. In any case, family members were often relocated to different parts of the country with all postal and telephone services abolished. They committed crimes against humanity , the Khmer Rouge government arrested, tortured and eventually executed anyone suspected of belonging to several categories of supposed "enemies". Today, examples of the torture methods used by the Khmer Rouge can be seen at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The museum occupies the former grounds of a high school turned prison camp that was operated by Khang Khek Ieu, more commonly known as "Comrade Duch". Some 17,000 people passed through this centre before they were taken to sites (also known as The Killing Fields), outside Phnom Penh where most were executed (mainly by pickaxes to save bullets) and buried in mass graves . Of the thousands who entered the Tuol Sleng Centre (also known as S-21), only twelve are known to have survived.
    helpful•37
    2
    • ma-cortes
    • Aug 23, 2010

    FAQ12

    • Why did the picture of Pran in the fake passport fade? Why did Al and Jon have such a difficult time producing a photo of Pran?
    • What are/were the killing fields?
    • There are flashes of blue amongst the remains of the victims in the killing fields - what are those blue objects?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Central Khmer
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • The Killing Fields - Schreiendes Land
    • Filming locations
      • Phuket, Thailand
    • Production companies
      • Goldcrest Films International
      • International Film Investors
      • Enigma Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $34,700,291
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $32,181
      • Nov 4, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $34,700,291
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Top Gap
    What was the official certification given to The Killing Fields (1984) in Brazil?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.