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Jacob's Ladder

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
108K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,919
210
Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer1:46
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorMystery
Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his o... Read allMourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of death.Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of death.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
108K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,919
210
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Adrian Lyne
    • Writer
      • Bruce Joel Rubin
    • Stars
      • Tim Robbins
      • Elizabeth Peña
      • Danny Aiello
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Adrian Lyne
    • Writer
      • Bruce Joel Rubin
    • Stars
      • Tim Robbins
      • Elizabeth Peña
      • Danny Aiello
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 450User reviews
    • 145Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Jacob's Ladder
    Trailer 1:46
    Jacob's Ladder
    Jacob's Ladder | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:08
    Jacob's Ladder | Anniversary Mashup

    Photos124

    Tim Robbins, John Capodice, and John Patrick McLaughlin in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, and Evan O'Meara in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins and Elizabeth Peña in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins and Matt Craven in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins in Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Jacob's Ladder (1990)
    Tim Robbins in Jacob's Ladder (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tim Robbins
    Tim Robbins
    • Jacob
    Elizabeth Peña
    Elizabeth Peña
    • Jezzie
    Danny Aiello
    Danny Aiello
    • Louis
    Matt Craven
    Matt Craven
    • Michael
    Pruitt Taylor Vince
    Pruitt Taylor Vince
    • Paul
    Jason Alexander
    Jason Alexander
    • Geary
    Patricia Kalember
    Patricia Kalember
    • Sarah
    Eriq La Salle
    Eriq La Salle
    • Frank
    Ving Rhames
    Ving Rhames
    • George
    Brian Tarantina
    Brian Tarantina
    • Doug
    Anthony Alessandro
    • Rod
    Brent Hinkley
    Brent Hinkley
    • Jerry
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    S. Epatha Merkerson
    • Elsa
    Suzanne Shepherd
    Suzanne Shepherd
    • Hospital Receptionist
    Doug Barron
    Doug Barron
    • Group Leader
    Jan Saint
    • Santa
    Kisha Skinner
    • Street Singer
    Dion Simmons
    • Street Singer
    • Director
      • Adrian Lyne
    • Writer
      • Bruce Joel Rubin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All SFX were filmed live, with no post-production. For example, to achieve the famous 'shaking head' effect, director Adrian Lyne simply filmed the actor waving his head around (and keeping his shoulders and the rest of his body completely still) at 4fps, resulting in an incredibly fast and deeply disturbing motion when played back at the normal frame-rate of 24fps.
    • Goofs
      One of the occult books Jacob is examining ("A Witch's Bible Volume 1") was not published until 1984, more than a decade after the movie is supposed to have taken place.
    • Quotes

      Louis: Eckhart saw Hell too. He said: The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, he said. They're freeing your soul. So the way he sees it, if you're frightened of dying and... and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth. It's just a matter of how you look at it, that's all. So don't worry, okay? Okay?

    • Crazy credits
      The credits roll over a grainy black and white photo of Gabe and Jacob crossing the street together.
    • Alternate versions
      After initial test audiences reported that the film was overwhelming, director Adrian Lyne cut out twenty minutes of material, almost all of which came from the last third of the film. Four major sequences were removed after Jacob first meets Michael; a scene where Michael gives him an antidote for the Ladder, a scene where Jacob thinks he is cured but turns out not to be; a scene where he goes to Michael's apartment and finds Michael decapitated; and a scene just prior to his final meeting with Gabe, where he meets Jezzie, who shows her true form.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Silent Classics (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      LADY MARMALADE
      By Bob Crewe (as B. Crewe) / Kenny Nolan (as K. Nolan)

      Published by Kenny Nolan Publishing / Tannyboy Music / Stone Diamond Corp. (BMI)

      Performed by LaBelle

      Courtesy of CBS Records

    User reviews450

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Brilliant! On par with Kubrick!
    Jacob's Ladder is a masterpiece. Nothing less.

    It has a highly intelligent plot though not difficult or artsy and is void of cliches. It therefore confuses and aggravates many viewers and professional reviewers always wanting a standard has-it-all Hollywood outpouring.

    It is so few films that leaves room for independent thoughts. Jacob's Ladder tumbles your mind the same way a dream of your own does. I have never felt this effect in a film so strong before. The images comes pouring in and your brain tries to make sense of it. Whenever you think you have a grasp it slides away again.

    The brilliance of the progression of the story, twists and turns, and the final explanation, so obvious but elusive as real dreams are, makes it on par with the best of Kubrick.
    helpful•112
    31
    • lbk
    • Jul 26, 2004

    FAQ9

    • What were screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin's main influences when composing the screenplay?
    • What is the significance of the title?
    • What book is Jacob reading on the train early in the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jacobova ljestvica uzasa
    • Filming locations
      • Puerto Rico
    • Production company
      • Carolco Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,118,851
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,500,760
      • Nov 4, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,118,851
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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