Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie 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 WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards 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
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Crucible

  • 19961996
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,883
211
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)
Trailer
Play trailer2:30
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • History

A Salem resident attempts to frame her ex-lover's wife for being a witch in the middle of the 1692 witchcraft trials.A Salem resident attempts to frame her ex-lover's wife for being a witch in the middle of the 1692 witchcraft trials.A Salem resident attempts to frame her ex-lover's wife for being a witch in the middle of the 1692 witchcraft trials.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,883
211
  • Director
    • Nicholas Hytner
  • Writer
    • Arthur Miller(play)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Winona Ryder
    • Paul Scofield
Top credits
  • Director
    • Nicholas Hytner
  • Writer
    • Arthur Miller(play)
  • Stars
    • Daniel Day-Lewis
    • Winona Ryder
    • Paul Scofield
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 142User reviews
    • 63Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 29 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Crucible
    Trailer 2:30
    The Crucible
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?
    Clip 3:13
    What Roles Has Winona Ryder Turned Down?

    Photos102

    Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)
    Winona Ryder and Charlayne Woodard in The Crucible (1996)
    Paul Scofield in The Crucible (1996)
    Joan Allen in The Crucible (1996)
    Winona Ryder, Rachael Bella, and Carmella Riley in The Crucible (1996)
    Paul Scofield in The Crucible (1996)
    Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)
    Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)
    Winona Ryder, Bruce Davison, and Rachael Bella in The Crucible (1996)
    Winona Ryder in The Crucible (1996)
    Paul Scofield, Robert Breuler, and George Gaynes in The Crucible (1996)
    Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    Daniel Day-Lewis
    • John Proctoras John Proctor
    Winona Ryder
    Winona Ryder
    • Abigail Williamsas Abigail Williams
    Paul Scofield
    Paul Scofield
    • Judge Thomas Danforthas Judge Thomas Danforth
    Joan Allen
    Joan Allen
    • Elizabeth Proctoras Elizabeth Proctor
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Reverend Parrisas Reverend Parris
    Rob Campbell
    Rob Campbell
    • Reverend Haleas Reverend Hale
    Jeffrey Jones
    Jeffrey Jones
    • Thomas Putnamas Thomas Putnam
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Giles Coreyas Giles Corey
    Karron Graves
    Karron Graves
    • Mary Warrenas Mary Warren
    Charlayne Woodard
    Charlayne Woodard
    • Titubaas Tituba
    Frances Conroy
    Frances Conroy
    • Ann Putnamas Ann Putnam
    Elizabeth Lawrence
    Elizabeth Lawrence
    • Rebecca Nurseas Rebecca Nurse
    George Gaynes
    George Gaynes
    • Judge Samuel Sewallas Judge Samuel Sewall
    Mary Pat Gleason
    Mary Pat Gleason
    • Martha Coreyas Martha Corey
    Robert Breuler
    Robert Breuler
    • Judge Hathorneas Judge Hathorne
    Rachael Bella
    Rachael Bella
    • Betty Parrisas Betty Parris
    Ashley Peldon
    Ashley Peldon
    • Ruth Putnamas Ruth Putnam
    Tom McDermott
    Tom McDermott
    • Francis Nurseas Francis Nurse
    • Director
      • Nicholas Hytner
    • Writer
      • Arthur Miller(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Boxer
    7.0
    The Boxer
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    6.5
    The Ballad of Jack and Rose
    The Age of Innocence
    7.2
    The Age of Innocence
    My Left Foot
    7.9
    My Left Foot
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being
    7.3
    The Unbearable Lightness of Being
    The Last of the Mohicans
    7.7
    The Last of the Mohicans
    In the Name of the Father
    8.1
    In the Name of the Father
    Eversmile New Jersey
    5.4
    Eversmile New Jersey
    Nine
    5.8
    Nine
    Lincoln
    7.3
    Lincoln
    Stars and Bars
    4.8
    Stars and Bars
    Nanou
    6.1
    Nanou

    Storyline

    Edit
    A small group of teen girls in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts caught in an innocent conjuring of love potions to catch young men are forced to tell lies that Satan had invaded them and forced them to participate in the rites and are then forced to name those involved. Thrown into the mix are greedy preachers and other major landowners trying to steal others' land and one young woman infatuated with a married man and determined to get rid of his innocent wife. Arthur Miller wrote the events and the subsequent trials where those who demanded their innocence were executed, those who would not name names were incarcerated and tortured, and those who admitted their guilt were immediately freed as a parable of the Congressional Communist witch hunts led by Senator Joe McCarthy in 1950's America. —John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
    • witch hunt
    • salem witch trial
    • salem massachusetts
    • false accusation
    • witch
    • 124 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Whats some hearts desire they must possess
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of the Salem witch trials
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Daniel Day-Lewis met his wife Rebecca Miller, the daughter of Arthur Miller, while shooting the film.
    • Goofs
      When John Proctor and Elizabeth are having their private conversation towards the end of the movie, his teeth look normal. However once they return to judge and Rev. Hale, his teeth look rotted and decayed. When he his hanged (the same day) his teeth are normal again.
    • Quotes

      John Proctor: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them you have hanged! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: 101 Dalmatians/Hype!/The Crucible/Palookaville/Ridicule (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      The Yanvalou Chant
      Provided by Shakmah Winddrum

    User reviews142

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Sobering And Chaotic - In Keeping With The Subject Matter
    Arthur Miller wrote the play on which this movie was based in 1953. 1953 in the United States was the height of the Red Scare, with McCarthy and Nixon among others seeking to hunt down and destroy Communists - often with little or conflicting evidence, and often to the ruin of those accused on such flimsy evidence. Miller couldn't write a play depicting the abuses of the Communist witch-hunt, so he did the next best thing - he wrote a play based on the incident in American history that might be the closest thing to the Communist witch-hunts: the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, in which rumours led to suspicions, and personal jealousies and ambitions led to accusations and people lied about their neighbours and friends in order to deflect attention away from themselves and innocent people were forced to confess to witchcraft because if they denied it (no matter their innocence) they'd hang and the courts became less interested in discovering the truth than in rooting out the evil. It's actually quite a good parallel.

    This 1996 movie is based on Miller's play, and the screenplay for it was written by Miller himself. It's a sometimes chaotic movie - quite in keeping with the subject matter (either the official subject matter of the 1690's or the unofficial subject matter of the 1950's) - but in its chaos one picks up the basic point of how easily otherwise good people with normally good intentions can get caught up in evil ways. The devil may well have been on the prowl in Salem in 1692 - not through the accused but rather through their accusers and the system that encouraged and empowered the accusers.

    Generally speaking the performances here were pretty solid. Both Daniel Day-Lewis (as John Proctor) and Winona Ryder (as Abigail Williams) carried themselves well and the supporting cast was strong. The portrayal of life in a 17th century Puritan community is a little bit difficult to relate to, and even the Puritan manner of referring to virtually all married women as "Goody" (short for "Goodwife") grates for a while and sometimes creates confusion for the viewer in trying to keep the characters straight, because it's so unusual to modern ears - although, on the other hand, it does provide an air of authenticity to the movie.

    One can only be grateful that the Witch Hunt ended fairly quickly (although a good number of people were executed.) The Communist witch hunt lasted unfortunately longer with a greater number of people being scarred for life by the experience (and, indeed, some losing their lives as a result of it.) One would like to think that we've progressed over the years, although the demonization of Moslems since 9/11 - although is hasn't perhaps reached the depths of 1692 or the 1950's - suggests that the possibilities for such excesses are still present with us. (7/10)
    helpful•8
    3
    • sddavis63
    • Apr 10, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 27, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Las brujas de Salem
    • Filming locations
      • House of Seven Gables, Salem, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,343,114
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $62,995
      • Dec 1, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,343,114
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Mary-Louise Parker (‘How I Learned to Drive’) poised to make Tony Awards history
    Mary-Louise Parker (‘How I Learned to Drive’) poised to make Tony Awards history
    May 10Gold Derby
    Ben Stiller To Star In Stage Adaptation Of The Shining
    Ben Stiller To Star In Stage Adaptation Of The Shining
    Mar 21Slash Film

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis in The Crucible (1996)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Crucible (1996) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.