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The Ghost and the Darkness

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,278
189
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter begin a hunt for two lions after they start attacking local construction workers.A bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter begin a hunt for two lions after they start attacking local construction workers.A bridge engineer and an experienced old hunter begin a hunt for two lions after they start attacking local construction workers.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
61K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,278
189
  • Director
    • Stephen Hopkins
  • Writer
    • William Goldman
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Val Kilmer
    • Tom Wilkinson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stephen Hopkins
  • Writer
    • William Goldman
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Val Kilmer
    • Tom Wilkinson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 199User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Ghost and the Darkness
    Trailer 0:31
    The Ghost and the Darkness

    Photos110

    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Val Kilmer and John Kani in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Val Kilmer, Stephen Hopkins, John Kani, and Brian McCardie in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)
    Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Charles Remingtonas Charles Remington
    Val Kilmer
    Val Kilmer
    • Col. John Henry Pattersonas Col. John Henry Patterson
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • Robert Beaumontas Robert Beaumont
    John Kani
    John Kani
    • Samuelas Samuel
    Bernard Hill
    Bernard Hill
    • Dr. David Hawthorneas Dr. David Hawthorne
    Brian McCardie
    Brian McCardie
    • Angus Starlingas Angus Starling
    Emily Mortimer
    Emily Mortimer
    • Helena Pattersonas Helena Patterson
    Om Puri
    Om Puri
    • Abdullahas Abdullah
    Henry Cele
    Henry Cele
    • Mahinaas Mahina
    Kurt Egelhof
    Kurt Egelhof
    • Indian Victimas Indian Victim
    Satchu Annamalai
    • Worker #1as Worker #1
    Teddy Reddy
    • Worker #2as Worker #2
    Raheem Khan
    • Worker #3as Worker #3
    • (as Rakeem Khan)
    Jack Devnarain
    • Nervous Sikh Orderlyas Nervous Sikh Orderly
    Glen Gabela
    • Orderly #1as Orderly #1
    Richard Nwamba
    • Orderly #2as Orderly #2
    Nick Lorentz
    • Photographeras Photographer
    Alex Ferns
    Alex Ferns
    • Stocktonas Stockton
    • Director
      • Stephen Hopkins
    • Writer
      • William Goldman
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Stephen Hopkins said about filming: "We had snake bites, scorpion bites, tick bite fever, people getting hit by lightning, floods, torrential rains and lightning storms, hippos chasing people through the water, cars getting swept into the water and several deaths of crew members including two drownings... Val came to the set under the worst conditions imaginable he was completely exhausted from doing "The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)" he was dealing with the unfavorable publicity from that set, he was going through a divorce he barely had time to get his teeth into this role before we started filming, and he is in nearly every scene in this movie but I worked him 6 or 7 days a week for 4 months under really adverse conditions and he really came through, he had a passion for this film."
    • Goofs
      In one scene, Remington tells Patterson that "We have an expression in prize fighting: 'Everyone has a plan until they've been hit.' Well my friend, you've just been hit." The events of this film take place in or closely around 1898, however the prizefighting expression used by Remington was coined by World War 2 era boxing great Joe Louis, who was not even born until 1914.
    • Quotes

      [Samuel hands John a letter from his wife]

      Samuel: You like her?

      John Patterson: Very much.

      Samuel: I don't like any of mine.

    • Crazy credits
      The beginning of the end credits is shown with a photograph of the real bridge as background.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: That Thing You Do!/Bound/Michael Collins/Infinity/If These Walls Could Talk (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Hamara Haath (Our Hands Unite)
      Written and Produced by George Acogny

      Performed by The Worldbeaters with The Johannesburg Choir, featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

    User reviews199

    Review
    Top review
    The story of a fine man facing an adventure of his lifetime
    A story of Col. Patterson building a bridge over the river Tsavo in Africa, and fighting the couple of killer lions and builders scared to death. Firstly it's the views. Africa's all around with yellow, sun burnt, high grown grass moving in the wind (you can smell the scent almost) and the workers who can cast a threat to Patterson if he fails their expectations of killing the lions. Secondly Val Kilmer's performance. He's not acting, he's just there fighting the obstacles. Thirdly Mike Douglas's influential way of telling things. He's more convincing than in 'Basic Instinct' and sorry Oliver, 'The Wall Street'. His macho appearance doesn't interfere with the main plot but comes to be part of it. Last not least it's Jerry Goldsmith's music. I don't know how he did it but he made it perfect. You just have to sense it to feel it. One of my favourites.
    helpful•26
    14
    • mallitch
    • Jan 15, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 11, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • Ác Thú Và Bóng Đêm
    • Filming locations
      • Tsavo National Park, Kenya
    • Production companies
      • Constellation Entertainment
      • Douglas/Reuther Productions
      • Bernina Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $55,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $38,619,405
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,215,063
      • Oct 13, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,619,405
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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