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IMDbPro

Sleepers

  • 1996
  • R
  • 2h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
230K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,266
72
Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:13
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

After a prank goes disastrously wrong, a group of boys are sent to a detention center where they are brutalized. Thirteen years later, an unexpected random encounter with a former guard give... Read allAfter a prank goes disastrously wrong, a group of boys are sent to a detention center where they are brutalized. Thirteen years later, an unexpected random encounter with a former guard gives them a chance for revenge.After a prank goes disastrously wrong, a group of boys are sent to a detention center where they are brutalized. Thirteen years later, an unexpected random encounter with a former guard gives them a chance for revenge.

  • Director
    • Barry Levinson
  • Writers
    • Lorenzo Carcaterra
    • Barry Levinson
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Kevin Bacon
    • Brad Pitt
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    230K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,266
    72
    • Director
      • Barry Levinson
    • Writers
      • Lorenzo Carcaterra
      • Barry Levinson
    • Stars
      • Robert De Niro
      • Kevin Bacon
      • Brad Pitt
    • 369User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos2

    Sleepers
    Trailer 2:13
    Watch Sleepers
    Sleepers
    Trailer 2:16
    Watch Sleepers

    Photos205

    Brad Renfro, Jonathan Tucker, Joe Perrino, and Geoffrey Wigdor in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Minnie Driver, Jason Patric, Billy Crudup, and Ron Eldard in Sleepers (1996)
    Robert De Niro in Sleepers (1996)
    Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crudup, and Ron Eldard in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)
    Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric in Sleepers (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Father Bobby
    Kevin Bacon
    Kevin Bacon
    • Nokes
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Michael
    Jason Patric
    Jason Patric
    • Shakes
    Billy Crudup
    Billy Crudup
    • Tommy
    Ron Eldard
    Ron Eldard
    • John
    Minnie Driver
    Minnie Driver
    • Carol
    Vittorio Gassman
    Vittorio Gassman
    • King Benny
    Dustin Hoffman
    Dustin Hoffman
    • Danny Snyder
    Terry Kinney
    Terry Kinney
    • Ferguson
    Bruno Kirby
    Bruno Kirby
    • Shakes' Father
    Frank Medrano
    Frank Medrano
    • Fat Mancho
    Joe Perrino
    Joe Perrino
    • Young Shakes
    Brad Renfro
    Brad Renfro
    • Young Michael
    Geoffrey Wigdor
    Geoffrey Wigdor
    • Young John
    Jonathan Tucker
    Jonathan Tucker
    • Young Tommy
    Peter Appel
    Peter Appel
    • Boyfriend
    Joseph Attanasio
    • Male Juror
    • (as Joe Attanasio)
    • Director
      • Barry Levinson
    • Writers
      • Lorenzo Carcaterra
      • Barry Levinson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Brad Pitt is not fond of his performance on the movie: "I think I was a disservice to it. This is the period where I really started getting confused and discombobulated. Because [my career] started blowing up, for one. Suddenly, I had a lot of people in my ear telling me what I should do and what I shouldn't do."
    • Goofs
      The narrator reports the summer of 1968 as "the Summer of Love." This was actually a hippie-reference nickname given to the summer of 1967.
    • Quotes

      Nokes: What do you want?

      John: What I've always wanted. To watch you die.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Chamber/The Ghost and the Darkness/The Long Kiss Goodnight/Looking for Richard/Freeway (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Walk Like A Man
      Performed by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

      Written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio (as Robert Gaudio)

      Courtesy of The Four Seasons Partnership

      By arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews369

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    An Interesting Film...
    Legedndary Filmmaker Barry Levinson's 'Sleepers' is An Interesting Film to watch. Based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's 1995 novel of the same name, this legal drama comes in-tact with skilled direction & proficient performances to lead it's narrative.

    After a prank goes disastrously wrong, a group of boys are sent to a detention center where they are brutalized, physically & mentally. Over 10 years later, they get their chance for revenge.

    Barry Levinson's Adpated Screenplay is Convincing. The film has interesting & absorbing moments in the first hour as well as in the second hour. However, the film gets too intense at times, and the faint-hearted are sure to shy away from those portions. Also, the film is very long. It definitely could've been trimmed. Levinson's direction is skilled. Michael Ballhaus's Cinematography is good. Editing is okay. Music by John Williams is impressive.

    Performance-Wise: Kevin Bacon is effective as the bad guy. Dustin Hoffman is first-rate, while Bobby De Niro delivers a subdued performance. Brad Pitt is extremely natural. Jason Patric does well. Minnie Driver leaves a mark. Brad Renfro is passable. Others lend good support.

    On the whole, 'Sleepers' is worth a watch, as it succeeds by holding your attention almost throughout. Thumbs Up!
    helpful•22
    8
    • namashi_1
    • Jul 25, 2011

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    FAQ2

    • Is the film based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 18, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Levinson.com
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Những Kẻ Ngủ Mơ
    • Filming locations
      • Fairfield Hills Hospital - Mile Hill Rd., Newtown, Connecticut, USA(as Wilkinson School for Boys)
    • Production companies
      • Astoria Films
      • Baltimore Pictures
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $44,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $53,315,285
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,305,745
      • Oct 20, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $165,615,285
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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