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IMDbPro

8MM

  • 1999
  • 18+
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,696
316
Nicolas Cage and Jenny Powell in 8MM (1999)
Official Home Video Trailer
Play trailer2:33
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaMystery

A private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.A private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.A private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not.

  • Director
    • Joel Schumacher
  • Writer
    • Andrew Kevin Walker
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Joaquin Phoenix
    • James Gandolfini
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    143K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,696
    316
    • Director
      • Joel Schumacher
    • Writer
      • Andrew Kevin Walker
    • Stars
      • Nicolas Cage
      • Joaquin Phoenix
      • James Gandolfini
    • 668User reviews
    • 114Critic reviews
    • 21Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    8mm
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch 8mm
    8MM
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch 8MM

    Photos132

    Nicolas Cage in 8MM (1999)
    Nicolas Cage and Catherine Keener in 8MM (1999)
    Nicolas Cage in 8MM (1999)
    Nicolas Cage and Joaquin Phoenix in 8MM (1999)
    Nicolas Cage as Tom Welles
    Tom Welles (Nicholas Cage) is a private investigator and family man living a simple life in Pennsylvania - until a reel of crudely shot eight millimeter film sends him down a sordid and terrifying path into society's darkest corners.
    Nicolas Cage as Tom Welles
    Nicolas Cage as Tom Welles
    Tom & Max
    Tom & Max
    Tom with Dino Velvet
    Eddie & Dino strongarm Tom

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Tom Welles
    Joaquin Phoenix
    Joaquin Phoenix
    • Max California
    James Gandolfini
    James Gandolfini
    • Eddie Poole
    Peter Stormare
    Peter Stormare
    • Dino Velvet
    Anthony Heald
    Anthony Heald
    • Longdale
    Chris Bauer
    Chris Bauer
    • Machine
    Catherine Keener
    Catherine Keener
    • Amy Welles
    Myra Carter
    • Mrs. Christian
    Amy Morton
    Amy Morton
    • Janet Mathews
    Jenny Powell
    • Mary Ann Mathews
    Anne Gee Byrd
    Anne Gee Byrd
    • Senator
    Jack Betts
    Jack Betts
    • Butler
    Luis Oropeza
    • Archive Director
    Rachel Singer
    Rachel Singer
    • Neighbor
    Don Creech
    Don Creech
    • Mr. Anderson
    Norman Reedus
    Norman Reedus
    • Warren Anderson
    Fran Bennett
    Fran Bennett
    • Nun
    Wilma Bonet
    • Nun
    • Director
      • Joel Schumacher
    • Writer
      • Andrew Kevin Walker
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Russell Crowe agreed to do the film with Joel Schumacher when the film was slated to be a "dirty, handheld gritty thriller". Crowe had one stipulation to all this and it was the scene where his character is looking at the kiddie porn and throws it in the trash he throws a cigarette so it would start burning inside the trash can. Schumacher agreed. Then out of the blue, Nicolas Cage's agent called Schumacher and told him that he wanted to do the film as well. Schumacher then contacted John Calley at Sony and told him that we can do the film with Crowe as a "low budget, dirty handheld camera thriller" or a much bigger film with Cage. Calley then agreed to do the film with Cage as the lead which eventually led to a much bigger budget.
    • Goofs
      To ascertain Machine's identity, Tom calls several emergency rooms, pretending to be a police officer, asking for Machine's real name, insurance information, and home address. Even in 1999, no hospital would ever give this information out over the phone and would need an in-person request with a court order to be in compliance with HIPAA laws (which were first passed in 1996).
    • Quotes

      Max California: [on the porn industry] All I'm saying is... it can get to you.

      Tom Welles: No worries. Thanks for the warning, though.

      Max California: You're welcome. Pops... If you dance with the devil, the devil don't change. The devil changes you.

      Tom Welles: Some of your lyrics?

      Max California: That's cute.

    • Alternate versions
      The German theatrical version is allegedly 9 seconds longer. Additional footage shows more of Poole being beaten to death by Tom Welles.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Office Space/October Sky/The 24 Hour Woman/Jawbreaker/Tango (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Sick With It
      Written by Tairrie Beth, Marcelo Palomino, Rico Villasenor & Brian Harrah

      Performed by Tura Satana

      Courtesy of Noise Records

    User reviews668

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Well made, but disturbing. Watch with care.
    I walked into the movie theater last Friday not expecting at all what I was about to see. I'd heard about it, thought "Oh, another Seven". Same screenwriter, but I was way off track. I can stomach a lot, having no problem stuffing down popcorn during very graphic scenes. In 8MM, my coke had trouble going down. 8MM did not have consistent gory/violent scenes, but the way the movie was made made you fill in the blanks of what the makers of the movie could not screen. And if you pay attention and immerse yourself, you fill in more blanks than you really think you could, or want. As Max put it: "the devil changes you." The perversity and deep rottenness of the human minds displayed in 8MM is what disturbs you. Then you realize, that "snuff"-movies are real, that there are individuals twisted enough to endorse/enjoy/take part in it. And worst of all, that these individuals don't look like monsters, they're perhaps just overweight nearsighted men who look like your dad, your son, your brother, even yourself. And if you don't look out,(no matter how secluded you think you are in your suburban home, with a wife, a daughter, and a dog named Shep) you dive into the pit of perversion and rottenness as well, finding no way out. In conclusion: excellent music, acting very sufficient, the plot: a must see. Just don't bring popcorn, and prepare to walk out of the movie theatre disturbed, asking questions, and a little bit more suspicious of those walking around you, and yourself.
    helpful•230
    39
    • Viper2
    • Feb 27, 1999

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Pictures (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 8 millimètres
    • Filming locations
      • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Hofflund/Polone
      • Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $40,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $36,663,315
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,252,888
      • Feb 28, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $96,618,699
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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