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)

8MM

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
132K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,808
256
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nicolas Cage and Jenny Powell in 8MM (1999)
Official Home Video Trailer
Play trailer2:33
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Mystery

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.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
132K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,808
256
  • Director
    • Joel Schumacher
  • Writer
    • Andrew Kevin Walker
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Joaquin Phoenix
    • James Gandolfini
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joel Schumacher
  • Writer
    • Andrew Kevin Walker
  • Stars
    • Nicolas Cage
    • Joaquin Phoenix
    • James Gandolfini
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 646User reviews
    • 121Critic reviews
    • 19Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos2

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

    Photos131

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

    More like this

    Snake Eyes
    6.1
    Snake Eyes
    Leaving Las Vegas
    7.5
    Leaving Las Vegas
    Matchstick Men
    7.3
    Matchstick Men
    The Weather Man
    6.6
    The Weather Man
    Gone in 60 Seconds
    6.5
    Gone in 60 Seconds
    Con Air
    6.9
    Con Air
    Face/Off
    7.3
    Face/Off
    Lord of War
    7.6
    Lord of War
    City of Angels
    6.7
    City of Angels
    8MM 2
    4.5
    8MM 2
    Bringing Out the Dead
    6.8
    Bringing Out the Dead
    Snuff killer - La morte in diretta
    3.4
    Snuff killer - La morte in diretta

    Storyline

    Edit
    A small, seemingly innocuous plastic reel of film leads surveillance specialist Tom Welles down an increasingly dark and frightening path. With the help of the streetwise Max, Welles relentlessly follows a bizarre trail of evidence to determine the fate of a complete stranger. As his work turns into obsession, he drifts farther and farther away from his wife, family and simple life as a small-town private eye. —Columbia Pictures
    • male full frontal nudity
    • sexual sadism
    • snuff film
    • male frontal nudity
    • female full frontal nudity
    • 292 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • If you dance with the devil, the devil don't change,the devil changes you!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong perverse sexuality and violence, and for strong language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The actress (Jenny Powell) playing the character of Mary Ann Mathews was originally a stripper hired to act as a stand-in. Joel Schumacher gave her the part of the victim on the 8mm film as she had a suitably "haunted" look about her.
    • 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 At 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 reviews646

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Very gritty and dark
    When I watched 8 MM, I didn't know what to expect, but I noticed that Joel Schumacher directed it and I am a fan of his. Also it stars two other terrific actors like Nicholas Cage and Joaquin Phoenix, so usually that equals a great film. 8 MM turned out to be a terrific dark drama that I'm not so sure that I understand it's low rating. I was actually expecting it to be in the 7.0 range when I went to check it out on IMDb, but it's in the low 6.0's. I understand that it's an extremely dark movie that not too many people would wanna take a look at, but for what it was, I thought it was great. It took us into the deep dark world of porn and what some sick people get off on. It's not just about that, but also it takes us into a detective type of drama that makes it into a scary type of thriller.

    Tom Welles is a detective that is given a strange short movie called a "snuff film", where a beautiful young girl is being brutally raped and then murdered on film. While it's supposed to be fake, it looks incredibly real and terrifying. Her relative asks him to find out wither it is fake or real and if she's still alive. This means he has to go deep into a world of brutal porn that is out of his league. With the help of a porn salesman, Max, they go to find out if this girl is really alive or not, but end up getting into some serious trouble when the directors and "actors" find out about them.

    8 MM is in no way for the faint of heart, there are some extremely disturbing images that I really wouldn't like to see again, I'm sure most wouldn't either, but this is a great dark drama that I would recommend for a watch. Nicholas did a great job, but Joaquin really takes the show here. He made his character incredibly believable and almost sympathetic. Joel really made me believe the story, he shot it wonderfully and didn't over do anything. I would recommend this film for a watch, it's a great thriller that is impressive as well as scary.

    8/10
    helpful•64
    10
    • Smells_Like_Cheese
    • Nov 1, 2007

    FAQ2

    • What is 8MM about?
    • What song plays in Machine's house?

    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
      • Eight Millimeter
    • 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

    Related news

    Rialto International Launches On-Demand Offering in Japan on Prime Video
    Rialto International Launches On-Demand Offering in Japan on Prime Video
    Mar 23Variety Film + TV
    Hulu New Releases: March 2022
    Hulu New Releases: March 2022
    Mar 1Den of Geek

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Nicolas Cage and Jenny Powell in 8MM (1999)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for 8MM (1999)?
    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.