Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
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)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Life of David Gale

  • 2003
  • R
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
129K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,844
402
Kevin Spacey in The Life of David Gale (2003)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
Legal ThrillerCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.A man against capital punishment is accused of murdering a fellow activist and is sent to death row.

  • Director
    • Alan Parker
  • Writer
    • Charles Randolph
  • Stars
    • Kevin Spacey
    • Kate Winslet
    • Laura Linney
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    129K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,844
    402
    • Director
      • Alan Parker
    • Writer
      • Charles Randolph
    • Stars
      • Kevin Spacey
      • Kate Winslet
      • Laura Linney
    • 491User reviews
    • 93Critic reviews
    • 31Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Life of David Gale
    Trailer 0:31
    The Life of David Gale

    Photos136

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 130
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • David Gale
    Kate Winslet
    Kate Winslet
    • Bitsey Bloom
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Constance Harraway
    Cleo King
    Cleo King
    • Barbara Kreuster
    Constance Jones
    • Reporter A.J. Roberts
    Lee Ritchey
    • Joe Mullarkey
    Gabriel Mann
    Gabriel Mann
    • Zack Stemmons
    Matt Craven
    Matt Craven
    • Dusty Wright
    Brandy Little
    Brandy Little
    • Motel Waitress
    Cindy Waite
    • Margie
    Jim Beaver
    Jim Beaver
    • Duke Grover
    Leon Rippy
    Leon Rippy
    • Braxton Belyeu
    Jesse De Luna
    • Supervising Guard
    Vernon Grote
    • Door Guard
    Rhona Mitra
    Rhona Mitra
    • Berlin
    Kimberly Tortorice
    Kimberly Tortorice
    • Grad Student
    Katie Lott
    • Berlin's Classmate
    Noah Truesdale
    • Jamie Gale
    • Director
      • Alan Parker
    • Writer
      • Charles Randolph
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    K-PAX
    7.4
    K-PAX
    The Best Offer
    7.8
    The Best Offer
    Pay It Forward
    7.2
    Pay It Forward
    The Invisible Guest
    8.0
    The Invisible Guest
    Angela's Ashes
    7.3
    Angela's Ashes
    Primal Fear
    7.7
    Primal Fear
    The Negotiator
    7.3
    The Negotiator
    Little Children
    7.5
    Little Children
    A Time to Kill
    7.5
    A Time to Kill
    The Jacket
    7.1
    The Jacket
    Identity
    7.3
    Identity
    Come See the Paradise
    6.7
    Come See the Paradise

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The diner scene on the morning after Bloom and Stemmons arrive in Texas was originally shot at a different diner. During the original shooting, they were hit by a tornado and the cast and crew had to huddle together in the kitchen until the tornado passed overhead.
    • Goofs
      When the kids are playing in the swimming pool full of mud, the sign on the entrance is supposed to be in Spanish, but most of the words are misspelled and no sentences make sense.
    • Quotes

      David Gale: Fantasies have to be unrealistic because the moment, the second that you get what you seek, you don't, you can't want it anymore. In order to continue to exist, desire must have its objects perpetually absent. It's not the "it" that you want, it's the fantasy of "it." So, desire supports crazy fantasies. This is what Pascal means when he says that we are only truly happy when daydreaming about future happiness. Or why we say the hunt is sweeter than the kill. Or be careful what you wish for. Not because you'll get it, but because you're doomed not to want it once you do. So the lesson of Lacan is, living by your wants will never make you happy. What it means to be fully human is to strive to live by ideas and ideals and not to measure your life by what you've attained in terms of your desires but those small moments of integrity, compassion, rationality, even self-sacrifice. Because in the end, the only way that we can measure the significance of our own lives is by valuing the lives of others.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Kevin Spacey Performances (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Another Bleeding Heart
      Written by Alex Parker

      Performed by Alex Parker

    User reviews491

    Featured review
    10/10

    Wow

    "The Life of David Gale" is a terrific thriller and is one of the best of 2003. Despite going to this movie through the worst date of my life... shudder, I still have nightmares, this movie was the silver lining. I was very excited to see this movie because it has such an awesome actor, obviously Kevin Spacey and then a great actress Kate Winslet.

    This political thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat and keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. Wither you're for or against or undecided about the death penalty, this movie gets to you and keeps you thinking after wards about our justice system in the United States. David Gale is an accused murderer on death row, his last few days he requests to be interviewed by Bitsey Bloom, a journalist who likes to keep her mouth shut even when she shouldn't. He tells her his incredible story about from being one of the most respected men in Texas to one of the most hated for being accused of rape.

    "No one sees a person when they look through that glass, they see a murderer and a rapist three days shy of his execution". Is he guilty or not? Trying to figure this out in the story you jump to your own conclusion, this man has been accused of rape, murder, he's lost his family and friends. Take away everything and find out if people just overlook cases or if we should judge the first minute we hear one side of the story. The Life of David Gale is an amazing story that will keep you interested. Just trust me, it's a great movie. I can even watch it without having nightmares about my horrific date. :) OK, just watch it.

    10/10
    • Smells_Like_Cheese
    • Feb 22, 2003
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is The Life of David Gale?Powered by Alexa
    • Gun fired in the trailer/preview? (spoiler)

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 21, 2003 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Cuộc Đời Của David Gale
    • Filming locations
      • Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Intermedia Films
      • Dirty Hands Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $38,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,955,598
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,117,225
      • Feb 23, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,955,598
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Kevin Spacey in The Life of David Gale (2003)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of The Life of David Gale (2003) in India?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.