The Postman Always Rings Twice
“You can get away with anything. Once.”
Synopsis
The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-06-07
Top Cast
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Jack Nicholson
Frank Chambers
Jessica Lange
Cora Papadakis
John Colicos
Nick Papadakis
Michael Lerner
Mr. Katz
John P. Ryan
Kennedy
Anjelica Huston
Madge
William Traylor
Sackett
Thomas Hill
Barlow
Jon Van Ness
Motorcycle Cop
Brian Farrell
Mortenson
Raleigh Bond
Insurance Salesman
William Newman
Man from Home Town
Albert Henderson
Art Beeman
Eugene Peterson
Doctor
Don Calfa
Goebel
Louis Turenne
Ringmaster
Charles B. Jenkins
Gas Station Attendant
Dick Balduzzi
Sign Man #1
Release History & Theatrical Window
TV re-exibition
Festival / Special Debut
March 20, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 1, 1994
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$12M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$12.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.03x
+$377K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Bob Rafelson
- Screenplay & Story
- David Mamet
- Original Score
- Michael Small
- Original Title
- The Postman Always Rings Twice
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Germany
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 2m
- Production Budget
- $12M
- Worldwide Gross
- $12.4M
- Production Studios
- CIP Filmproduktion GmbH, Northstar International, Lorimar Motion Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Bob Rafelson
David Mamet, James M. Cain
Michael Small
Sven Nykvist
Graeme Clifford
Andrew Braunsberg, Charles Mulvehill, Bob Rafelson
Department Leadership Roster
Bob Rafelson
Director
David Mamet
Screenplay
Charles Mulvehill
Producer
Bob Rafelson
Producer
Michael Small
Original Music Composer
Sven Nykvist
Director of Photography
Graeme Clifford
Editor
George Jenkins
Production Design
Dorothy Jeakins
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Postman Always Rings Twice.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Postman Always Rings Twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Postman Always Rings Twice
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Postman Always Rings Twice about?
The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.
Who directed The Postman Always Rings Twice?
The Postman Always Rings Twice was directed by Bob Rafelson.
Who stars in The Postman Always Rings Twice?
The principal cast of The Postman Always Rings Twice includes Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, John Colicos, Michael Lerner, John P. Ryan.
When was The Postman Always Rings Twice released and how long is it?
The Postman Always Rings Twice was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 2h 2m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Postman Always Rings Twice?
The Postman Always Rings Twice had a reported production budget of $12M and grossed $12.4M at the worldwide box office (1.03 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for The Postman Always Rings Twice?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Postman Always Rings Twice was composed by Michael Small.
Is The Postman Always Rings Twice based on a book or true story?
The Postman Always Rings Twice is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "James M. Cain".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Postman Always Rings Twice?
The Postman Always Rings Twice holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).