Down by Law
“It's not where you start - It's where you start again.”
Synopsis
A disc jockey, a pimp and an Italian tourist escape from jail in New Orleans.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
DOWN BY LAW Official Trailer [1986] 4K
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-12-16
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Tom Waits
Zack
John Lurie
Jack
Roberto Benigni
Roberto
Nicoletta Braschi
Nicoletta
Ellen Barkin
Laurette
Billie Neal
Bobbie
Rockets Redglare
Gig
Vernel Bagneris
Preston
Timothea
Julie
L.C. Drane
L.C.
Joy N. Houck Jr.
Detective Mandino
Carrie Lindsoe
Young Girl
Ralph Joseph
Detective
Richard Boes
Detective
Dave Petitjean
Cajun Detective
Adam Cohen
Uniformed Cop
Alan Kleinberg
Corpse
Archie Sampier
Prisoner
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 20, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 20, 2000
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.1M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.39x
+$429K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jim Jarmusch
- Screenplay & Story
- Jim Jarmusch
- Original Score
- John Lurie
- Original Title
- Down by Law
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Germany
- Spoken Languages
- English, Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 46m
- Production Budget
- $1.1M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.5M
- Production Studios
- Island Pictures, Black Snake, Grokenberger Film Produktion
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jim Jarmusch
Jim Jarmusch
John Lurie
Robby Müller
Melody London
Alan Kleinberg, Cary Brokaw, Otto Grokenberger, Russell Schwartz
Department Leadership Roster
Alan Kleinberg
Producer
Robby Müller
Director of Photography
Jim Jarmusch
Director
Carol Wood
Costume Design
Jim Jarmusch
Writer
Melody London
Editor
Janet Densmore
Production Design
John Lurie
Original Music Composer
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 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Down by Law.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Down by Law.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:37:48 UTC+8)*
TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:33:14 UTC+8)*
Movie Collection
Criterion Collection
The Complete Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection is a video distribution company that sells 'important classic and contemporary films' in editions that offer the highest technical quality. This list contains only the featured films released on DVD, BluRay and 4K Criterion releases — no supplements are included. Organized by spine number with the newest releases first. CC标准收藏完整收录版： 收录标准收藏（Criterion Collection）发行的重要经典及当代电影。仅包含正片（涵盖 DVD、蓝光及 4K 版本），已排除花絮补充内容。按 CC 发行编号倒序排列（最新发行在前）。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#214] Mangrove (2020) • [#215] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#216] Red, White and Blue (2020) • [#217] Alex Wheatle (2020) • [#486] Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972) • [#647] Dekalog (1989) • [#944] World on a Wire (1973) • [#1187] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#1338] Fanny and Alexander (1984) • [#1341] Tanner '88 (1988) • [#1371] Scenes from a Marriage (1973) *注：以下影片因 TMDB 尚未收录，暂不在此片单中展示：* • [#531] First (2012) • [#1699] Ulysse (1983) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-11 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
vison of mind
Imported from MUBI list: https://mubi.com/en/lists/vison-of-mind
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Frequently Asked Questions About Down by Law
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Down by Law about?
A disc jockey, a pimp and an Italian tourist escape from jail in New Orleans.
Who directed Down by Law?
Down by Law was directed by Jim Jarmusch.
Who stars in Down by Law?
The principal cast of Down by Law includes Tom Waits, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Ellen Barkin.
When was Down by Law released and how long is it?
Down by Law was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 46m.
What was the box office and production budget of Down by Law?
Down by Law had a reported production budget of $1.1M and grossed $1.5M at the worldwide box office (1.39 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Down by Law?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Down by Law was composed by John Lurie.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Down by Law?
Down by Law holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).