Shame
“A compelling and timely examination of the nature of need, how we live our lives and the experiences that shape us.”
Synopsis
Brandon, a thirty-something man living in New York, eludes intimacy with women but feeds his deepest desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his younger sister temporarily moves into his apartment, stirring up bitter memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's life, like his fragile mind, gets out of control.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2011-11-02
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Michael Fassbender
Brandon
Carey Mulligan
Sissy
James Badge Dale
David
Nicole Beharie
Marianne
Lucy Walters
Woman on Subway Train
Mari-Ange Ramirez
Alexa
Alex Manette
Steven
Hannah Ware
Samantha
Elizabeth Masucci
Elizabeth
Rachel Farrar
Rachel
Loren Omer
Loren
Lauren Tyrrell
Hostess
Marta Milans
Cocktail Waitress
Jake Siciliano
Skype Son
Robert Montano
Waiter
Charisse Bellante
Live Chat Woman
Amy Hargreaves
Hotel Lover
Anna Rose Hopkins
Carly
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 2, 2011
Wide Cinema Exhibition
April 18, 2012
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.6x
-$2.6M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steve McQueen
- Screenplay & Story
- Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen
- Original Score
- Harry Escott
- Original Title
- Shame
- Country of Origin
- Canada, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Budget
- $6.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.9M
- Production Studios
- HanWay Films, See-Saw Films, Lipsync Productions, Alliance Films, Film4 Productions, UK Film Council
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steve McQueen
Abi Morgan, Steve McQueen
Harry Escott
Sean Bobbitt
Joe Walker
Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Tessa Ross, Robert Walak, Peter Hampden
Department Leadership Roster
Abi Morgan
Screenplay
Steve McQueen
Director
Iain Canning
Producer
Emile Sherman
Producer
Sean Bobbitt
Director of Photography
Joe Walker
Editor
Judy Becker
Production Design
Steve McQueen
Screenplay
Harry Escott
Original Music Composer
Manny Siverio
Stunt Coordinator
Roy Farfel
Stunt Coordinator
Sean Farrow
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NC-17: Adults Only — No one 17 and under admitted.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Adults Only — No one 17 and under admitted.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shame.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shame.
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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: 2026-10-20 07:41:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shame
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shame about?
Brandon, a thirty-something man living in New York, eludes intimacy with women but feeds his deepest desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his younger sister temporarily moves into his apartment, stirring up bitter memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's life, like his fragile mind, gets out of control.
Who directed Shame?
Shame was directed by Steve McQueen.
Who stars in Shame?
The principal cast of Shame includes Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Nicole Beharie, Lucy Walters.
When was Shame released and how long is it?
Shame was released in 2011 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
What was the box office and production budget of Shame?
Shame had a reported production budget of $6.5M and grossed $3.9M at the worldwide box office (0.6 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Shame?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shame was composed by Harry Escott.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shame?
Shame holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; CA: 18A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: NC-17 (Adults Only — No one 17 and under admitted.).