Sleepers
“Four friends have made a mistake that will change their lives forever.”
Synopsis
Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-10-06
Top Cast
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Kevin Bacon
Nokes
Robert De Niro
Father Bobby
Dustin Hoffman
Danny Snyder
Bruno Kirby
Shakes' Father
Jason Patric
Shakes
Brad Pitt
Michael
Minnie Driver
Carol
Brad Renfro
Young Michael
Ron Eldard
John
Billy Crudup
Tommy
Vittorio Gassman
King Benny
Terry Kinney
Ralph
Frank Medrano
Fat Mancho
Jonathan Tucker
Young Tommy
Geoffrey Wigdor
Young John
Joe Perrino
Young Shakes
Peter Appel
Boyfriend
Joseph Attanasio
Male Juror
Release History & Theatrical Window
Venice Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 18, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 20, 1998
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$44M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$165.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.76x
+$121.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Barry Levinson
- Screenplay & Story
- Barry Levinson
- Original Score
- John Williams
- Original Title
- Sleepers
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 27m
- Production Budget
- $44M
- Worldwide Gross
- $165.6M
- Production Studios
- Propaganda Films, Baltimore Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson, Lorenzo Carcaterra
John Williams
Michael Ballhaus
Stu Linder
Peter Giuliano, Steve Golin, Barry Levinson
Department Leadership Roster
Barry Levinson
Director
Barry Levinson
Screenplay
Steve Golin
Producer
Barry Levinson
Producer
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Michael Ballhaus
Director of Photography
Stu Linder
Editor
Kristi Zea
Production Design
Gloria Gresham
Costume Design
Jery Hewitt
Stunt Coordinator
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.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
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 Sleepers.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sleepers.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sleepers
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sleepers about?
Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.
Who directed Sleepers?
Sleepers was directed by Barry Levinson.
Who stars in Sleepers?
The principal cast of Sleepers includes Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Bruno Kirby, Jason Patric.
When was Sleepers released and how long is it?
Sleepers was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 2h 27m.
What was the box office and production budget of Sleepers?
Sleepers had a reported production budget of $44M and grossed $165.6M at the worldwide box office (3.76 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Sleepers?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sleepers was composed by John Williams.
Is Sleepers based on a book or true story?
Sleepers is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Lorenzo Carcaterra".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sleepers?
Sleepers holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; 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: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).