Murder in the First
“The trial that brought down Alcatraz.”
Synopsis
A young, inexperienced public defender is assigned to defend an inmate accused of committing murder while behind bars.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
New TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-09-27
Top Cast
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Christian Slater
James Stamphill
Kevin Bacon
Henri Young
Gary Oldman
Associate Milton Glenn
Embeth Davidtz
Mary McCasslin
William H. Macy
Bill McNeill
Stephen Tobolowsky
Mr. Henkin
Brad Dourif
Byron Stamphill
Kyra Sedgwick
Blanche
Mia Kirshner
Rosetta Young
R. Lee Ermey
Judge Clawson
Stefan Gierasch
Warden James Humson
Mary Mackey
Prison Guard's Wife
Gary Ballard
Alcatraz Guard Swenson
Richie Allan
Jury Foreman
Ben Slack
Jerry Hoolihan
Alex Bookston
Alcatraz Doc
Herb Ritts
Mike Kelly
Charles Boswell
Simpson
Release History & Theatrical Window
Deauville American Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
January 20, 1995
Wide Cinema Exhibition
July 19, 2022
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$20M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$29.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.48x
+$9.5M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Marc Rocco
- Screenplay & Story
- Dan Gordon
- Original Score
- Christopher Young
- Original Title
- Murder in the First
- Country of Origin
- France, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 2m
- Production Budget
- $20M
- Worldwide Gross
- $29.5M
- Production Studios
- Wolper Organization, Warner Bros. Pictures, Le Studio Canal+
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Marc Rocco
Dan Gordon
Christopher Young
Fred Murphy
Russell Livingstone
Marc Frydman, Marc Rocco, David L. Wolper, Mark Wolper
Department Leadership Roster
Marc Rocco
Director
Dan Gordon
Screenplay
Russell Livingstone
Editor
Fred Murphy
Director of Photography
Christopher Young
Original Music Composer
Doug Coleman
Stunt Coordinator
Marc Frydman
Producer
Mark Wolper
Producer
Kirk M. Petruccelli
Production Design
Sylvia Vega-Vasquez
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.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Murder in the First.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Murder in the First.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Murder in the First
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Murder in the First about?
A young, inexperienced public defender is assigned to defend an inmate accused of committing murder while behind bars.
Who directed Murder in the First?
Murder in the First was directed by Marc Rocco.
Who stars in Murder in the First?
The principal cast of Murder in the First includes Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Embeth Davidtz, William H. Macy.
When was Murder in the First released and how long is it?
Murder in the First was released in 1995 with a total runtime of 2h 2m.
What was the box office and production budget of Murder in the First?
Murder in the First had a reported production budget of $20M and grossed $29.5M at the worldwide box office (1.48 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Murder in the First?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Murder in the First was composed by Christopher Young.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Murder in the First?
Murder in the First holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).