Dead Man Walking (1995)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
23 wins & 23 nominations total
A powerful, thought-provoking film that covers different angles of its topic without resorting to preaching, Dead Man Walking will cause the viewer to reflect regardless of their political viewpoint.
Dead Man Walking is a movie that will leave you feeling like you just went through an emotional rollercoaster. With Sean Penn’s incredible acting and Tim Robbins’s direction, this film is a must-watch. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and will make you question your beliefs on capital punishment. But don’t worry, there are some uplifting moments too, like when Penn and Sarandon achieve a strange transcendence in their final moments together. Just be prepared for some cursing and violence, but hey, it’s the ’90s, what do you expect? Overall, Dead Man Walking is a powerful and devastating movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions, Right of Way Films,
Distributor
Gramercy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Angola, Louisiana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for a depiction of a rape and murder
Year of Release
1996
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 2m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 13, 2006
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J Barry, R Lee Ermey, Celia Weston, directed by Tim Robbins, written by Tim Robbins, produced by Rudd Simmons, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins, crime, drama, R rating, box office gross $37.1M, reviewed by David Ansen, David Stratton, Steven D Greydanus, Emanuel Levy, Nell Minow, Hal Hinson, Sheila Reid, Brian D Johnson, Malcolm Johnson, directed by Tim Robbins, produced by Rudd Simmons, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins, Gramercy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., Surround, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1)
Worldwide gross: $39,363,635
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,135,161
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,156
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,193,584
US/Canada gross: $39,363,635
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,135,161
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 886
US/Canada opening weekend: $118,266
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $225,740
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,620
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20,996,201
Production budget ranking: 1,343
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,306,454
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,832,507
ROI to date (est.): 133%
ROI ranking: 818
Sean Penn – Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky – Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry – Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey – Clyde Percy
Celia Weston – Mary Beth Percy
Director(s)
Tim Robbins
Writer(s)
Tim Robbins
Producer(s)
Rudd Simmons, Tim Robbins, Jon Kilik
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
23 wins & 23 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (61) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (3)
It’s a strong film, made stronger by two terrific performances. Penn’s acting has ruthless honesty.
February 23, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
It’s an important film and a beautifully made film too.
February 12, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
October 29, 2008 | Rating: A
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
Tim Robbins’s balanced yet uncompromising approach refuses to judge any of the characters, including the killer (superlatively played by Sean Penn), instead giving each a fair chance to present their case with dignity and respect.
June 10, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
November 24, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
An intelligent, balanced, devastating movie.
January 31, 2002 | Rating: 4.5/5
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A riveting, thought-provoking drama.
May 13, 2022
Sheila Reid
Women in the Life
Penn plays Matthew with a quiet, feral intensity…
October 21, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Penn and Sarandon in their final moments together achieve a strange transcendence that makes the end of Dead Man Walking sobering and horrifying, yet oddly uplifting.
May 3, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Intense ’90s death-penalty drama has cursing, violence.
July 11, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
It doesn’t flinch from presenting the crime committed, and yet, it’s a film that undoubtedly is against capital punishment.
February 12, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
A powerful and provocative film — not quite a work of art, maybe, but close enough to demand your respectful attention.
July 19, 2014
Joe Leydon
The Moving Picture Show…
Plot
As a death row inmate maintains his innocence, he forms a bond with Sister Helen Prejean who tries to help him with one last appeal in Dead Man Walking.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sean Penn delivers a “ruthlessly honest” performance as death row inmate Matthew Poncelet.
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