Sleepers (film)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 10:48:16 AM Wikipedia source
Sleepers is a 1996 American legal crime drama film written, produced and directed by Barry Levinson, and based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's 1995 book of the same name. The film stars an ensemble cast including Kevin Bacon, Jason Patric, Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Minnie Driver, Vittorio Gassman, Brad Renfro, Ron Eldard, Jeffrey Donovan, Terry Kinney, Joe Perrino, Geoffrey Wigdor, Jonathan Tucker, Bruno Kirby, and Billy Crudup in his film debut. The title is an American slang term for juvenile delinquents who serve sentences longer than nine months. Sleepers was theatrically released in the United States October 18, 1996, and was a box-office hit, grossing $165.6 million against a $44 million budget.
Infobox
Directed by
Barry Levinson
Screenplay by
Barry Levinson
Based on
Sleepersby Lorenzo Carcaterra
Produced by
mw- Barry LevinsonSteve Golin
Starring
Kevin Bacon Robert De Niro Dustin Hoffman Bruno Kirby Jason Patric Brad Pitt Brad Renfro Minnie Driver
Cinematography
Michael Ballhaus
Edited by
Stu Linder
Music by
John Williams
Productioncompanies
PolyGram Filmed EntertainmentPropaganda FilmsBaltimore PicturesAstoria Films
Distributed by
Warner Bros. (North America)PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (International)
Release date
October 18, 1996 (1996-10-18)
Running time
147 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$44 million
Box office
$165.6 million
Tables
· Release › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Original Dramatic Score
Nominee(s)
John Williams
Result
Nominated
London Film Critics Circle Awards
London Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
London Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
British Supporting Actress of the Year
Nominee(s)
Minnie Driver
Result
Won
Young Artist Awards
Young Artist Awards
Award
Young Artist Awards
Category
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor
Nominee(s)
Joe Perrino
Result
Nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor
Award
Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor
Category
Geoffrey Wigdor
Nominee(s)
Nominated
YoungStar Awards
YoungStar Awards
Award
YoungStar Awards
Category
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film
Nominee(s)
Joe Perrino
Result
Nominated
Brad Renfro
Brad Renfro
Award
Brad Renfro
Category
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Original Dramatic Score | John Williams | Nominated | |
| London Film Critics Circle Awards | British Supporting Actress of the Year | Minnie Driver | Won | |
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor | Joe Perrino | Nominated | |
| Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor | Geoffrey Wigdor | Nominated | ||
| YoungStar Awards | Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama Film | Joe Perrino | Nominated | |
| Brad Renfro | Nominated |
References
- Also for Big Night and Grosse Pointe Blank
- Australian Classification Boardhttps://www.classification.gov.au/titles/sleepers-2
- Sleepershttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/sleepers-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0yodc3nja
- The Numbershttp://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Sleepers
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0117665/
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/07/26/sleepers-a-rude-awakening/4f299706-e971-4ef1-8f68-130f5cb6974c/
- Sleepershttps://ew.com/article/1995/07/14/sleepers-begins-shooting-film-version/
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sleepers-1996
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/22/movies/sleepers-debate-renewed-how-true-is-a-true-story.html
- Associated Press Newshttps://apnews.com/article/379d8389d5244aeb17c81c9d534f525c
- Arts Beat LAhttps://www.artsbeatla.com/2020/06/kevin-bacon-sleepers/
- Sleepers at Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1073595-sleepers
- Sleepers at Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/sleepers
- CinemaScorehttps://cinemascore.com
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/18/movies/artificiality-vanquishes-an-authenticity-issue.html
- San Francisco Chroniclehttps://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/FILM-REVIEW-Sleepers-Guaranteed-to-Keep-2962785.php
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-18-ca-54948-story.html
- Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/vigilante-chic-back-179124
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/article/1996/11/01/sleepers-2/
- Austin Chroniclehttps://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/1996-10-25/sleepers/
- oscars.orghttps://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1997
- MUBI.comhttps://mubi.com/films/sleepers
- YoungArtistAwards.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20110402060451/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms18.htm
- allyourtv.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090801031733/http://www.allyourtv.com/awards/awardsyoungstar2nd.html
- blu-ray.comhttps://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Sleepers-Blu-ray/22612/