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Down by Law

  • 1986
  • R
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
59K
YOUR RATING
Roberto Benigni, Tom Waits, and John Lurie in Down by Law (1986)
Trailer for Down by Law
Play trailer1:37
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Quirky ComedyComedyCrimeDrama

Two men are framed and sent to jail, where they meet a murderer who helps them escape and leave the state.Two men are framed and sent to jail, where they meet a murderer who helps them escape and leave the state.Two men are framed and sent to jail, where they meet a murderer who helps them escape and leave the state.

  • Director
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Writer
    • Jim Jarmusch
  • Stars
    • Tom Waits
    • John Lurie
    • Roberto Benigni
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    59K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • Writer
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • Stars
      • Tom Waits
      • John Lurie
      • Roberto Benigni
    • 138User reviews
    • 58Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos3

    Down by Law
    Trailer 1:37
    Down by Law
    Down by Law: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:32
    Down by Law: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Down by Law: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Trailer 1:32
    Down by Law: The Criterion Collection [Blu-Ray]
    Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'
    Clip 3:12
    Bill Murray vs. Zombies? We're Dying for 'The Dead Don't Die'

    Photos105

    View Poster
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    View Poster
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    + 98
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    Top Cast23

    Tom Waits
    Tom Waits
    • Zack
    John Lurie
    John Lurie
    • Jack
    Roberto Benigni
    Roberto Benigni
    • Roberto
    Nicoletta Braschi
    Nicoletta Braschi
    • Nicoletta
    Ellen Barkin
    Ellen Barkin
    • Laurette
    Billie Neal
    • Bobbie
    Rockets Redglare
    Rockets Redglare
    • Gig
    Vernel Bagneris
    Vernel Bagneris
    • Preston
    Timothea
    • Julie
    L.C. Drane
    • L.C.
    Joy N. Houck Jr.
    • Detective Mandino
    • (as Joy Houck Jr.)
    Carrie Lindsoe
    • Young Girl
    Ralph Joseph
    • Detective
    Richard Boes
    Richard Boes
    • Detective
    Dave Petitjean
    • Cajun Detective
    Adam Cohen
    • Uniformed Cop
    Alan Kleinberg
    • Corpse
    Archie Sampier
    • Prisoner
    • Director
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • Writer
      • Jim Jarmusch
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews138

    7.659.1K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Down by Law' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Bud Cort, Anjelica Huston, Michael Gambon, Noah Taylor, Matthew Gray Gubler, Seu Jorge, and Waris Ahluwalia in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
    Quirky Comedy
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    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Roberto Benigni's rabbit soliloquy was almost entirely self-written/improvisation, based on his own life experiences. His mother actually did raise rabbits.
    • Goofs
      Zack marks the number of the days he's spent in the cell on the wall. Before he fights Jack for the first time, he angrily scribes two long lines (two days). In the next scene with Roberto, they are normal length.
    • Quotes
      • [repeated line]
      • Roberto: I scream-a. You scream-a. We all scream-a. For ice cream-a.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: The Color of Money/Sid and Nancy/Down by Law/Clockwise (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Jockey Full of Bourbon
      Written and Performed by Tom Waits
      from his 'Rain Dogs' album
      Courtesy Island Records, Inc.
      (opening title)

    Top picks

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    Details

    • Release date
      • September 25, 1986 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • West Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Số Phận Nổi Trội
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Island Pictures
      • Black Snake
      • Grokenberger Film Produktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $1,100,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,435,668
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,531,577
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 47m(107 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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