21 Grams
A reformed convict turned devout believer, a dying math professor desperate for a heart transplant, and a recovering addict whose family is shattered by tragedy must confront fate when their lives intersect in a fatal accident that forces them to choose between redemption and revenge.
“How much does life weigh?”
Synopsis
Paul Rivers, a sickly mathematician in a loveless marriage with an English émigré; Christina Peck, a suburban housewife from the upper-middle class and mother of two daughters; and Jack Jordan, a reformed ex-convict who has become a born-again Christian—these three are brought together by a tragic accident that alters the course of their lives.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 247+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Stephen MirrioneShot by Rodrigo PrietoScored by Gustavo SantaolallaDesigned by Brigitte BrochSound by Jose Antonio Garcia Nm0306223Costumes by Marlene StewartStunts by Danny Aiello Iii
Box Office
2003 · Box office
✅ Made its money back — grossed 3.0× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$60.4M
US & Canada: $16.3M — 27% of worldwide · International: $44.1M (73%)
Opening weekend: $274K — 2% of its US run. It had legs — it kept earning long after opening weekend.
Opening week (7-day): $308K — 2% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 8 theaters
Full synopsis
Also known as
- (English)21 Grams
- (Bulgarian)21 Грама
- 21 Grammde
- 21 gramoses
- 21 Grammesfr
- 21 grammiit
- 21 grammi - Il peso dell'animait
Release dates around the world4 countries · showhide
- ItalySep 5, 2003
- CanadaSep 6, 2003
- SpainSep 22, 2003
- United StatesOct 19, 2003
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Cast & Crew
247 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Sean Penn
as Paul Rivers
Benicio Del Toro
as Jack Jordan
Naomi Watts
as Cristina Peck
Danny Huston
as Michael
Carly Nahon
as Cathy
Claire Pakis
as Laura
Nick Nichols
as Boy
Charlotte Gainsbourg
as Mary Rivers
John Rubinstein
as Gynecologist
Eddie Marsan
as Reverend John
Loyd Keith Salter
as Fat Man
Antef A Harris
as Basketball Guy
Supporting cast
43Melissa Leo
as Marianne Jordan
Marc Musso
as Freddy
Teresa Delgado
as Gina
Trent Dee
as Guard
Tony Guyton
as Guard #2
Wayne E Beech Jr
as Inmate #1
Keith Lamont Johnson
as Inmate #2
Clea Duvall
as Claudia
David Chattam
as Caddie #1
John Boyd West
as Caddie #2
Jeff Schmidt
as Caddie #3
Tony Vaughn
as Al
Paul Calderon
as Brown
Denis O Hare
as Dr. Rothberg
Anastasia Herin
as Dolores
Carlo Alban
as Lucio
Hai Quang Tran
as Cashier
Annie Corley
as Trish
Sharon Bishop
as Receptionist
Jerry Chipman
as Cristina's Father
Tom Irwin
as Dr. Jones
Roberto Medina
as Dr. Molina
Arita Trahan
as Dr. Badnews
Rodney Ingle
as Barman
Catherine Dent
as Ana
Kevin Chapman
as Alan
Randall Hartzog
as Friend #1
Verda Davenport
as Friend #2
Dorothy Armstrong Miles
as Female Friend #1
Barclay Roberts
as Male Friend #1
Lisa Sanchez
as Wife
Stephen Bridgewater
as P.I.
Michael Finnell
as Fat Prisoner
Juan Corrigan
as Valet
Charlie B Brown
as Night Guard
Arron Shiver
as Young Doctor
Pamela Blair
as Doctor
Jennifer Pfalzgraff
as Nurse
Lew Temple
as County Sheriff
Tricia Branch
as Skinny Woman
Anthony Cross
as Jogger
Michael W Finnell
as Fat Prisoner
Jessica Scott
as Cocktail Waitress
Directors
1Writers
2Producers
6Other crew
191Charlotte Franklin
accounting clerk (uncredited)
Lynne Martin
additional second assistant director, key set production assistant (uncredited)
Ron Bedrosian
adr mixer
Julio Carmona
adr recordist
Barbara Harris
adr voice casting (as Barbara Harriss)
Melody Dubos
Ana
Deborah Riley
Art Director
Alejandro G Inarritu
as Alejandro González Iñárritu
Brian Ufberg
assistant editor
Douglas Crise
assistant editor
Keith H Sauter
assistant editor (as Keith Sauter)
Payton Dunham
assistant location manager, assistant to cast (uncredited)
Parents Guide
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