8MM
Private investigator Tom Welles delves into the dark underbelly of Hollywood after discovering an 8mm film that may depict a real murder, racing against time and powerful forces to uncover the truth before it disappears forever.
“You can't prepare for where the truth will take you.”
Synopsis
A modest plastic film reel draws surveillance specialist Tom Welles into an increasingly dark and unsettling investigation. With the assistance of streetwise Max, he persistently pursues a strange trail of evidence to uncover the fate of an unknown individual. As his work becomes an obsession, he distances himself from his wife, family, and the ordinary life of a small‑town private investigator.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 248+ 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 Mark StevensShot by Robert ElswitScored by Carl D TartDesigned by Gary WissnerSound by Larry HopkinsCostumes by Mona MayStunts by Eddie Yansick
Box Office
1999 · Box office
⚖️ Fell short of break-even — grossed 2.4× 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
$96.6M
US & Canada: $36.7M — 38% of worldwide · International: $60.0M (62%)
Opening weekend: $14.3M — 39% of its US run. Front-loaded — most of its money arrived opening weekend.
Opening week (7-day): $18.3M — 50% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 2,370 theaters
Full synopsis
Also known as
- (Alternative Title, short title)8 мм
- 8 MM - Acht Millimeterde
- 8MMde
- 8mm – Acht Millimeterde
- 8 millimètresfr
- 8mm - Delitto a luci rosseit
Release dates around the world5 countries · showhide
- GermanyFeb 19, 1999
- RussiaFeb 25, 1999
- FinlandFeb 26, 1999
- SwedenFeb 26, 1999
- United StatesFeb 26, 1999
Companies
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Cast & Crew
248 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Nicolas Cage
as Tom Welles
Joaquin Phoenix
as Max California
James Gandolfini
as Eddie Poole
Peter Stormare
as Dino Velvet
Anthony Heald
as Longdale
Chris Bauer
as Machine
Catherine Keener
as Amy Welles
Myra Carter
as Mrs. Christian
Amy Morton
as Janet Mathews
Jenny Powell
as Mary Ann Mathews
Anne Gee Byrd
as Senator
Jack Betts
as Butler
Supporting cast
56Luis Oropeza
as Archive Director
Rachel Singer
as Neighbor
Don Creech
as Mr. Anderson
Norman Reedus
as Warren Anderson
Fran Bennett
as Nun
Wilma Bonet
as Nun
Luis Saguar
as Manny
Walter K Jordan
as Thug
Norm Compton
as Thug
Brian Keith Russell
as Thug
John Robb
as Porn Dealer
Devan Brown
as Flea Market Woman
Doris Brent
as Machine's Mother
Robert Amico
as Casting Director
Kiva Dawson
as Girl in Hall
Eva Minemar
as Girl in Hall
Rachel Wolfe
as Girl in Hall
Suzy Nakamura
as Computer Wizard
Torsten Voges
as Stick
Tahitia Dean
as Hollywood Prostitute
Texas Terri
as Dino's Redhead
Vernon Guichard Ii
as Porn Guy
Emily Patrick
as Porn Girl
Nancy Vee
as Porno Make-up Artist
Lisa Vanasco
as Topless Ticket Taker
Bridgett Vera
as Ticket Taker
Jennifer Harris
as Strip Club Dancer
Burton Richards
as Strip Club Dancer
Jovanna Vitiello
as Strip Club Dancer
David U Hodges
as Surveillance Man
William Lawrence Mack
as Larry
Lorena M Santos
as Prostitute
Connie Mercurio
as Nurse
William Buck
as Mr. Christian
Kerry Corcoran
as Cheating Son-in-Law
Mario Ernesto Sanchez
as Taxi Driver
Claudia Aros
as Miami Girlfriend
Alba Albanese
as Girl in Lot
Sorita Andrade
as Hotel Clerk
Bob Clendenin
as Porn Clerk
Vito D Amico
as Rapist
Daniel Dehring
as Hustler
Sammy Espinoza
as Bag Boy
Deborah Smith Ford
as Dancer
Mary Catherine Garrison
as Girl in Eddie Poole's Office
Bodo Goerisch
as Waiter
Gilley Grey
as Firefighter
Tyler Jackson
as Street Kid
Jacklyn Lick
as Video Girl
Carla Moon
as Girl in Jacuzzi
Al Quinn
as Disco Dancer
Frankie Ray
as Street Pimp
Eva Rosas
as Blonde Theater Patron
Kipling Rowe
as Hooker
Paul Sinacore
as XXX Shop Customer
Douglas Dean Taylor
as Model
Directors
1Writers
1Producers
7Other crew
174Rebecca White
accountant assistant: Miami
Marc Deschaine
adr assistant
Dennis Thorlaksen
apprentice editor
Sarah Bullion
art department assistant
Gershon Ginsburg
Art Director
Lucy Herrera
assistant accountant
Alyson Wellins
assistant accountant: New York
Debbie Arrowood
assistant camera
Christos Bitsakos
assistant camera / director of photography: second unit
Christopher Carlson
assistant decorator
Brandon Willenberg
assistant editor
Scott Janush
assistant editor
Parents Guide
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