Sleepers
Four teenage friends from Hell’s Kitchen are thrust into a remote juvenile detention center where they must outwit a cadre of sadistic guards and survive relentless abuse in order to escape the nightmare and bring justice to the corrupt system.
“Four friends have made a mistake that will change their lives forever.”
Synopsis
Two gangsters pursue revenge against a state jail worker who, during their time at a youth prison, sexually abused them. A high-profile court hearing is held to prosecute him for the crimes.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 250+ 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 Stu LinderShot by Michael BallhausScored by John WilliamsDesigned by Kristi ZeaSound by Richard BeggsCostumes by Gloria GreshamStunts by Jery Hewitt
Box Office
1996 · Box office
✅ Made its money back — grossed 3.8× 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
$165.6M
US & Canada: $53.3M — 32% of worldwide · International: $112.3M (68%)
Opening weekend: $12.3M — 23% of its US run.
Opening week (7-day): $16.7M — 31% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 1,915 theaters
Full synopsis
Also known as
- (Bulgarian)Слипърс
Release dates around the world3 countries · showhide
- ItalyAug 28, 1996
- United StatesOct 11, 1996
- CanadaOct 18, 1996
Companies
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Cast & Crew
250 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Supporting cast
77Joe Perrino
as Young Shakes
Brad Renfro
as Young Michael
Geoffrey Wigdor
as Young John
Jonathan Tucker
as Young Tommy
Peter Appel
as Boyfriend
Joseph Attanasio
as Male Juror
Gerry Becker
as Forensics Expert
Casandra Brooks
as Young John's Mother
William K Butler
as Juanito
Eugene Byrd
as Rizzo
Rose Caiola
as Juror
Pasquale Cajano
as Superintendent
Robert W Castle
as Priest
John Di Benedetto
as Tony
Jeffrey Donovan
as Addison
Drew Eliot
as Business Man #1
Reuben Larry Elliot
as Business Man #2
George Georgiadis
as Hot Dog Vendor
Marco Greco
as Waiter
Saverio Guerra
as Man #1
Don Hewitt
as James Caldwell
Ben Hammer
as Judge Weisman
Paul Herman
as Court Bailiff
Frank Inzerillo
as Hanging Man
Lennie Loftin
as Styler
Chuck Low
as Dance Judge
Peter Mahoney
as Priest #2
Ruth Maleczech
as Woman at Subway Station
Juan Maria Jr
as Davy
Danny Mastrogiorgio
as Nick Davenport
Mary B Mccann
as Sister Carolyn
Pat Mcnamara
as Guard
Peter Mcrobbie
as Lawyer
Conrad Meertins Jr
as Inmate #2
Gina Menza
as Jury Forewoman
Dash Mihok
as K.C.
Michael P Moran
as Judge #1
Rocco Musacchia
as Salvatore
Mick O Rourke
as Man in Tub
Carmine Parisi
as King Benny's Boy
James Pickens Jr
as Marlboro
Wendell Pierce
as Little Caesar
Salvatore Paul Piro
as Mimi
Monica Polito
as Young Carol
Angela Rago
as Shakes' Mother
Sean Patrick Reilly
as Young King Benny
Peter Rini
as Frank Magcicco
Larry Romano
as Man #2
Gayle Scott
as Confessional Woman
Tom Signorelli
as Confessional Man
John Slattery
as Carlson
Henry Stram
as Prison Doctor
Ralph Tabakin
as Warden
Mary Testa
as Nun
Jenique Torres
as Davy's Sister
Patrick Tull
as Jerry the Bartender
Aida Turturro
as Mrs. Salinas
Joe Urla
as Carson
Zachary Ansley
as Burly Man
Michael J Burg
as Court Officer
Paul Campione
as Boy in Communion Line
Brian Christopher
as Young Child
Maria Deasy
as Marine Widow
Brian Donahue
as Market Diner Westie
Peter Gerety
as Juvenile Lawyer
Carlo Giuliano
as Customer
Justin Halliwell
as Kid in Cafeteria
Michael Harkins
as Fat Mancho's Buddy #1
Matthew Hoffman
as Neighborhood Boy
Larry Hryb
as Football Score Keeper
Billy Malone
as Wiseguy
James Rosin
as Neighborhood Man
Todo Segalla
as Lawyer
Anthony Sinopoli
as Receiving Communion
Barry Squitieri
as Juror
Kevin Richard Sullivan
as Boy in Cafeteria
George Vincent
as Pallbearer
Directors
1Writers
4Producers
5Other crew
161Ellen Hofstadter
accounting supervisor (as Ellen Hofstadter-Shapiro)
Verne Caruso
additional hair stylist
Henry Philip Leto
additional hair stylist (as Henry P. Leto)
Sue Fox
adr editor
David Boulton
adr mixer
Dean Drabin
adr mixer
John F Lyons
apprentice editor
Tim Galvin
as Timothy Galvin
James C Feng
assistant art director
Amanda Pollack
assistant editor (uncredited)
John Mcdonnell
assistant property master (as John B. McDonnell)
John R Ford
assistant props
Parents Guide
AI Personalities
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Ratings & reviews
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Where to watch
Live · bot-verified- Paramount+Stream
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