The Life of David Gale
A brilliant former professor on death row races against time to expose a devastating truth through a journalist, as his past as an anti-death penalty advocate collides with a scandal that could shake the justice system.
“The crime is clear. The truth is not.”
Synopsis
A man who opposes the death penalty is charged with the murder of another activist and is subsequently sentenced to death row.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 452+ 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 Gerry HamblingShot by Michael SeresinScored by Alex ParkerDesigned by Geoffrey KirklandSound by Eddy JosephCostumes by Elizabeth SheltonStunts by Doug Coleman
Box Office
2003 · Box office
📉 Underperformed — grossed 0.8× 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
$39.0M
US & Canada: $20.0M — 51% of worldwide · International: $19.0M (49%)
Opening weekend: $7.1M — 36% of its US run. Front-loaded — most of its money arrived opening weekend.
Opening week (7-day): $9.1M — 45% of its US & Canada run.
Peak 2,002 theaters
Full synopsis
Also known as
- Das Leben des David Galede
- The Live of David Galeen
- La Vie de David Galefr
Release dates around the world4 countries · showhide
- GermanyFeb 7, 2003
- United StatesFeb 18, 2003
- CanadaFeb 21, 2003
- PhilippinesFeb 21, 2003
Production & Distribution
Community tags
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Cast & Crew
452 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Kevin Spacey
as David Gale
Kate Winslet
as Bitsey Bloom
Laura Linney
as Constance Harraway
Cleo King
as Barbara Kreuster
Constance Jones
as Reporter A.J. Roberts
Lee Ritchey
as Joe Mullarkey
Gabriel Mann
as Zack Stemmons
Matt Craven
as Dusty Wright
Brandy Little
as Motel Waitress
Cindy Waite
as Margie
Jim Beaver
as Duke Grover
Leon Rippy
as Braxton Belyeu
Supporting cast
119Jesse De Luna
as Supervising Guard
Vernon Grote
as Door Guard
Rhona Mitra
as Berlin
Kimberly Tortorice
as Grad Student
Katie Lott
as Berlin's Classmate
Noah Truesdale
as Jamie Gale
Larissa Wolcott
as Jo Edna the Babysitter
Chuck Cureau
as Greer
Sean Hennigan
as Ross
Charles Sanders
as John
Mike Fontaine
as TV Assistant Director
Marco Perella
as TV Host
Michael Crabtree
as Governor Hardin
Julio Cesar Cedillo
as Officer Ramirez
Christopher Meister
as Officer Hasermann
Melissa Mccarthy
as Nico the Goth Girl
Elizabeth Gast
as Sharon Gale
Cliff Stephens
as University President
Chris Drewy
as Radio Shed Executive
Jeff Gibbs
as Josh
Katina Potts
as Rosie
Katherine James
as Beth
James Huston
as DeathWatch Chief, TV Reporter
Cindy Michelle
as Constance's Doctor
Chris Warner
as Hospital Orderly
Jennifer Dorsey
as College Girl
Maurice Moore
as Belyeu's Clerk
Brenda Sendejo
as Belyeu's Assistant
Julia Lashae
as New Homeowner
Rick Morrow
as Section 1835 Guard
Matthew Posey
as Inmate Cook
Julia Kay Laskowski
as TV Soprano
Donald Braswell
as TV Tenor
Jack Gould
as Chaplain
Lynn Mathis
as Warden
Jack Watkins
as Photographer
Robert Lott
as Bullhorn Protester
Mark Voges
as Bullhorn Protester
Katherine Willis
as Bullhorn Protester
Gwyn Little
as Religious Woman
Patrick Fries
as News Cameraman
Pilar Ferreiro
as Barcelona Neighbor
Amparo Moreno
as Sharon's Maid
Claudia Parker
as Mail Girl
Joan Gispert
as Guillermo
Janis Kelly
as Liù
Mark Richardson
as Timur
Justin Lavender
as Calaf
Barbara Petricini Buxton
as TV Reporter
David Dahl
as TV Reporter
Asia De Marcos
as TV Reporter
Amparo Garcia
as TV Reporter
Catenya Mchenry
as TV Reporter
Brian Orr
as TV Reporter
Kirk Sisco
as TV Reporter
Cassandra L Small
as TV Reporter
Oliver Tull
as TV Reporter
Michelle Valen
as TV Reporter
Tanya Zieger
as TV Reporter
Nick Dawson
as Interviewee
Steve Flanagin
as Interviewee
George Haynes
as Interviewee
Kathy Lamkin
as Interviewee
Evelyn Lindsey
as Interviewee
T J Mcfarland
as Interviewee
Deborah Abbott
as Protestor
Stacy Lynn Austin
as Traveler
Jerry M Barker
as Concerned Man
Johnny Bartee
as Protestor, Prison Inmate
Richard R Bartholomew
as Businessman
Keith Bright
as Texas Governor's Aide
Ryan Brooks
as College Student
Pei San Brown
as Flight Attendant
Christopher Chappelear
as College Guy
Dian Childs
as Dayplayer
Starla Christian
as Party Girl
Peter Cornwell
as College Professor
Wade Couturiaux
as College Student, Activist
Steve Crawford
as Student
Constance Dasse
as Protestor
Gareth B Deputron
as Real Estate Agent
Jed Duesler
as Protester
Matthew J Dunn
as College Student
Ken Edwards
as State Trooper, Lunch Patron
Nikki Folsom
as Reporter
Joanna Gallagher
as Student
Ricky Green
as Death row inmate (speaking)
Ryan Hancock
as Drinking Game Contestant
Garrett Hargrove
as Coffee Boy
Peyton Hayslip
as Doctor
David Scott Heck
as Patient at AA Meeting
Reda Hicks
as Party Guest
Landon Kash
as News Crew Cameraman
R C Keene
as Reporter
Robert H Lambert
as Airline Pilot
Gabriel R Martinez
as Reporter
Frank Matthews
as Protester
C K Mcfarland
as Carla
Louie Mendez
as Cop
Josh Meyer
as Sports Bar Youth
Brent Mitchell
as Governor's Bodyguard
Molly Morgan
as Lunch Patron
Cindy Palla
as Victim's Mother
Roger Eduardo Palomino
as Background Reporter
Alan Parker
as Partygoer
Paul A Partain
as Alcoholic
Keith Poulson
as College Student, Activist
Glen Powell Sr
as Prison guard
George Renteria
as Protestor
Nicole R Roberts
as Protester, Party Girl
Michael Schmid
as Protester
Ryan Schneider
as Protester
Robin Simmons
as Interviewee
Melanie Stovall
as News Magazine Secretary
Danny Trevino
as Salsa Dancer
Ryan Wickerham
as Shooter at Rally
Michele Williams
as Flight Attendant
Christine Wolf
as 6th St. Club Patron
Willie Wright
as Prison Guard
Directors
2Writers
2Producers
9Other crew
317Renee Ehrlich Kalfus
(as Renée Ehrlich Kalfus), as Renée Ehrlich Kalfus
John Johns
24 frame video operator
Paul T Leblanc
24 frame video operator (as Paul Leblanc)
Margo Kornemann
accounting clerk
Brinton Bryan
additional production assistant (uncredited)
Christine Irons
additional production assistant (uncredited)
Edward A Navarro
additional rigging grip (uncredited)
Courtney Harrell
additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Valerie Johnson
additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Derek Casari
adr engineer (uncredited)
Charleen Richards
adr mixer
Colin Cooper
adr recordist (uncredited)
Parents Guide
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