8MM

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8MM

R,

1999,

2h 3m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

23%

80 Reviews

Tomatometer

52%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

23%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Private detective Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage) lives a normal life with his wife (Catherine Keener) and young daughter, until he receives a startling new case. A widow named Mrs. Christian (Myra Carter) has found what appears to be a snuff film among her late husband's belongings, and she wants Welles to determine if the movie is real or fake. Welles heads to California, where a video store employee (Joaquin Phoenix) helps him infiltrate the dangerous and depraved world of illegal porn movies.

Critics Consensus

Its sadistic violence is unappealing and is lacking in suspense and mystery.

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Andrew Sarris

Observer

Mar 21, 2019

Mr. Cage has become such a wet-eyed purveyor of moral anguish that he makes Mr. Pitt look calm, cool and collected.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Sep 17, 2008

I can't say I warmed to the results, but I was solidly held for the film's two hours.

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Derek Elley

Variety

Jul 22, 2008

A movie that keeps jumping the gate and finally unravels all over the floor.

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Stephanie Malone

Morbidly Beautiful

Oct 1, 2024

5/5

It's a daring, divisive thriller that may not appeal to all viewers thanks to its disturbing themes, but it remains a thought-provoking and intense thriller that has managed to maintain every bit of its devastating impact twenty-five years later.

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Chris Alexander

Alexander On Film

Nov 26, 2020

I believe 8MM to be (Schumacher's) masterpiece and certainly, it's further evidence that Cage is one of the great dramatic screen presences when used properly and when dialing down his patented eccentricities

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 9, 2020

3/10

Cage himself is rarely convincing in the part of a man in over his head; his dialogue is forced and his anger and rage are almost comical.

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Hermione S

Nov 30, 2018

Not Cage's finest hour. It was more like a pantomime, 'he's behind you', can't reach the gun etc. Could have been a lot better.

Kylo M

Nov 27, 2018

u/WalkWithElias Kind of a standard blueprint movie that deals with some dark themes. Doesn't offer anything new to the thriller genre. James Gandolfini had a great role in it as a villain. Nicholas Cage wasn't as irritating as normal, but he still can't act for shit. Deals with themes of child porn, snuff videos, kidnapping and murder.

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Ron S

Aug 30, 2018

Love this movie. Very strong subject portrayed expertly by Nicholas Cage. Is a must have thriller for your collection.

Hermione R

May 21, 2018

Im Grunde bietet der Film doch alles um ein spannender Film über die Abgründe der menschlichen Sexualität und über Macht und Ohnmacht zu sein. Doch Joel Schumacher schafft es nicht, hier eine nachvollziehbare Struktur zu basteln. Der Film wird über weite Strecken aber den Geruch des schlichten Voyeurismusses nicht. Dieses bewusste Grenzen überschreiten. Immer derber, brutaler und perverser. Es kann funktionieren, hier wirkt es schlicht wie ein Mittel zum Zweck. Ein weiteres Ärgernis ist der Darbietung von Nicolas Cage. Irgendwie beitet er hier alles, weshalb man ihn hassen kann, allem voran, seine unglaublich nervige Mimik, die nur in "Face/Off" noch schlechter war, aber immerhin passte sie dort in die Geschichte.

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Feb 23, 2018

This is a great film. I love PI type mystery movies.

Leia L

Feb 21, 2018

It is like the flood gates opened dam. The plot is so asinine from the halfway onward and the 2nd half makes the 1st half outdone.

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Joel Schumacher

Director

Nicolas Cage

Tom Welles

Joaquin Phoenix

Max California

James Gandolfini

Eddie Poole

Peter Stormare

Dino Velvet

Anthony Heald

Daniel Longdale

8MM: Official Clip - Norman Reedus Cameo

1:06

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8MM: Official Clip - It's a Trap, Nick Cage!

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8MM: Official Clip - Nick Cage vs. The Machine

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8MM: Official Clip - BRUTAL Gimp Attack

6:00

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8MM: Official Clip - This Snuff Film Is Fake-- Or Is It?

3:32

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8MM: Official Clip - P*rn Directors Are CREEPY AF

2:42

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8MM: Official Clip - Joaquin Phoenix: P*rn Expert

2:20

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8MM: Official Clip - Nic Cage DEMANDS Answers

2:06

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8MM: Official Clip - Nick Cage Beats James Gandolfini to Death

1:18

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8MM: Official Clip - Pull The F*cking Trigger!

3:26

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Synopsis

Private detective Tom Welles (Nicolas Cage) lives a normal life with his wife (Catherine Keener) and young daughter, until he receives a startling new case. A widow named Mrs. Christian (Myra Carter) has found what appears to be a snuff film among her late husband's belongings, and she wants Welles to determine if the movie is real or fake. Welles heads to California, where a video store employee (Joaquin Phoenix) helps him infiltrate the dangerous and depraved world of illegal porn movies.

Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Judy Hofflund, Gavin Polone, Joel Schumacher
Screenwriter: Andrew Kevin Walker
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Pictures, United Artists
Production Co: Hofflund/Polone, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 26, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.3M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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