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Summer of Sam

  • 1999
  • R
  • 2h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
42K
YOUR RATING
Summer of Sam (1999)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:34
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Serial KillerTrue CrimeCrimeDramaRomanceThriller

Spike Lee's take on the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City during the summer of 1977 centering on the residents of an Italian-American Northeast Bronx neighborhood who live in fear and di... Read allSpike Lee's take on the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City during the summer of 1977 centering on the residents of an Italian-American Northeast Bronx neighborhood who live in fear and distrust of one another.Spike Lee's take on the "Son of Sam" murders in New York City during the summer of 1977 centering on the residents of an Italian-American Northeast Bronx neighborhood who live in fear and distrust of one another.

  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writers
    • Spike Lee
    • Victor Colicchio
    • Michael Imperioli
  • Stars
    • John Leguizamo
    • Adrien Brody
    • Mira Sorvino
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    42K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Spike Lee
    • Writers
      • Spike Lee
      • Victor Colicchio
      • Michael Imperioli
    • Stars
      • John Leguizamo
      • Adrien Brody
      • Mira Sorvino
    • 383User reviews
    • 90Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    Summer of Sam
    Clip 1:46
    Summer of Sam
    Summer of Sam
    Clip 1:46
    Summer of Sam

    Photos214

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    + 208
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    John Leguizamo
    John Leguizamo
    • Vinny
    Adrien Brody
    Adrien Brody
    • Richie
    Mira Sorvino
    Mira Sorvino
    • Dionna
    Jennifer Esposito
    Jennifer Esposito
    • Ruby
    Michael Rispoli
    Michael Rispoli
    • Joey T
    Saverio Guerra
    Saverio Guerra
    • Woodstock
    Brian Tarantina
    Brian Tarantina
    • Bobby Del Fiore
    Al Palagonia
    • Anthony
    Ken Garito
    Ken Garito
    • Brian
    Bebe Neuwirth
    Bebe Neuwirth
    • Gloria
    Patti LuPone
    Patti LuPone
    • Helen
    Mike Starr
    Mike Starr
    • Eddie
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Anthony LaPaglia
    • Detective Lou Petrocelli
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    • Detective Curt Atwater
    Ben Gazzara
    Ben Gazzara
    • Luigi
    Joe Lisi
    Joe Lisi
    • Tony Olives
    James Reno
    • Crony
    Arthur J. Nascarella
    Arthur J. Nascarella
    • Mario
    • (as Arthur Nascarella)
    • Director
      • Spike Lee
    • Writers
      • Spike Lee
      • Victor Colicchio
      • Michael Imperioli
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Spike Lee was facing a lot of negative feedback from the family members of the victims who didn't want a film being made which might glorify the killer in some manner. As a result, the script had to be changed which focused more on the community than the killer himself. "Son of Sam" was rumored to be the original working title.
    • Goofs
      At the beginning of the movie, set in the summer of 1977, characters are seen dancing in a disco to the song "There But For the Grace of God Go I" by Machine. The song wasn't recorded until 1979.
    • Quotes

      Vinny: Come on, get in the car. Please, baby.

      Dionna: Baby? Don't you dare "baby" me! I'm gonna wait here! I'm gonna wait here until somebody comes along. You know what? I'm gonna wait here until some soul brother comes along in his big black Cadillac. And you know and I know that he's got a big black dick too.

      Vinny: Don't talk like that, just get inside the car.

      Dionna: Oh, fuck you!

      Vinny: Please, please, don't make me have to beg you. Get in the car. Come on- don't make me have to hurt you.

      Dionna: Hurt me? Don't you even fuckin' lay a pinkie on me! I'll get him to kick your ass and then I'll fuck 'em! You wanna watch Vinny? Will that turn you on Vinny? You linguine dick mother fucker. You wanna watch while I suck a big black dick in the back of a big black cadillac?

    • Crazy credits
      The credits are in the form of newspaper headlines.
    • Alternate versions
      After they are refused entry into Studio 54, the sex scene between Dionna (Mira Sorvino) and Vinny (John Leguizamo) included more explicit shots in the original cut. This scene was edited a bit after the MPAA threatened the film with an "NC-17" rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into Doggiewoggiez! Poochiewoochiez! (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Fernando
      Written by Benny Andersson, Stig Anderson and Björn Ulvaeus (as Bjorn Ulvaeus)
      Performed by ABBA
      Courtesy of Polar Music International AB
      Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

    User reviews383

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    This movie is excellent. Hands down.

    This is one of Spike Lee's greatest films. To start, the acting is incredible. Leguizamo and Sorvino, as well as the other actors, give amazing performances grounded in emotion and realism. The story is enthralling, and incredibly original. It pits the people of New York City in the seventies against their fears, desires and each other. Also Ellen Kuras's cinematography is beautiful. It employs an expressionistic use of color, giving the film a very unique and very different look, creating stark contrasts between hues. Any fan of Spike Lee's who hasn't yet seen this film must, and anyone else who hasn't should. It is brilliant, simply brilliant.
    • jesasaurus
    • Apr 30, 2000
    • Permalink

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    FAQ26

    • How long is Summer of Sam?Powered by Alexa
    • Is "Summer of Sam" based on a book?
    • Who was the "Son of Sam"?
    • If David Berkowitz was the "son" of Sam, who was Sam?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • The Son of Sam
    • Filming locations
      • Bronx, New York City, New York, USA(On Morris Park Ave. between Williamsbridge Rd. and Bronxdale Ave.)
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
      • Hostage Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $22,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,288,130
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,952,452
      • Jul 4, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,288,130
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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