Jacob's Ladder
1990
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Synopsis
After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie, and ex-wife, Sarah, try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis, fails to reach him as he descends into madness.
Key facts
Cast
Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Jason Alexander, Patricia Kalember, Eriq La Salle
Original language
English
First release
November 2, 1990 (United States)
Production companies
Carolco Pictures
Home video distributors
Excalibur Benelux (Belgium), AVID Home Entertainment (United States)
Setting
New York City
Filming locations
New York City, New Jersey
Crew
Screenplay
Bruce Joel Rubin
Producer
Alan Marshall, Bruce Joel Rubin
Cinematography
Jeffrey L. Kimball
Editing
Tom Rolf
Music
Maurice Jarre
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest 2025 - Weird Double Feature
- Beyond Fest 2025 - Features
- Imagine Fantastic Film Festival 2026 2025 - A Tentacular Touch
- Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival (Festival européen du film fantastique de Strasbourg) 2025 - GUILTY PLEASURES
- Fright Night Film Fest 2021
- Dead by Dawn Horror Film Festival 2016 generic - Classics
Titles
| Original title | Jacob's Ladder | English |
| Québec French title | L'Échelle de Jacob | |
| Alternate title | Dante's Inferno |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Excalibur Benelux (cat. no. 10210) | 1991, Belgium, clamshell |
| VHS | AVID Home Entertainment (cat. no. 51266) | 1994, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | Jacob's Ladder (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Maurice Jarre, Dan Carlin, Sr. (1990) | 3 releases, 1990-2020: Varèse Sarabande, Waxwork Records |
| CD | Jacob's Ladder (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Maurice Jarre, Dan Carlin, Sr. (1990) | 5 releases, 1990-2025: La-La Land Records, Quartet Records, Varèse Sarabande |
| Cassette | Jacob's Ladder (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Maurice Jarre, Dan Carlin, Sr. (1990) | 1 release, 1990: Varèse Sarabande |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | November 2, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Spain | November 30, 1990 |
| Theatrical | Spain | December 14, 1990 |
| Theatrical | France | January 16, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | January 25, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | February 1, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Italy | February 8, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Japan | April 6, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | April 12, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Germany | April 18, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | April 26, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Australia | May 23, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Philippines | May 28, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | May 31, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | June 7, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Norway | June 7, 1991 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | September 27, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | October 14, 1991 |
| Theatrical | Finland | January 31, 1992 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | March 13, 1993 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | April 15, 1994 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) | ||
| Home video VHS | Belgium | 1991 10210 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1994 51266 |
| Home video | Canada | July 14, 1998 |
| Home video | Mexico | July 14, 1998 |
| Home video | Singapore | July 14, 1998 |
| Home video | Greece | January 25, 2002 |
| Home video | France | July 7, 2003 |
| Home video | Netherlands | February 19, 2008 |
| Home video | United Arab Emirates | September 22, 2008 |
| Home video | France | September 5, 2017 |
| Home video | United States | October 14, 2025 |
| Home video | France | October 15, 2025 |
Full credits
| Director | Adrian Lyne |
| Cast | Tim Robbins (Jacob), Elizabeth Peña (Jezzie), Danny Aiello (Louis), Matt Craven (Michael), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Paul), Jason Alexander (Geary), Patricia Kalember (Sarah), Eriq La Salle (Frank), Ving Rhames (George), Brian Tarantina (Doug), Anthony Alessandro (Rod), Brent Hinkley (Jerry), S. Epatha Merkerson (Elsa), Suzanne Shepherd (Hospital Receptionist), Doug Barron (Group Leader), Jan Saint (Santa), Kisha Skinner (Street Singer), Dion Simmons (Street Singer), Sam Coppola (Taxi Driver), Patty Rosborough (Drunk), Evan O'Meara (Sam), Kyle Gass (Tony), Gloria Irizarry (Mrs. Carmichael), Lewis Black (Jacob's Doctor), Raymond Anthony Thomas (Policeman), Christopher John Fields (Field Medic), Jaime Perry (Field Medic), Michael Tomlinson (Field Doctor), A.M. Marxuach (Field Doctor), Antonia Rey (Woman on Subway), John Capodice (Army Officer), John P. 'Jack' McLaughlin (Army Officer), Bellina Logan (Emergency Ward Nurse), Scott Cohen (Resident Doctor), Davidson Thomson (Evil Doctor), Bryan Larkin (Jed), B.J. Donaldson (Eli), Thomas A. Carlin (Doorman), Carol Schneider (Nurse), Becky Ann Baker (Nurse), Diane Kagan (Nurse), Billie Neal (Della), Mike Stokie (Field Sergeant), James Ellis Reynolds (EMT Bearer), Dennis Rubin Green (Attendant), Brad Hamler (Orderly), Byron Minns (Orderly), Reggie McFadden (Partygoer), Stephanie Berry (Partygoer), Chris Murphy (Partygoer), John-Martin Green (Partygoer), Arleigh Richards (Paul's Wife), Ann Pearl Gary (Mourner), Barbara Gruen (Mourner), Joe Quintero (Street Kid), John Louis Fischer (Machine Gunner), Alva Williams (Masked Man), Elizabeth Abassi (Hospital Patient), Nora Burns (Hospital Patient), Alison Gordy (Hospital Patient), Jessica Roberts (Hospital Patient), Holly Kennedy (Hospital Patient), Blanche Irwin Stuart (Hospital Patient), Perry Lang (Jacob's Assailant), José Alvarez (Factory Worker (uncredited)), Robert Baglia (Tommy, Patient (uncredited)), Steve Baker (Pool Player (uncredited)), Orson Bean (Self - Game Show Panelist (archive footage) (uncredited)), Macaulay Culkin (Gabe (uncredited)), Ray DeFeis (Straight Jacket Patient (uncredited)), Ed Jupp Jr. (Eyeless Doctor (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Bruce Joel Rubin |
| Producer | Alan Marshall, Bruce Joel Rubin |
| Executive producer | Andrew G. Vajna, Mario Kassar |
| Cinematography | Jeffrey L. Kimball |
| Editing | Tom Rolf |
| Music | Maurice Jarre |
| Production design | Brian Morris |
| Costumes | Ellen Mirojnick |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
