Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $25,965,144Details
Further financial details...

Synopsis

Jacob Singer is a soldier stationed in Vietnam who undergoes a traumatic experience on the battlefield - the nature of which is initially unclear. The film then moves into his post-Vietnam experience in 1970s New York, where he feels consistently traumatized, but can never quite remember exactly what happened to him in Southeast Asia or to free himself from his anxieties over the recent tragic death of his young son. Though well educated, Jacob works as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and has become romantically involved with one of his co-workers, Jezzie, after divorcing his wife. Soon, Jacob's tenuous hold on reality starts to slip as horrifying events befall him; he is nearly run over by a subway train, pursued by faceless demons in cars, and spots reptilian tails and horns protruding from the bodies of those he encounters. Jacob also suffers severe panic attacks related to the chaos that may be reality, or may exist only in his mind. He seeks counsel from Louis, a kindly chiropractor, as his ex-wife Sarah, fellow Vietnam vet Paul, and enigmatic stranger Michael all try to help the tortured soul.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$7,500,760 (28.9% of total gross)
Legs:3.46 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:1,052 opening theaters/1,264 max. theaters, 4.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $66,328,014

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,254 $25,965,144
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,601-4,700) 4,693 $25,965,144
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,057 $25,965,144
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,410 $25,965,144

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes, iTunes
Google Play:Google Play
Vudu:Vudu, Vudu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: November 2nd, 1990 (Wide) by Sony Pictures
Video Release: September 14th, 2010 by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 113 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Donnie Darko
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Surprise Twist, Vietnam War, Psychological Thriller
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Fantasy
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Thanksgiving (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 370 $5,098,153 Nov 23, 1990 24
Veterans Day (All Movies, 3-Day) 165 $5,085,860 Nov 9, 1990 10
Veterans Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 125 $13,618,534 Nov 9, 1990 10

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 2, 1990 1 $7,500,760   1,052 $7,130   $7,500,760 1
Nov 9, 1990 2 $5,085,860 -32% 1,262 $4,030   $14,911,540 2
Nov 16, 1990 6 $2,825,040 -44% 1,264 $2,235   $19,257,290 3
Nov 23, 1990 9 $1,903,914 -33% 1,083 $1,758   $22,433,386 4
Nov 30, 1990 10 $825,970 -57% 1,094 $755   $23,717,465 5

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 2, 1990 1 $9,825,680   1,052 $9,340   $9,825,680 1
Nov 9, 1990 2 $6,606,570 -33% 1,262 $5,235   $16,432,250 2
Nov 16, 1990 7 $4,097,222 -38% 1,264 $3,241   $20,529,472 3
Nov 23, 1990 9 $2,362,023 -42% 1,083 $2,181   $22,891,495 4

Leading Cast

Tim Robbins    Jacob Singer

Supporting Cast

Elizabeth Peña    Jezebel
Danny Aiello    Louis
Matt Craven    Michael
Christopher John Fields    Field Medic
Lewis Black    Jacob’s Doctor
Pruitt Taylor Vince    Paul
Eriq La Salle    Frank
Macaulay Culkin    Gabe
Ving Rhames    George
Jason Alexander    Geary

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Adrian Lyne    Director
Alan Marshall    Producer
Bruce Joel Rubin    Screenwriter
Mario Kassar    Executive Producer
Andrew G. Vajna    Executive Producer
Jeffrey Kimball    Director of Photography
Tom Rolf    Editor
Maurice Jarre    Composer
Bruce Joel Rubin    Associate Producer

  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Synopsis

Jacob Singer is a soldier stationed in Vietnam who undergoes a traumatic experience on the battlefield - the nature of which is initially unclear. The film then moves into his post-Vietnam experience in 1970s New York, where he feels consistently traumatized, but can never quite remember exactly what happened to him in Southeast Asia or to free himself from his anxieties over the recent tragic death of his young son. Though well educated, Jacob works as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service and has become romantically involved with one of his co-workers, Jezzie, after divorcing his wife. Soon, Jacob's tenuous hold on reality starts to slip as horrifying events befall him; he is nearly run over by a subway train, pursued by faceless demons in cars, and spots reptilian tails and horns protruding from the bodies of those he encounters. Jacob also suffers severe panic attacks related to the chaos that may be reality, or may exist only in his mind. He seeks counsel from Louis, a kindly chiropractor, as his ex-wife Sarah, fellow Vietnam vet Paul, and enigmatic stranger Michael all try to help the tortured soul.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$7,500,760 (28.9% of total gross)
Legs:3.46 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Theater counts:1,052 opening theaters/1,264 max. theaters, 4.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $66,328,014

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,254 $25,965,144
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 4,601-4,700) 4,693 $25,965,144
All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,057 $25,965,144
All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,410 $25,965,144

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes, iTunes
Google Play:Google Play
Vudu:Vudu, Vudu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: November 2nd, 1990 (Wide) by Sony Pictures
Video Release: September 14th, 2010 by Lionsgate Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 113 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Donnie Darko
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Surprise Twist, Vietnam War, Psychological Thriller
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Fantasy
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Thanksgiving (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 370 $5,098,153 Nov 23, 1990 24
Veterans Day (All Movies, 3-Day) 165 $5,085,860 Nov 9, 1990 10
Veterans Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 125 $13,618,534 Nov 9, 1990 10

Leading Cast

Tim Robbins    Jacob Singer

Supporting Cast

Elizabeth Peña    Jezebel
Danny Aiello    Louis
Matt Craven    Michael
Christopher John Fields    Field Medic
Lewis Black    Jacob’s Doctor
Pruitt Taylor Vince    Paul
Eriq La Salle    Frank
Macaulay Culkin    Gabe
Ving Rhames    George
Jason Alexander    Geary

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Adrian Lyne    Director
Alan Marshall    Producer
Bruce Joel Rubin    Screenwriter
Mario Kassar    Executive Producer
Andrew G. Vajna    Executive Producer
Jeffrey Kimball    Director of Photography
Tom Rolf    Editor
Maurice Jarre    Composer
Bruce Joel Rubin    Associate Producer

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 2, 1990 1 $7,500,760   1,052 $7,130   $7,500,760 1
Nov 9, 1990 2 $5,085,860 -32% 1,262 $4,030   $14,911,540 2
Nov 16, 1990 6 $2,825,040 -44% 1,264 $2,235   $19,257,290 3
Nov 23, 1990 9 $1,903,914 -33% 1,083 $1,758   $22,433,386 4
Nov 30, 1990 10 $825,970 -57% 1,094 $755   $23,717,465 5

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Nov 2, 1990 1 $9,825,680   1,052 $9,340   $9,825,680 1
Nov 9, 1990 2 $6,606,570 -33% 1,262 $5,235   $16,432,250 2
Nov 16, 1990 7 $4,097,222 -38% 1,264 $3,241   $20,529,472 3
Nov 23, 1990 9 $2,362,023 -42% 1,083 $2,181   $22,891,495 4