Dead Man Walking

R

Released Dec 29, 1995

2 hr. 2 min.

Crime

Drama

List

95%

61 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

As death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) nears his execution date, he calls upon Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) to help him with one last appeal, maintaining that he is innocent of the murders of a young couple. Poncelet begins to form a bond with Prejean, and she visits both his family and the relatives of the victims, hoping to learn more about the case. As things begin to look bleak for Poncelet, Prejean does all that she can to comfort and console the hardened convict.

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Critics Consensus

A powerful, thought-provoking film that covers different angles of its topic without resorting to preaching, Dead Man Walking will cause the viewer to reflect regardless of their political viewpoint.

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Alec C

Are we capable of being redeemed or are we doomed to oblivion after death? As a nun attempts to assist a convict on death row to find forgiveness, while attempting to get his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, despite the family of the victims demanding execution. A deep and insightful look into the complexities of salvation and acceptance, this story makes us wonder what'll happen to our eternal soul?!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

David H

Good film. Brilliant acting by the two leads.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/23

Full Review

KB B

This was such a compelling movie with great acting. Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon were both outstanding. It's definitely worth the watch. 4.5 stars

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/20/23

Full Review

Alec B

It's an effective argument against the death penalty and one that does not entirely invalidate the opposing point of view. Penn and Sarandon give two truly powerful performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

Avindu G

The world is reshaped by courageous people. Where would us be if not for them. Love empathy and reason is a wonderful occurrence, something that is truly hard to express with all darkness that grows and regrows. That love that keen patient empathy was put to motion by Susan S masterfully. Penn's performance was flawless and sincere. Cinematography is excellent such as the reflections on the glass door of death row cell. Unique background music that relates to the tone of the story. A well written story that puts viewers on contradiction and salvage them with the message of hope, commitment and courage.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/01/23

Full Review

Taylor L

Tim Robbins got a Best Director nomination for this film and then basically just said, "I'm done." Dead Man Walking wants to present a complex portrayal of capital punishment built around two main characters - convicted killer and rapist Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) and the plainclothes nun that responds to his letter (Susan Sarandon). Poncelet isn't supposed to be a civil liberties poster child - it's reaffirmed throughout the film that he absolutely had a direct hand in his brutal crime, received a trial that arrived at the correct verdict, and who has used some of his media coverage to promote white nationalist beliefs. But Sarandon (and by extension, the film) make the argument that despite his guilt, there is a fundamental flaw in how justice systems respond to capital crimes, and that every person is capable of redemption even in small ways. But personally, I don't think the film makes its argument well at all, people are just sad because Sean Penn dies and we knew him for like, two hours. The movie doesn't try to argue about humanist philosophy from a humanist perspective, but from a hardcore Christian "believe in Him and He'll save you" way. Penn does perhaps too good a job convincing you of how shitty of a person his character is, because between the Nazi speeches and the rape it's not exactly hard to be perfectly content with his death sentence. And for all the nuance the film tries to inject into the debate over the life of a contemptible man, for the film to end with Sarandon's Sister Helen reaching out her hand for an awkwardly long period feels like there wasn't much else for her to do. Benefits from a well-aged supporting cast, including early appearances from Margo Martindale, Jack Black, and a barely-seen Peter Sarsgaard. But Dead Man Walking is full of big performances that don't convince you about the message that the movie tries to make, so what's the point? Seems way less complex than people give it credit for. (2.5/5)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Tim Robbins

Director

Susan Sarandon

Sister Helen Prejean

Sean Penn

Matthew Poncelet

Robert Prosky

Hilton Barber

Raymond J. Barry

Earl Delacroix

R. Lee Ermey

Clyde Percy

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David Ansen

Newsweek

It's a strong film, made stronger by two terrific performances. Penn's acting has ruthless honesty.

Feb 23, 2018

Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

It's an important film and a beautifully made film too.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 12, 2016

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Rated: A

Oct 29, 2008

Full Review

Sheila Reid

Women in the Life

A riveting, thought-provoking drama.

May 13, 2022

Full Review

Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

Penn plays Matthew with a quiet, feral intensity...

Oct 21, 2019

Full Review

Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

Penn and Sarandon in their final moments together achieve a strange transcendence that makes the end of Dead Man Walking sobering and horrifying, yet oddly uplifting.

May 3, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

As death row inmate Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn) nears his execution date, he calls upon Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) to help him with one last appeal, maintaining that he is innocent of the murders of a young couple. Poncelet begins to form a bond with Prejean, and she visits both his family and the relatives of the victims, hoping to learn more about the case. As things begin to look bleak for Poncelet, Prejean does all that she can to comfort and console the hardened convict.

Director: Tim Robbins
Executive Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Screenwriter: Tim Robbins
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Gramercy Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.1M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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