Down by Law

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Down by Law

R

1986

1h 46m

Comedy

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

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32 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

A disc jockey (Tom Waits), a pimp (John Lurie) and an Italian tourist (Roberto Benigni) escape from jail in New Orleans.

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Critics Consensus

Funny, original, and thoroughly cinematic, Down by Law represents writer-director Jim Jarmusch at his most ingratiating and evocative.

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Philip Kemp

Sight & Sound

Down by Law seems on occasion to be soliciting our approval.

Mar 27, 2020

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Vadim Rizov

Little White Lies

Down By Law is oddly heart-warming, magnifying moments of unexpected camaraderie between kindred spirits who don't immediately ID each other as such.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 11, 2014

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Martin Chilton

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Down by Law is a delight, right down to the unexpected last scene.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 9, 2014

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Mike Scott

Times-Picayune

Playing like a noir-informed mashup of “Streetcar” and “The Defiant Ones,” director Jim Jarmusch’s prison-escape dramedy is aided enormously by the brilliant performances of John Lurie, Tom Waits and a scene-stealing Roberto Begnini.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 25, 2023

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Tom Howard

NME (New Musical Express)

Fellow musician John Lurie and Italian actor Roberto Benigni play his cellmates Jack and Bob, and the trio do a fine job of playing people who suck up a mutual dislike to join forces and commit an imperfect crime.

Rated: 4/5

May 26, 2021

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Jim Jarmusch's uneven but stylish comdie noire is an astute mixture of prison picture, road movie and downbeat screwball.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 12, 2014

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CodyZamboni Z

Movie has no story, With 3 unlikable characters, Who get a 2nd chance after escaping prison, Movie bogs down during "comedic" jail scenes, And movie goes further downhill during a long boring fugitive trek thru the swamp, Picks up a bit when they meet an attractive Italian girl owner of a diner, That said, movie's primary assets are stunning monochrome, high contrast b & w photography, Some amazing compositions in New Orleans, Ellen Barkin in small role,

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

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Luca D

Movie would be good to show cinematography students and acting students, but not writing students. This is the longest 1 hours and 45 minutes of my life. No stories, no lessons, no witty banter, just a bunch of guys sulking around for an ungodly amount of time. If you like beatnik arthouse movies go for it, but don't beg for approval, the movie's just not that good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

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Jakub V

Every single shot is funny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/17/25

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john h

As Tom Waits once said over a phone call with Jarmusch decades after the film's theatrical release, Down By Law is a meditative film with beautiful shots in the swamp and an unusual beat-generation film that captivates us with the loveable trio that is John Lurie, Tom Waits, and the made-for-comedy talent Roberto Benigni. The choice of style of camera movement murmurs the name "Kurosawa", as the black and white color in the woods gives us a similar feeling to a clip taken straight out of Rashomon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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Insomniac X

Gritty, idiosyncratic southern gothic about three down-on-their-luck misfits on the lam. Jarmusch uses New Orleans locations and Tom Waits' music to set the tone before settling into his signature blend of humor and minimalistic, character-driven storytelling. Warm-blooded cinematography and inspired casting bring plenty of charm to this American fable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

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Dionisis T

The true example of how an actor can truly make the difference!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

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Jim Jarmusch

Director

Tom Waits

Zack

John Lurie

Jack

Roberto Benigni

Roberto

Ellen Barkin

Laurette

Billie Neal

Bobbie

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Synopsis

A disc jockey (Tom Waits), a pimp (John Lurie) and an Italian tourist (Roberto Benigni) escape from jail in New Orleans.

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Producer: Alan Kleinberg
Screenwriter: Jim Jarmusch
Distributor: Criterion Collection
Production Co: Island Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $106.5K
Runtime: 1h 46m

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