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Light Sleeper

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1:58

Light Sleeper

R

Released Aug 21, 1992

1h 48m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A Manhattan drug dealer with a wealthy clientele, John LeTour (Willem Dafoe) reevaluates both his trade and his life after discovering that his supplier, Ann (Susan Sarandon), is planning on quitting the business. When John runs into his old flame Marianne (Dana Delany), he sees reconnecting with her as a way to change for the better, but she is reluctant to rekindle the romance. Complicating John's life further is a series of drug-related murders that has the police pegging him as a suspect.

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Critics Consensus

Light Sleeper requires patience, but delivers commensurate rewards -- and boasts an absorbing performance from Willem Dafoe.

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Hugo Davenport

Daily Telegraph (UK)

American filmmakers have a weakness for presenting a shoot-out as either the precursor of redemption or redemptive in itself; this film falls into the latter group.

May 20, 2022

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

The cast is skilfully alert... and Schrader's vision is unencumbered either by sentiment or cynicism.

Feb 28, 2021

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Light Sleeper is emblematic of an era, and is recommended on that basis and on the excellent quality of it acting.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 9, 2014

Full Review

Steve Warren

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Though well acted and never uninteresting, Light Sleeper is far less intense than most of Schrader's work and further diluted by an unrealistic ending.

May 9, 2023

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

From that opening use of “World on Fire”, Been’s vocals and melancholic, somber tones feel as rooted in the essence of Light Sleeper as Dafoe’s razor-sharp bone structure, or those heaps of trash bags lining the sidewalks.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 23, 2022

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an erratic yet predominantly satisfying effort from Schrader.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 30, 2022

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Les N

Dated. At the least it needs a new soundtrack.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

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Johannes S

While it is predictable, the story is still enjoyable, and the runtime of 100 minutes is perfectly adequate.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

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Alain E

A contemporary fable that is well acted and photographed. I don’t have any experience in dealing drugs, so I can’t claim to have a valid opinion deciding if the story presented is realistic. It serves the movie well and various people find a premature end as is appropriate in a tragedy. My only objection is a medical one. When Dafoe is shot in the end we see blood spurting away from his upper right arm. This is impossible as the main artery in the arm travels on the inside of the upper extremity and is not big enough to generate such a jet.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

One of those films that takes it time to build up to its finale and sometimes the build up doesn't get a pay off if the finale was terrible......this movie finale however left me wanting to rewatch this film again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/09/24

Full Review

Dani o

i dont get how anyone would hate this movie, perfect 90s hollywood vibes, good script, great casting, im not comparing but would be something like taxi drivers good twin, willem dafoe´s character is top

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/24

Full Review

Adam H

Came to Light Sleeper from both First Reformed and Taxi Driver, as I've been meaning to for some time. The mood and characterization is great, but the meandering nature of the plot felt unsatisfying at the end. Edit: also came to this movie, now, via jetlag. I wanted more sleep problems! All he needed for a good night's sleep was to get together with his ex.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

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Paul Schrader

Director

Willem Dafoe

John LeTour

Susan Sarandon

Ann

Dana Delany

Marianne Joseph

David Clennon

Robert

Mary Beth Hurt

Teresa Aranow

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Light Sleeper: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

A Manhattan drug dealer with a wealthy clientele, John LeTour (Willem Dafoe) reevaluates both his trade and his life after discovering that his supplier, Ann (Susan Sarandon), is planning on quitting the business. When John runs into his old flame Marianne (Dana Delany), he sees reconnecting with her as a way to change for the better, but she is reluctant to rekindle the romance. Complicating John's life further is a series of drug-related murders that has the police pegging him as a suspect.

Director: Paul Schrader
Producer: Linda Reisman
Screenwriter: Paul Schrader
Distributor: Fine Line Features
Production Co: Grain of Sand Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 21, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Mono

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