The Crow (1994 film)

The Crow
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlex Proyas
Screenplay by
Based onThe Crow
by James O'Barr
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDariusz Wolski
Edited by
Music byGraeme Revell
Production
companies
  • Entertainment Media Investment Corporation
  • Pressman Film
  • Jeff Most Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 10, 1994 (1994-05-10) (Santa Monica)
  • May 13, 1994 (1994-05-13) (United States)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$23 million[1]
Box office$94 million[2]

The Crow is a 1994 American superhero film[3][4][5] directed by Alex Proyas and written by David J. Schow and John Shirley, based on the 1989 comic book series by James O'Barr. It stars Brandon Lee in his final film role, as Eric Draven, a rock musician who is resurrected from the dead to seek vengeance against the gang who murdered him and his fiancée.

Lee was fatally wounded by a prop gun during filming. As he had finished most of his scenes, the film was completed through script rewrites, a stunt double and digital effects.[6] After Lee's death, Paramount Pictures opted out of distribution and the rights were acquired by Miramax Films. The film is dedicated to Lee and his fiancée, Eliza Hutton.

The Crow premiered in Santa Monica on May 10, 1994, and was released in the United States on May 13, 1994, by Dimension Films. The film received positive reviews for its style and Lee's performance.[7] It grossed $94 million on a $23 million budget and has gained a cult following. The success led to a media franchise that includes the sequels The Crow: City of Angels (1996), The Crow: Salvation (2000), and The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005). The sequels, which mostly featured different characters and none of the original cast members, were unable to match the success of the first film. A reboot of The Crow was released in 2024, which was a critical and commercial failure.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ascher was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Worldwide rentals beat domestic take". Variety. February 13, 1995. p. 28.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Independent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Den of Geek was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 20, 2018). "Tragically and fashionably, The Crow turned superhero cinema into a death dance". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ Robey, Tim (October 27, 2016). "Brandon Lee, Michael Massee and the 'curse' of The Crow". telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference tomatoes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).