21 Grams (2003): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
21 Grams is a 2003 drama thriller directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, starring Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $60.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 4m (124 min)
- Director
- Alejandro González Iñárritu
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Focus Features
- Budget
- $20M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is 21 Grams About?
The premise of 21 Grams without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Three strangers' lives become unexpectedly intertwined following a devastating car accident. Paul Rivers, a professor facing a terminal illness, finds his world irrevocably altered. Ex-con Jack Jordan and Cristina Peck, whose husband is involved, also experience profound changes. As the investigation unfolds and hidden truths surface, each character confronts their past and searches for meaning in the wake of loss and unexpected connections.
21 Grams Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- sex in bed
- heart donor
- female nudity
- bad heart
- suicide attempt by hanging
- unfaithfulness
- extramarital affair
- doctor
- drug addict
- swimming
- religion
- tattoo
+38 more Show fewer
- swimming pool
- nonlinear timeline
- loss of husband
- loss of daughter
- heart transplant
- male police officer
- police officer
- fired from a job
- accident
- mathematician
- accidentally shooting oneself
- drawing
- prison cell
- handgun
- ambulance
- red panties
- stepping on glass
- heart failure
- surgery
- drunkenness
- male rear nudity
- artificial insemination
- marital separation
- suicide attempt
- adultery
- abortion
- organ rejection
- hit and run
- two word title
- jesus statue
- stethoscope exam
- slow motion scene
- watching tv
- tragedy drama
- heart disease
- self injury
- anthology
- cutting oneself
Where to Watch 21 Grams
Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
21 Grams Cast
Benicio Del Toro leads the cast, with Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
-
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu
21 Grams Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave 21 Grams 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.
-
IMDb 7.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 80% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 86%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 70 Metascore
User score 7.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB
21 Grams Plot Summary
What happens in 21 Grams from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The narrative unfolds in a non-linear structure, yet here’s a chronological overview of the gripping story:
Jack Jordan (Benicio Del Toro), a reformed ex-convict, strives to rebuild his life by embracing a newfound religious faith that helps him combat his struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism. Simultaneously, Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), a mathematics professor, faces a life-threatening reality with a fatal heart condition that leaves him with mere weeks to live unless he finds a suitable organ donor. The tension in his marriage is palpable as his wife pressures him to consider sperm donation, determined to have a child even after his passing, resulting in a civil yet distant connection between them.
Full summary
The whole story of 21 Grams, scene by scene
21 Grams Box Office & Budget
21 Grams grossed $60.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 3.0 times what it cost. $16.3 million came from the US and Canada and $44.2 million (73%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$60.5M
3.0× its budget
- US & Canada
- $16.3M
- International
- $44.2M
- Budget
- $20M
21 Grams Awards & Nominations
21 Grams was nominated for 2 Oscars. The 10 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 2004.
10 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 2004 4 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn
- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Naomi Watts
- Nominated Best Editing
- Nominated Best Original Screenplay
-
Actor Awards (SAG) 2004 2 nominations- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role – Naomi Watts
- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Benicio Del Toro
-
Oscars 2004 2 nominations- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Benicio Del Toro
- Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Naomi Watts
-
Critics' Choice 2004 2 nominations- Nominated Best Actress – Naomi Watts
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Benicio Del Toro
21 Grams Trailers & Videos
The trailer of 21 Grams.
How Well Do You Know 21 Grams?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the character Jack Jordan in the film?
Cars in 21 Grams
48 cars on screen, including the 2001 Ford F-350 Super Duty and the 2000 Saturn SL2.
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2001 Ford F-350 Super Duty Main role -
2000 Saturn SL2 Main role -
2001 Infiniti QX4 Important role -
1986 Pontiac Parisienne Important role
21 Grams Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “21 Gramos” and “21 Gramm”.
- Also known as
-
- 21 Gramos
- 21 Gramm
- 21 Grammes
- 21 gramů
- 21 Gramas
- 21 grammaa
- 21그램
- 21 그램
- 21 grammi - Il peso dell'anima
- Twenty-One Grams
- 21 grammi
- 21 грамм
+13 more Show fewer
- 21 Gramów
- 21克
- น้ำหนัก รัก / แค้น / ศรัทธา
- 21 грам
- 21 Γραμμάρια
- 21 גרם
- 21 грама
- 21 gramov
- 21グラム
- Những Mảnh Đời Bất Hạnh
- 靈魂的重量
- 21 克 - 生命可以有多重？
- 21 de grame
Seen 21 Grams?
Movies Like 21 Grams
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including 11 Minutes, Crash and The Air I Breathe.
21 Grams FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of 21 Grams, each answered in a sentence.
How long is 21 Grams?
21 Grams runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
When was 21 Grams released?
21 Grams was released on November 21, 2003.
Who directed 21 Grams?
21 Grams was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
More films by Alejandro González Iñárritu Who is in the cast of 21 Grams?
21 Grams stars Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts.
Where can I watch 21 Grams?
In the US, 21 Grams is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did 21 Grams make at the box office?
21 Grams grossed $60.5 million worldwide ($16.3 million domestic, $44.2 million international) on a budget of $20 million.
How is 21 Grams rated?
21 Grams has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Was 21 Grams nominated for any awards?
21 Grams received 10 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
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