Deathtrap (1982): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Deathtrap is a 1982 mystery thriller directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. It runs 1 hour 56 minutes and earned $19.3 million worldwide. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Actor at the Saturn Awards 1983. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 56m (116 min)
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Deathtrap About?
The premise of Deathtrap without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A once-successful Broadway playwright, Sidney Bruhl, finds himself facing a career decline. His fortunes change when a former student, Clifford Anderson, submits a brilliant script. Driven by a desire to regain his professional standing, Sidney devises a dangerous scheme to manipulate Clifford into sharing his work. He invites the young playwright to his secluded country home, intending to steal the script, but the situation quickly spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse with unforeseen consequences.
Deathtrap Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- surprise ending
- gay protagonist
- stage play
- aspiring playwright
- weapons collection
- mind game
- manuscript
- battle of wits
- scared to death
- watching tv
- east hampton long island new york
- playwright
+38 more Show fewer
- student
- kiss
- gay relationship
- murder
- writer
- gay character
- husband wife relationship
- psychic
- reference to harry houdini
- collection of weapons
- aspiring writer
- train station
- manipulative man
- bartender
- playwright as protagonist
- writing a play
- back from the dead
- struggling writer
- writer as protagonist
- sociopath
- theater critic
- weak heart
- typewriter
- windmill
- gay couple
- gay slur
- strangulation
- handcuffs
- nosy neighbor
- gay kiss
- boots
- prophecy
- author
- older man younger man relationship
- theater
- crossbow
- scheme
- chekhov's gun
Deathtrap Cast
Michael Caine leads the cast, with Christopher Reeve. Directed by Sidney Lumet.
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Director Sidney Lumet
More from Sidney Lumet
More films directed by Sidney Lumet, best-rated first: 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network and Serpico.
Deathtrap Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Deathtrap 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 70%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 54 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Deathtrap Plot Summary
What happens in Deathtrap 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
Sidney Bruhl, portrayed by Michael Caine, is a once-renowned playwright known for his suspenseful production The Murder Game. After his latest play fails to impress, he retreats to his home in East Hampton, accompanied by his wife, Myra (Cannon). In a twist of fate, Sidney receives a new script titled Deathtrap from a former pupil, Clifford Anderson, played by Christopher Reeve. Initially jesting about murdering the young writer to steal his work, the situation grows grim when Sidney discovers that Deathtrap is unique; no one else has read it.
Full summary
The whole story of Deathtrap, scene by scene
Deathtrap Box Office
Deathtrap grossed $19.3 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$19.3M
- US & Canada
- $19.3M
Deathtrap Awards & Nominations
Deathtrap earned 3 award nominations, including Best Actor at the Saturn Awards 1983.
3 nominations1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 1983 3 nominations- Nominated Best Actor – Christopher Reeve
- Nominated Best Supporting Actress
- Nominated Best Writing
Deathtrap Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.
- Clip Chekov's Gun
How Well Do You Know Deathtrap?
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 is the main character and playwright in the movie?
Cars in Deathtrap
4 cars on screen, including the 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the 1980 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine.
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1975 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Minor role -
1980 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine Background role -
1981 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine Background role -
1972 Mercury Montego Background role
Deathtrap Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Moordkuil” and “死亡计中计”.
- Also known as
-
- Moordkuil
- 死亡计中计
- 죽음의 함정
- デストラップ・死の罠：1982
- 恶魔禁地
- Ira Levin's Deathtrap
- Death Trap
- Deathtrap - Das Mörderspiel
- Trappola mortale
- Piège mortel
- La trampa de la muerte
- Das Mörderspiel
+12 more Show fewer
- Смертельная ловушка
- Θανάσιμη Παγίδα
- デストラップ・死の罠
- Halálcsapda
- 死亡陷阱
- Śmiertelna pułapka
- Armadilha Mortal
- تله مرگ
- 죽음의 게임
- Trampa mortal
- Murhaleikki
- Dödsfällan
Seen Deathtrap?
Movies Like Deathtrap
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Murder by Death, 3 Holes and a Smoking Gun and Sleuth.
Deathtrap FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Deathtrap, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Deathtrap?
Deathtrap runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).
When was Deathtrap released?
Deathtrap was released on March 19, 1982.
Who directed Deathtrap?
Deathtrap was directed by Sidney Lumet.
More films by Sidney Lumet Who is in the cast of Deathtrap?
Deathtrap stars Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.
How much did Deathtrap make at the box office?
Deathtrap grossed $19.3 million worldwide.
How is Deathtrap rated?
Deathtrap has 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Was Deathtrap nominated for any awards?
Deathtrap received 3 nominations across 1 ceremony.
Does Deathtrap have a post-credit scene?
No. Deathtrap has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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