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Biographical thriller

JFK (1991): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

JFK (1991) movie poster

JFK is a 1991 biographical thriller directed by Oliver Stone, starring Kevin Costner. It is partly based on On the Trail of the Assassins by Jim Garrison. It runs 3 hours 9 minutes and earned $205.4 million worldwide. It won 2 Oscars, including Cinematography and Film Editing, and 5 awards in all. Critics gave it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.

IMDb rating
8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
84%
worldwide gross
$205.4M
Oscars won
2
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JFK (1991) movie poster
Released
Runtime
3h 9m (189 min)
Director
Oliver Stone
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is JFK About?

The premise of JFK without spoilers, adapted from On the Trail of the Assassins by Jim Garrison. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Oliver Stone's gripping drama follows the investigation of District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Facing government interference and challenging accepted narratives, Garrison pursues what he believes to be a larger conspiracy. His relentless pursuit of the truth leads him to risk everything as he attempts to expose the forces behind the tragic event that ended Camelot.

JFK Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • conspiracy theory
  • investigation
  • assassination of president
  • john f. kennedy assassination
  • murder of a politician
  • president
  • assassination
  • murder
  • suspicion
  • homicide
  • mysterious individual
  • shot to death
+38 more
  • mysterious death
  • political power
  • manipulation
  • secret information
  • money
  • year 1963
  • cover up
  • cold war era
  • u.s. politician
  • american politics
  • sniper fire
  • sniper
  • original author as character
  • political cover up
  • man shot to death
  • conspiracy
  • loss of innocence
  • political assassination
  • based on multiple works
  • jacqueline kennedy character
  • john f. kennedy character
  • judicial system
  • violence
  • killing
  • rifle
  • shotgun
  • fence
  • trap
  • mysterious man
  • setup
  • shooting
  • secret
  • press conference
  • betrayal
  • top secret
  • jail
  • penitentiary
  • police
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Cast & crew

JFK Cast

Kevin Costner stars in JFK. Directed by Oliver Stone.

From the director

More from Oliver Stone

More films directed by Oliver Stone, best-rated first: Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Natural Born Killers and Salvador.

Full filmography
Ratings

JFK Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave JFK 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.

Plot

JFK Plot Summary

What happens in JFK from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with a gripping narration by an uncredited Martin Sheen, presenting newsreel footage that encapsulates the pivotal farewell address of outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1961, where he cautioned against the increasing power of the “military-industrial complex”. Following this, the narrative delves into John F. Kennedy’s presidency, shedding light on the series of events that, according to Stone’s thesis, would ultimately culminate in his tragic assassination. This narrative thread climaxes with a meticulous reconstruction of the horrific assassination that transpired on November 22, 1963.

Full summary

The whole story of JFK, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

JFK Box Office

JFK grossed $205.4 million worldwide. $70.4 million came from the US and Canada and $135 million (66%) from the rest of the world.

1991 box office

Worldwide gross

$205.4M

US & Canada
$70.4M
International
$135M
US & Canada 34% Rest of the world 66%
Awards

JFK Awards & Nominations

JFK won 2 Oscars, including Cinematography and Film Editing, and 5 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1992, with 2 wins from 8 nominations.

5 wins17 nominations4 ceremonies

Videos

JFK Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 2 trailers, 7 clips and 3 featurettes.

All 12 videos
Trailer 2
  • Trailer Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Clip Willie O'Keefe Scene
  • Clip Oswald News Interview
  • Clip JFK's Been Shot
Quiz

How Well Do You Know JFK?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who voiced the opening narration of JFK?

Cars

Cars in JFK

70 cars on screen, including the 1962 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine and the 1965 Ford Galaxie 500.

All 70 cars
  • 1962 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine in JFK 1962 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Main role
  • 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 in JFK 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 Important role
  • 1960 Chevrolet in JFK 1960 Chevrolet Minor role
  • 1963 Chevrolet in JFK 1963 Chevrolet Minor role
Details

JFK Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “JFK - Affaire non classée” and “JFK - avoin tapaus”.

Also known as
  • JFK - Affaire non classée
  • JFK - avoin tapaus
  • JFK, i istoria pou harahtike sti mnimi mas
  • John F. Kennedy - Tatort Dallas
  • JFK: Dzonas F. Kenedis. Suviai Dalase
  • JFK - saken fortsetter
  • JFK: Kapanmayan Dosya
  • J.F.K.: Caso abierto
  • JFK:1991
  • JFK - Un caso ancora aperto
  • JFK - Tatort Dallas
  • JFK - A Nyitott dosszié
+15 more
  • 刺杀肯尼迪
  • JFK: Caso abierto
  • Џ.Ф.К.
  • Джон Ф. Кеннеди: Выстрелы в Далласе
  • ג'יי.אף.קיי: תיק פתוח
  • JFK: A Pergunta Que Não Quer Calar
  • Η Ιστορία που Χαράχτηκε στη Μνήμη μας
  • Джей Еф Кей
  • Джон Ф. Кеннеді: Постріли в Далласі
  • รอยเลือดฝังปฐพี
  • JKF: Caso abierto
  • Džonas F. Kenedis: Šūviai Dalase
  • 誰殺了甘迺迪
  • 驚天大刺殺
  • J.F.K.

Seen JFK?

FAQ

JFK FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of JFK, each answered in a sentence.

How long is JFK?

JFK runs 3 hours 9 minutes (189 minutes).

When was JFK released?

JFK was released on December 20, 1991.

Who directed JFK?

JFK was directed by Oliver Stone.

More films by Oliver Stone

Who is in the cast of JFK?

JFK stars Kevin Costner.

How much did JFK make at the box office?

JFK grossed $205.4 million worldwide ($70.4 million domestic, $135 million international).

How is JFK rated?

JFK has 8.0/10 on IMDb, 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.

Is JFK based on a book?

Yes. JFK is partly adapted from On the Trail of the Assassins by Jim Garrison.

What awards did JFK win?

JFK won 5 awards from 17 nominations, including Best Editing at the BAFTA 1993.

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