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ERA
Did you know
32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Ref
"They might be his hostages but what they're doing to this guy is criminal."
1994 1h 37m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
★6.6TMDB · 389
ComedyCrimeDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve.
“They might be his hostages but what they're doing to this guy is criminal.”
Cast
Denis Leary
Gus
Judy Davis
Caroline Chasseur
Kevin Spacey
Lloyd Chasseur
Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.
Jesse Chasseur
Glynis Johns
Rose Chasseur
Raymond J. Barry
Lt. Huff
Richard Bright
Murray
Christine Baranski
Connie Chasseur
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Ted Demme
- Writers
- Richard LaGravenese, Marie Weiss, Marie Weiss
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Ted Demme, shot by Adam Kimmel. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Dave Stewart. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 7
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Jeffrey Wolf shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 7
CAST
Did you know
Denis Leary and Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 7
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "They might be his hostages but what they're doing to this guy is criminal.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 7
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0110955 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Ted Demme directs. Adam Kimmel behind the camera. Dave Stewart scores. Jeffrey Wolf cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 132 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 2Directed by Ted Demme, shot by Adam Kimmel. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 3Original score by Dave Stewart. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 4Editor Jeffrey Wolf shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Denis Leary and Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey carry the top of the cast.
- 6Marketing tagline: "They might be his hostages but what they're doing to this guy is criminal.".
- 7IMDB entry: tt0110955 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 8Classified under 21 themes, including "robbery", "police", "parent child relationship", "burglar".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Adam Kimmel
- Original score
- Dave Stewart
- Editing
- Jeffrey Wolf
- Production design
- Dan Davis
- Costume design
- Judianna Makovsky
- Makeup / hair
- Irene Kent
- Sound
- Peter Waggoner
- Stunt coordinator
- Branko Racki
- Runtime
- 97 min · 1h 37m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $11,000,000
- Box office
- $11,400,000
- Return
- 104% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- IMDB
- The Ref (1994)
Also by
Ted Demme
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
US
Touchstone Pictures
US
Key crew
- EditorJeffrey Wolf
- Assistant CameraMichael Ringston
- Script SupervisorBlanche McDermaid
- Production CoordinatorDeborah Zwicker
- Second Assistant DirectorRon Oxley
- Wardrobe MasterKim W. Chow
- Music EditorTodd Kasow
- Supervising Sound EditorStuart Levy
- Sound Re-Recording MixerPeter Waggoner
- Dialogue EditorJohn Purcell
- Wardrobe SupervisorPatti Unger
- Scenic ArtistTim Murton
- Third Assistant DirectorAnn-Marie Ferney-Tellez
- Associate EditorJohn Gilroy
- CastingHoward Feuer
- Executive ProducerDon Simpson
- Art DirectionDennis Davenport
- Executive ProducerJerry Bruckheimer
- ProducerRon Bozman
- Production DesignDan Davis
- ProducerJeffrey Weiss
- Music ProducerStephen McLaughlin
- Music ArrangerMatthias Gohl
- ProducerRichard LaGravenese
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- robbery
- police
- parent child relationship
- burglar
- holiday
- hostage
- liberation of hostage
- blackmail
- christmas party
- santa claus
- bad mother-in-law
- mother-in-law
- dark comedy
- dysfunctional family
- connecticut
- thief
- man hunt
- dinner
- alcoholic
- christmas
- marriage counseling
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1994-03-09R
Also known as
International titles
- Hostile HostagesGB
- Esto (no) es un secuestroES
- O ÁrbitroBR
- El ÁrbitroMX
