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MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 17% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
"Forgive me father, for I am 14."
2002 1h 44m EN
👍
6.7
SOLID
★6.7TMDB · 189
ComedyDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A group of Catholic school friends, after being caught drawing an obscene comic book, plan a heist that will outdo their previous prank and make them local legends.
“Forgive me father, for I am 14.”
Cast
Kieran Culkin
Tim Sullivan
Emile Hirsch
Francis Doyle
Jena Malone
Margie Flynn
Jake Richardson
Wade Scalisi
Jodie Foster
Sister Assumpta
Vincent D'Onofrio
Father Casey
Melissa McBride
Mrs. Doyle
Michael Harding
Mr. Doyle
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Peter Care
- Writers
- Michael Petroni, Jeff Stockwell
- 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 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 24 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Peter Care, shot by Lance Acord. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Chris Peppe shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Kieran Culkin and Emile Hirsch and Jena Malone carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Forgive me father, for I am 14.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0238924 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Peter Care directs. Lance Acord behind the camera. Marco Beltrami scores. Chris Peppe cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Earned back only 17% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
- 2Released 24 years ago.
- 3Directed by Peter Care, shot by Lance Acord. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Marco Beltrami. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Chris Peppe shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Kieran Culkin and Emile Hirsch and Jena Malone carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "Forgive me father, for I am 14.".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0238924 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Lance Acord
- Original score
- Marco Beltrami
- Editing
- Chris Peppe
- Production design
- Gideon Ponte
- Costume design
- Marie France
- Makeup / hair
- Lynn Barber
- Sound
- Ken Teaney
- Stunt coordinator
- Gary Jensen
- Runtime
- 104 min · 1h 44m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $12,000,000
- Box office
- $2,036,599
- Return
- 17% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
Peter Care
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
Trilogy Entertainment Group
US
- EG
Egg Pictures
US
- IN
Initial Entertainment Group
US
thinkfilm
US
Key crew
- NovelChris Fuhrman
- Still PhotographerJim Bridges
- Property MasterRichard Waldrop
- CastingLaray Mayfield
- Costume DesignMarie France
- Art DirectionGeoffrey S. Grimsman
- Production DesignGideon Ponte
- EditorChris Peppe
- CastingCraig Fincannon
- Set DecorationJames Edward Ferrell Jr.
- Production Sound MixerCarl Rudisill
- Sound Effects EditorDavid Esparza
- Sound RecordistMartin Schloemer
- Stunt CoordinatorGary Jensen
- Music EditorChris McGeary
- Sound Effects EditorMichael Orlowski
- First Assistant EditorAmy Flint Catherwood
- Second Unit DirectorGary Jensen
- Foley ArtistGregg Barbanell
- Music EditorTommy Lockett
- Supervising Sound EditorAndrew DeCristofaro
- Sound Effects EditorJonathan Sola
- Supervising Sound EditorMichael Payne
- Production CoordinatorShannon Rippy
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- 1970s
- zoo
- puma
- heist
- prank
- based on memoir or autobiography
- catholic school
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical2002-06-14R
Also known as
International titles
- Опасные игры церковных мальчиковRU
- Опасные игрыRU
- La Peligrosa Vidas de los Altar BoysSV
- The Dangerous Lives Of Altar BoysDE
- Vite pericolose di bravi ragazziIT
