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Constantine

Hell wants him. Heaven won't take him. Earth needs him.

2005 · 121 min · Fantasy
7.7 Popular
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Fantasy Action Horror

John Constantine has literally been to Hell and back. When he teams up with a policewoman to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles.

Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Year
2005
Studio
Village Roadshow Pictures · Lonely Film Productions · The Donners' Company · Batfilm Productions

Trivia & behind the scenes

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Casting

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner began developing the film in 1997, and it went through directors Paul Hunter (attached in 1999) and Tarsem Singh (attached in 2001) before Francis Lawrence, a first-time feature director previously known for commercials and music videos, took over.

Casting

Warner Bros. hoped to begin filming in 2002 with Nicolas Cage in the lead role, but Tarsem Singh dropped out of directing, leading to opposing lawsuits between him and the studio before Keanu Reeves became attached in 2002.

Casting

Michelle Monaghan filmed several scenes as Ellie, a half-breed demon character based on a succubus from the Hellblazer comics, but her role was cut down to two brief shots and a single line, as director Francis Lawrence wanted to make Constantine more of a lonely character.

Origins

The film's title was changed from Hellblazer to Constantine to avoid confusion with the Hellraiser film series; ironically, the original comic was itself going to be titled Hellraiser before being renamed for the same reason.

Origins

Alan Moore, the original creator of John Constantine, refused to be credited or associated with the film due to his disappointment with previous adaptations of his work like From Hell and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and asked that his royalties be given to the character's other creators.

Origins

Unlike the comics, where Constantine is a blond Liverpudlian resembling musician Sting, Keanu Reeves played the character with black hair and his own real-life Canadian accent, and the setting was moved from England to Los Angeles.

Effects

To design Hell, director Francis Lawrence, the visual effects supervisor, and the production designer studied 1940s nuclear test footage and conceived it as the site of an 'eternal nuclear blast' where nothing is ever fully obliterated because the destruction never stops.

Reception

Although intended to be rated PG-13, the film received an R-rating from the MPAA, which Francis Lawrence attributed to its religious overtones.

Memorable quotes

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[Whispering into the ear of a possessed girl] This is Constantine. John Constantine, asshole.

John Constantine Confronting a possessed girl in a dire moment.

[Flips off demon] For your boss.

John Constantine Defying a demon with a gesture of contempt.

No. You will live, John Constantine. You will live. You will have the chance to prove that your soul truly belongs in hell. Oh, you will live. You will live…

Lucifer Condemning John Constantine to live with a dark purpose.

[Traps a spider under a cigarette-smoke filled glass] Welcome to my life.

John Constantine Trapping a spider, a metaphor for his cursed existence.

Heaven and hell are right here, behind every wall, every window, the world behind the world. And we're smack in the middle.

John Constantine Describing the hidden supernatural world surrounding humanity.

Impossible rules, endless regulations. Who goes up, who goes down? And why?

John Constantine Questioning the cosmic rules of heaven and hell.

He always had a rotten sense of humor. And His punchlines are killers.

John Constantine Describing God's dark sense of humor.

[Voice over] I guess there's a plan for all of us. I had to die—twice—just to figure that out. Like the book says, He works in mysterious ways. Some people like it… some people don't.

John Constantine Reflecting on death and divine purpose.

[Speaking to God] I know I'm not one of Your favorites, and I'm not welcome in Your house, but I could use a little attention, please.

John Constantine Pleading to God despite his troubled relationship with faith.

Balthazar: [after being sprayed with Dragon's Breath] Fire? I was born of this!

Balthazar After being sprayed with Dragon's Breath, revealing his demonic nature.

Chaz Kramer: This is Kramer. Chas Kramer. Asshole.

Chaz Kramer Introducing himself in Constantine's confrontational style.

Midnite: [after learning of Constantine's cancer] I thought I heard thunder last night. Must have been Satan's stomach growling.

Midnite Reacting to news of Constantine's terminal cancer diagnosis.

Beeman: [his last lines] I know you never had much faith, John, you never had much reason to. But that doesn't mean we never had any faith… in you.

Beeman Speaking words of faith to John before a crucial moment.

I always denied I could see.

Angela Dodson Acknowledging her suppressed supernatural abilities.

Father Hennessy: Hey, John, I think I found you one.

Father Hennessy Reporting a possible case to Constantine.

Chaz Kramer: [last words] You're right, John. It's not like in the books.

Chaz Kramer His final reflection before a pivotal sacrifice.

So what do you want? An extension?

Lucifer Mockingly questioning Constantine's motives.

Midnite: [shouts] You know the rules of my house! [normal voice] While here, you will abide by them.

Midnite Asserting the rules of his neutral supernatural establishment.

How the community felt

😵 Shocked 60%
😱 Scared 40%
🤩 Amazed 40%

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