Quiz Show
Fifty million people watched but no one saw a thing.
1994 | 133m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | Robert Redford |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Paul Attanasio, Richard N. Goodwin |
| Staring: |
| Herbert Stempel's transformation into an unexpected television personality unfolds as he secures victory on the cherished American game show, 'Twenty-One.' However, when the show introduces the highly skilled contestant Charles Van Doren to replace Stempel, it compels Stempel to let out his frustrations and call out the show as rigged. Lawyer Richard Goodwin steps in and attempts to uncover the orchestrated deception behind the scenes. | |
| Release Date: | Aug 25, 1994 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Robert Redford |
| Writer: | Paul Attanasio, Richard N. Goodwin |
| Genres: | Drama, Mystery, History |
| Keywords | manipulation, manipulation of the media, product placement, game show, investigation, quiz, idealism, tv ratings, idealist, based on true story, lawyer, 1950s, fighting the system, audacious, awestruck, cruel, frustrated |
| Production Companies | Wildwood Enterprises, Hollywood Pictures, Baltimore Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $24,822,619
Budget: $31,000,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Feb 01, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Ralph Fiennes | Charles Van Doren |
| Rob Morrow | Richard Goodwin |
| John Turturro | Herbert 'Herb' Stempel |
| Paul Scofield | Mark Van Doren |
| David Paymer | Dan Enright |
| Hank Azaria | Albert Freedman |
| Christopher McDonald | Jack Barry |
| Johann Carlo | Toby Stempel |
| Elizabeth Wilson | Dorothy Van Doren |
| Allan Rich | Robert Kintner |
| Mira Sorvino | Sandra Goodwin |
| George Martin | Chairman Harris |
| Paul Guilfoyle | Lishman |
| Griffin Dunne | Account Guy |
| Michael Mantell | Pennebaker |
| Byron Jennings | Moomaw |
| Ben Shenkman | Childress |
| Timothy Busfield | Fred |
| Jack Gilpin | Jack |
| Bruce Altman | Gene |
| Martin Scorsese | Martin Rittenhome |
| Joseph Blaire | Lester Stempel |
| Ernie Sabella | Car Salesman |
| Barry Levinson | Dave Garroway |
| Debra Monk | Kintner's Secretary |
| Mario Cantone | Passerby |
| Timothy Britten Parker | Researcher |
| Grace Phillips | Vivienne Nearing |
| Jerry Grayson | Limo Driver |
| Scott Lucy | NBC Page |
| Matt Keeslar | NBC Page |
| Ron Scott Bertozzi | NBC Page |
| Harriet Sansom Harris | Enright's Secretary |
| Mary Shultz | Freedman's Secretary |
| Dave Wilson | Director |
| Robert Caminiti | Associate Director |
| Eddie Korbich | Lighting Director |
| Le Clanché du Rand | Cornwall Neighbor |
| Carole Shelley | Cornwall Aunt |
| Shawn Batten | Cornwall Cousin |
| Cornelia Ryan | Cornwall Cousin |
| Jeffrey Nordling | John Van Doren |
| Gina Rice | Mrs. John Van Doren |
| Vince O'Brien | Bunny Wilson |
| Adam Kilgour | Thomas Merton, The Monk |
| Richard Seff | Congressman Devine |
| Bill Moor | Congressman Rogers |
| Nicholas Kepros | Congressman Flynt |
| Barry Snider | Congressman Springer |
| Chuck Adamson | Congressman Mack |
| Joseph Attanasio | Congressman Derounian |
| Dan Wakefield | Professor at Book Party |
| Hamilton Fish | Professor at Book Party |
| Merwin Goldsmith | Writer at Book Party |
| Illeana Douglas | Woman at Book Party |
| Gretchen Egolf | Student at Book Party |
| Stephen Pearlman | Judge Schweitzer |
| Anthony Fusco | Librarian |
| Douglas McGrath | Snodgrass |
| Calista Flockhart | Barnard Girl |
| Alysa Shwedel | Barnard Girl |
| Kelly Coffield Park | Queens Neighbor |
| Dede Pochos | Queens Neighbor |
| Maria Radman | Queens Neighbor |
| David Stepkin | Queens Neighbor |
| Steve Roland | Today Announcer (voice) |
| Bernie Sheredy | Reporter |
| Joe Lisi | Reporter |
| Greg Martin | Reporter |
| Reno | Woman at Door |
| Neil Leifer | Psychoanalyst |
| Caryn Krooth | Blonde |
| Mario Contacessi | Waiter |
| Patricia Geri Russell | Challenger |
| Bill Cwikowski | Challenger |
| William Fichtner | Stage Manager |
| Vincent J. Burns | Crew Member |
| Katherine Borowitz | #1 Mom |
| Ray Abbott | Photographer (Uncredited) |
| Ted Brunson | Reporter (Uncredited) |
| Michael J. Burg | Student (Uncredited) |
| Hélène Cardona | Student (Uncredited) |
| Susan Janet Cooper | Susan - Pete's Wife (Uncredited) |
| Richard Council | Reporter #1 (Uncredited) |
| Toni Downey | Secretary (Uncredited) |
| Matthew T. Gitkin | NBC Staff (Uncredited) |
| Jerry Griffin | Doorman (uncredited) |
| David Hausen | Camera Operator (Uncredited) |
| Ethan Hawke | Columbia Student (uncredited) |
| Christopher King | Congressional Hearing Reporter (Uncredited) |
| Stas Kmiec | Man in Glasses (Uncredited) |
| Michael Luceri | Student (Uncredited) |
| Owen Lund | Techincal Director (Uncredited) |
| Gerald McCullouch | Bus Boy (Uncredited) |
| Peter Morse | Student (Uncredited) |
| Ron Ostrow | Photographer (Uncredited) |
| John Ponzio | NBC Page (Uncredited) |
| James Prendergast | Lawyer (Uncredited) |
| Paul Vincent Rapisarda | Courtroom Attendee (Uncredited) |
| Steve Ryan | NBC Employee (Uncredited) |
| Jonathan Marc Sherman | Don Quixote Student #2 (Uncredited) |
| Nick Taylor | Herbie's Neighbor (Uncredited) |
| Glenn Zarr | Press Phtographer (Uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Robert Redford | Director |
| Paul Attanasio | Screenplay |
| Mark Isham | Original Music Composer |
| Michael Ballhaus | Director of Photography |
| Bonnie Timmermann | Casting |
| Jon Hutman | Production Design |
| Miriam Schapiro | Art Department Coordinator |
| Gary Rydstrom | Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Tom Johnson | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Richard Hymns | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Joseph P. Reidy | First Assistant Director |
| Christopher Boyes | Assistant Sound Designer |
| Stu Linder | Editor |
| Ken Nelson | Construction Coordinator |
| Beulah Jones-Black | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Dan Bronson | Assistant Costume Designer |
| Bunny Parker | Key Hair Stylist |
| Tim Galvin | Art Direction |
| Sheila Paige | Script Supervisor |
| Ed Check | Assistant Art Director |
| Tony Fanning | Assistant Art Director |
| Kathy O'Rear | Costume Design |
| Sharon Ilson | Makeup Artist, Key Makeup Artist |
| Samara Schaffer | Set Decoration |
| Bob Shaw | Assistant Art Director |
| Richard N. Goodwin | Book |
| Lydia Dean Pilcher | Production Manager |
| Joseph R. Burns | Second Assistant Director |
| Katherine Quittner | Music Supervisor |
| Tod A. Maitland | Sound Mixer |
| Florian Ballhaus | Camera Operator |
| Susan E. Fiore | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Donna Hamilton | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Alyssa Winter | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Diane D'Addio | Assistant Set Decoration |
| Patricia Eiben | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Paul Buboltz | Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Angel De Angelis | Hairstylist |
| Francesca Paris | Hairstylist |
| Bernadette Mazur | Makeup Artist |
| Kymbra Callaghan | Makeup Artist |
| Karen Tenkhoff | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Donna Jaffe | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Susan Sanford | Assistant Sound Editor |
| J.R. Grubbs | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Kevin Rose-Williams | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Andre Fenley | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Alysa Shwedel | Assistant Production Coordinator |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Robert Redford | Producer |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Executive Producer |
| Jeff McCracken | Co-Producer |
| Michael Jacobs | Producer |
| Michael Nozik | Producer |
| Julian Krainin | Producer |
| Frederick Zollo | Executive Producer |
| Judith James | Executive Producer |
| Gail Mutrux | Co-Producer |
| Richard N. Goodwin | Co-Producer |
| Susan Moore | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | Best Actor | John Turturro | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| SAG Awards | Best Supporting Actor | John Turturro | Nominated |
| SAG Awards | Best Actor | John Turturro | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Director | Robert Redford | Nominated |
| BAFTA Awards | Best Picture | N/A | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 23 | 43 | 12 |
| 2024 | 5 | 25 | 60 | 14 |
| 2024 | 6 | 16 | 24 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 | 16 | 34 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 | 19 | 30 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 | 16 | 32 | 11 |
| 2024 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 | 13 | 29 | 8 |
| 2025 | 1 | 17 | 39 | 10 |
| 2025 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Trending Position