Philadelphia is a 1993 American legal drama film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. The film tells the story of Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer who is fired from his job after his employers discover he has AIDS. He hires a homophobic small-time lawyer, Joe Miller, as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit. The film was shot on location in Philadelphia, and it is notable for being one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to explicitly address HIV/AIDS and homophobia, as well as to portray gay people in a positive light.
Philadelphia is a critically acclaimed film that has received positive reviews for its performances, direction, and handling of sensitive subject matter.
Trailer
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Cast
- Tom Hanks as Andrew "Andy" Beckett
- Denzel Washington as Joseph "Joe" Miller
- Jason Robards as Charles Wheeler
- Mary Steenburgen as Belinda Conine
- Antonio Banderas as Miguel Alvarez
- Joanne Woodward as Sarah Beckett
- Robert W. Castle as Bud Beckett
- Ann Dowd as Jill Beckett
- Adam LeFevre as Jill's husband
- John Bedford Lloyd as Matt Beckett
- Dan Olmstead as Randy Beckett
- Lisa Summerour as Lisa Miller
- Charles Napier as Judge Lucas Garnett
- Roberta Maxwell as Judge Tate
- Roger Corman as Mr. Roger Laird
- David Drake as Bruno
- Harry Northup as Juror No. 6
- Bill Rowe as Dr. Armbruster
- Chandra Wilson as Chandra
- Daniel von Bargen as Jury Foreman
- Karen Finley as Dr. Gillman
- Robert Ridgely as Walter Kenton
- Bradley Whitford as Jamey Collins
- Ron Vawter as Bob Seidman
- Anna Deavere Smith as Anthea Burton
- Obba Babatundé as Jerome Green
- Charles Glenn as Kenneth Killcoyne
- Tracey Walter as the Librarian
- Andre B. Blake as Young Man in Pharmacy (as André B. Blake)
- Daniel Chapman as Clinic Storyteller
- Peter Jacobs as Peter / Mona Lisa
- Paul Lazar as Dr. Klenstein
- Warren Miller as Mr. Finley
- Joey Perillo as Filko
- Lauren Roselli as Iris
- Lisa Talerico as Shelby
- Kathryn Witt as Melissa Benedict
- Julius Erving as himself
- Mayor of Philadelphia Ed Rendell as himself
- The Flirtations as themselves
- Q Lazzarus as Party Singer
- Quentin Crisp as Party Guest (uncredited)
The film's cast has been praised for their performances, with Tom Hanks winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Andrew Beckett.
Director: Jonathan Demme
Writer: Ron Nyswaner
Box Office Gross: $206,678,440
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, TriStar Pictures
Genre: Drama
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 1993
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012