IMDb > Murder by Numbers (2002)
Murder by Numbers
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Overview

User Rating:
5.9/10   20,755 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Tony Gayton (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Murder by Numbers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 April 2002 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Justice will be served more
Plot:
Two gifted high school students execute a "perfect" murder - then become engaged in an intellectual contest with a seasoned homicide detective. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(23 articles)
It's All About Zac Efron as Me & Orson Welles Opens
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Billy Bob Thornton Joins Dwayne Johnson in Faster
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User Comments:
Murder By The Book... more (279 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sandra Bullock ... Cassie Mayweather / Jessica Marie Hudson

Ben Chaplin ... Sam Kennedy

Ryan Gosling ... Richard Haywood

Michael Pitt ... Justin Pendleton
Agnes Bruckner ... Lisa Mills

Chris Penn ... Ray Feathers

R.D. Call ... Captain Rod Cody

Tom Verica ... Asst. D.A. Al Swanson
Janni Brenn ... Ms. Elder
John Vickery ... Restaurant Manager

Michael Canavan ... Mr. Chechi
Krista Carpenter ... Olivia Lake, the Victim

Neal Matarazzo ... Male Officer in Flashback
Adilah Barnes ... Lab Technician

Jim Jansen ... Lawyer
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Foolproof (USA) (working title)
Murd3r 8y Num8ers (USA) (promotional title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for violence, language, a sex scene and brief drug use.
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Todd Field's role as a murder suspect was deleted from the final print. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Justin and Richard are carrying the body to the trunk of the car, they are not wearing gloves. This would have left fingerprints on the plastic wrapping the body yet none were found. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Richard: Shall we say the words one last time?
Justin: One cannot live fully without embracing suicide in crime.
Richard: Say it.
Justin: A pact made with relentless fire that requires that, while some live, others die.
Richard: On three...
in unison: One, two, three
[gun shot]
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Severed more

FAQ

Whose voice do we hear when Richard and Cassie are fighting on the porch toward the end of the movie?
Is "Murder by Numbers" based on a book?
What did the baboon have to do with anything?
more
3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful.
Murder By The Book..., 1 October 2002
3/10
Author: loogenhausen from VA

There's something frustrating about watching a movie like 'Murder By Numers' because somewhere inside that Hollywood formula is a good movie trying to pop out. However, by the time the credits roll, there's no saving it. The whole thing is pretty much blown by the "cop side" of the story, where Sandra Bullock and Ben Chaplin's homicide detective characters muddle through an awkward sexual affair that becomes more and more trivialized the longer the movie goes on. Although Bullock is strong in her role, it's not enough to save the lackluster script and lazy pacing. Ben Chaplin's talents are wasted in a forgettable role (he did much better earlier in the year in the underrated 'Birthday Girl') as well as Chris Penn, who has a role so thanklessly small you feel sorry for a talent like him. Anyway, the plot really isn't even a factor in this movie at all. The two teen killers played by Ryan Gosling and Michael Pitt are the only real reasons to see this movie. Their talent and chemistry work pretty good and they play off of each other quite well. It's too bad they weren't in a much better all-around film. Barbet Schroeder is treading way too safe ground here for such a seasoned filmmaker. Bottom Line: it's worth a rent if you're a genre fan, but everyone else will live a fulfilled life without ever seeing it, except maybe on network TV with convenient commercial breaks.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Murder by Numbers (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
HE IS SO UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!! hjkr1
What books does Michael Pitt read? knowhere-2
Thoughts ianya1
ahh...ryan gosling was so cute in this movie. angeldustx
Boots GladyRuth
Really, in complete honesty: Worst Movie Ever Made cdgoss
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