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MTDb › Best of › 1985 › Witness

Witness poster

Witness (1985)

“A big city cop. A small country boy. They have nothing in common... but a murder.”

7.1/10 · 1,966 votes 1h 52m r ThrillerRomanceDramaCrime

#17 of 67 films from 1985 #533 of 2475 in thriller

Directed by Peter Weir · Written by William Kelley, Earl W. Wallace, Pamela Wallace

▶ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

While protecting an Amish boy—the sole witness to a brutal murder—and his mother, a detective is forced to seek refuge within their community when his own life comes under threat.

Cast

Harrison Fordas John Book
Kelly McGillisas Rachel
Josef Sommeras Schaeffer
Lukas Haasas Samuel
Jan Rubešas Eli Lapp
Alexander Godunovas Daniel Hochleitner
Danny Gloveras McFee
Brent Jenningsas Carter
Patti LuPoneas Elaine
Angus MacInnesas Fergie
Frederick Rolfas Stoltzfus
Viggo Mortensenas Moses Hochleitner
John Garsonas Bishop Tchantz
Beverly Mayas Mrs. Yoder

Facts

Release dateFebruary 8, 1985
Runtime112 min (1h 52m) — about the same as the 1985 average of 104 min
GenresThriller, Romance, Drama, Crime
LanguageEN
Budget$12,000,000
Box office$116,107,459 (9.7× budget)
IMDbtt0090329

More from Peter Weir

Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society1989 · ★ 8.3 · 2h 9m The Truman ShowThe Truman Show1998 · ★ 8.2 · 1h 43m Picnic at Hanging RockPicnic at Hanging Rock1975 · ★ 7.2 · 1h 47m Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the World2003 · ★ 7.2 · 2h 18m GallipoliGallipoli1981 · ★ 7.1 · 1h 52m The Way BackThe Way Back2010 · ★ 7.0 · 2h 13m The Mosquito CoastThe Mosquito Coast1986 · ★ 6.3 · 1h 59m Green CardGreen Card1990 · ★ 6.1 · 1h 48m

If you liked Witness

Same genre, released within a few years, sorted by TMDB rating.

Carlito's WayCarlito's Way1993 · ★ 7.8 · 2h 24m Sea of LoveSea of Love1989 · ★ 6.6 · 1h 53m The Postman Always Rings TwiceThe Postman Always Rings Twice1981 · ★ 6.5 · 2h 2m The PunisherThe Punisher1989 · ★ 5.8 · 1h 29m The Silence of the LambsThe Silence of the Lambs1991 · ★ 8.3 · 1h 59m Bound by HonorBound by Honor1993 · ★ 8.2 · 3h 10m The UntouchablesThe Untouchables1987 · ★ 7.8 · 1h 59m Mississippi BurningMississippi Burning1988 · ★ 7.7 · 2h 8m

Questions

How long is Witness?
Witness runs 112 minutes (1h 52m).
Is Witness worth watching?
TMDB users give it 7.1/10 across 1,966 votes, which places it #17 of 67 films released in 1985 in this index (top 76%) and #533 among 2475 thriller titles.
Who directed Witness?
Witness was directed by Peter Weir. Other well-rated titles by the same director: Dead Poets Society (1989), The Truman Show (1998), Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975).
Who stars in Witness?
Harrison Ford as John Book; Kelly McGillis as Rachel; Josef Sommer as Schaeffer; Lukas Haas as Samuel; Jan Rubeš as Eli Lapp; Alexander Godunov as Daniel Hochleitner.
What is Witness rated?
It carries a r certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for Witness?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/10806.

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Best of 1985Best thrillerThriller of the 1980sBest romanceRomance of the 1980sBest dramaDrama of the 1980sBest crimeCrime of the 1980sAll lists
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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.