Constantine (film)

Constantine

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	February 18, 2005 (2005-02-18)
Founder	Francis Lawrence (director)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Supernatural superhero movie

Constantine ( ) is a 2005 American supernatural superhero movie marking the directorial debut of Francis Lawrence. The screenplay, penned by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello based on a story by Brodbin, draws loose inspiration from the Hellblazer series published by DC Comics/Vertigo Comics. The film features Keanu Reeves portraying John Constantine, a world-weary exorcist capable of perceiving and interacting with half-angels and half-demons, as well as traversing between Earth and Hell. The supporting ensemble includes Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare.

Premiering in the United States on February 18, 2005, Constantine garnered mixed critical reception but achieved a global box office total of $230.9 million against its production budget ranging from $70 to $100 million. Over time, it has attained a dedicated cult audience. A follow-up installment is currently underway.

Plot

In Mexico, a scavenger uncovers the Holy Lance tip that pierced Jesus Christ’s side; after becoming possessed, he transports it to Los Angeles. John Constantine, an occult specialist battling terminal lung cancer, performs an exorcism on a young girl, uncovering a violation of the truce between Heaven and Hell. He encounters the half-angel Gabriel, seeking an extension of his life in return for fighting Hell’s forces; Gabriel dismisses Constantine’s request as self-serving.

Detective Angela Dodson investigates the suspicious death of her twin sister Isabel, refusing to accept the official ruling of suicide despite Isabel’s strong Catholic faith. Upon hearing her sister mention "Constantine," Angela approaches him for assistance. Initially reluctant, Constantine intervenes when demons target Angela. He confirms Isabel’s death was suicide and reveals that his own previous suicide condemns him to Hell upon death.

At the morgue, Father Hennessy discovers a symbol on Isabel’s wrist but is slain by the demon Balthazar. Constantine and Angela find that Hennessy carved the same symbol into his hand as a clue. A concealed message from Isabel references a passage in Hell’s Bible about Mammon—Lucifer’s son and the antichrist—who intends to dominate Earth through psychic abilities combined with divine power. Isabel sacrificed herself to prevent this; Angela discloses she possesses similar dormant psychic talents. Constantine assists Angela in unlocking these abilities through a near-death experience.

Angela tracks down Balthazar, who reveals that the blood on the spear tip empowers Mammon and that Angela is destined to become his vessel. An unseen entity kills Balthazar and abducts Angela, who becomes possessed by Mammon.

With aid from witch doctor Papa Midnite and his apprentice Chas Kramer, Constantine assaults the psychiatric facility where Angela is confined. After battling demons and apparently expelling Mammon, Chas is killed by Gabriel. Resentful of God’s favoritism toward humanity, Gabriel plots to unleash Hell upon Earth so survivors will earn divine affection through suffering. Gabriel intends to use the spear tip to free Mammon.

Constantine takes his own life to summon Lucifer (DC Comics), persuading him to intervene. Gabriel fails in attacking Lucifer, who retaliates by burning Gabriel’s wings and banishing Mammon back to Hell. Lucifer offers to restore Constantine but he requests that Isabel be granted entry into Heaven instead. As Lucifer drags Constantine toward Hell, Constantine ascends due to his selfless deed. Enraged, Lucifer revives Constantine and cures his cancer, anticipating that he will ultimately belong in Hell. Before departing, Constantine confronts Gabriel and entrusts Angela with safeguarding the spear tip. In a post-credits scene, Constantine visits Chas’s grave and sees him transformed with angelic wings.

Cast

• Keanu Reeves as John Constantine: A cynical, chain-smoking exorcist who can perceive the true forms of beings that are part angel and part demon on the human plane. He is condemned to Hell after a suicide attempt and battles terminal lung cancer.
  • Connor Dylan Wryn portrays a young version of John Constantine
  • Quinn Buniel appears as John Constantine in childhood
• Rachel Weisz as Angela Dodson: An LAPD detective investigating the apparent suicide of her twin sister, Isabel.
  • Also takes on the role of Mammon, the impatient son of Lucifer, who inhabits Angela’s body to escape Hell and seek dominion over Earth.
• Shia LaBeouf as Chas Kramer: Constantine’s driver and apprentice, eager to learn about the occult and assist Constantine in his endeavors.
• Tilda Swinton as Gabriel: A "half-breed" Archangel with contempt for humanity, scheming to release Mammon and unleash Hell upon the world.
• Pruitt Taylor Vince as Father Hennessy: An insomniac, alcoholic priest who communicates with spirits and wears a charm to block their voices.
• Djimon Hounsou as Papa Midnite: A former witch doctor who remains neutral in the celestial conflict by running a nightclub that serves both Heaven and Hell factions.
• Gavin Rossdale as Balthazar: A "half-breed" demon and son of Lucifer with a personal history involving Constantine.
• Peter Stormare as Lucifer: The fallen Archangel ruling Hell, engaged in a proxy battle for human souls; he specifically targets Constantine’s soul due to their past confrontations.
• Max Baker as Beeman: Supplies Constantine with occult resources and intelligence.
• Francis Guinan as Father Garret: A priest consulted regarding Isabel’s burial arrangements.
• José Zúñiga as Detective Weiss: Angela’s police partner.
• Jesse Ramirez as Manuel: A treasure hunter who discovers the powerful Spear of Destiny.
• April Grace as Dr. Archer: Constantine’s medical doctor.
• Tanoai Reed as bouncer at Papa Midnite’s nightclub.
• Valerie Azlynn as an angelic figure in a bar who miraculously turns water into wine.

Michelle Monaghan filmed scenes portraying Ellie, a half-breed demon inspired by a succubus from the Hellblazer comics, who provides vital information to Constantine. However, director Francis Lawrence reduced her role in the final edit to brief appearances and a single line during the climactic hospital scene to emphasize Constantine’s solitary nature.

Production

The character of John Constantine was originally created by comic book writer Alan Moore in The Saga of Swamp Thing #37 (June 1985) before receiving his own series titled Hellblazer, launched by DC Comics in 1988.

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner initiated development of the film adaptation in 1997. Initially, Paul Hunter was set to direct in 1999 but was replaced by Tarsem Singh in 2001. Warner Bros. planned to begin filming in 2002 with Nicolas Cage cast as the lead; however, Singh exited the project, resulting in legal disputes between him and Warner Bros. In 2002, Keanu Reeves was brought on board for the lead role. Alan Moore declined involvement due to dissatisfaction with previous adaptations of his work and requested that his royalties be redirected to other creators.

The film draws from Garth Ennis's "Dangerous Habits" storyline (issues #41–46) and includes characters such as Papa Midnite, featured prominently in Original Sins. To avoid confusion with Clive Barker’s Hellraiser series, the movie’s title was changed from Hellblazer to Constantine—a decision reflecting similar changes made for the comic itself.

Relocating the setting from England to Los Angeles was justified by director Francis Lawrence, who noted that the comic frequently shifts locations. Reeves portrayed Constantine using his natural Canadian accent and black hair, diverging from the comic's Liverpool-based character modeled after musician Sting. The film introduced a psychic ability allowing Constantine to perceive supernatural "half-breeds," which leads to his suicide attempt and damnation—a departure from the comic’s original backstory involving demon summoning. Additionally, the lung cancer subplot was altered so that Lucifer saves Constantine willingly, granting him a second chance rather than deceiving him.

Director Lawrence envisioned Hell as "the geography of what surrounds us," blending elements of biological decay with imagery reminiscent of 1940s nuclear test footage. This created an unending violent landscape marked by continual but incomplete destruction.

Music

The Constantine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was made available on February 15, 2005. It includes orchestral pieces composed by Brian Tyler, recognized for his work on Eagle Eye and Fast & Furious, alongside Klaus Badelt. These compositions were performed by The Hollywood Studio Symphony and The Hollywood Film Chorale. However, the album does not feature two tracks from the movie: "Passive" by A Perfect Circle and "Take Five" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Critical reception of the soundtrack was largely unfavorable, with Allmusic labeling it as predictable and overly reliant on religious clichés.

Theatrical

Initially set for a September 17, 2004 release, the film's debut was delayed until February 2005. While the filmmakers aimed for a PG-13 rating, the MPAA ultimately assigned an R-rating, a decision director Lawrence attributed to the film’s religious content.

Home media

The movie was distributed on VHS and DVD during 2005 and was among the first titles slated for an HD DVD release by Warner Home Video on March 28, 2006. Due to postponements in the HD DVD launch, its release occurred later on June 6, 2006. Subsequently, Warner released a Blu-ray Disc edition on October 14, 2008. To commemorate its 20th anniversary, a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray version is planned for release on February 18, 2025.

Box office

Constantine debuted across 3,006 theaters in the United States on February 18, 2005, generating $29.8 million during its opening weekend and securing second place behind Hitch. Its theatrical run ended on June 16 with domestic earnings of $76 million and international receipts totaling $154.9 million, culminating in a global box office of $230.9 million against a production budget estimated between $70 and $100 million.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, % of critics responded positively to the film, with an average rating of ; the consensus highlights that although it boasts strong production values and an engaging concept, Constantine lacks the narrative focus found in comparable spiritual action films such as The Matrix. Metacritic assigned it a score of 50 out of 100 based on 41 reviews, reflecting mixed or average opinions. Audience polling by CinemaScore returned an average grade of "B."

Richard Corliss from Time characterized the movie as "a unique blend: a theological noir action picture," applauding Keanu Reeves' magnetic presence and Tilda Swinton's portrayal while criticizing the finale as "irreversibly silly." Ella Taylor of LA Weekly emphasized its "spiritual rewards," whereas Carina Chocano of the Los Angeles Times praised Reeves' embodiment of messianic figures with "Zen detachment and calm."

Pete Vonder Haar from Film Threat awarded three stars, noting striking visuals and entertaining moments that highlight Reeves' cynical persona. In contrast, Jack Mathews of the New York Daily News rated it two out of four stars, dismissing it as "as absurd as fantasy films get." Michael Sragow from The Baltimore Sun and Desson Thomson of The Washington Post criticized its tonal inconsistencies and deviation from the original material, pointing out Reeves’ Americanized interpretation of a character originally British.

Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide gave the film a BOMB rating, describing it as "tedious." Roger Ebert assigned one and a half stars out of four, condemning its portrayal of Hell, plot flaws, and core premise while acknowledging Reeves’ suitably somber performance. Ebert later listed Constantine among his least favorite films.

Retrospective evaluations

With the passage of time, critical opinion has shifted, and the film is now regarded by certain critics and journalists as a cult favorite. In a 20th anniversary look back for Fangoria, Ryan Scott emphasized the film’s initially divided reception but acknowledged its growth into a devoted cult audience. Rafael Motamayor from Rotten Tomatoes commended the movie’s blend of noir and thriller elements, the supporting cast’s performances, and Keanu Reeves' portrayal, describing it as a more "compelling interpretation" compared to the standard comic-book adaptations of its era.

Novelization and video game

To coincide with the movie’s launch, a novelization authored by John Shirley and a video game version were released. The novelization expands on the mythology by depicting Hell’s architecture as formed from the souls of the condemned, bound together with blood instead of traditional mortar.

Sequel

Director Francis Lawrence remarked in 2011 on Constantine’s cult status and expressed interest in creating a sequel with a darker tone and an R rating, moving away from the original’s ambiguous PG-13 to R rating.

By November 2012, Guillermo del Toro had committed to writing and directing a Justice League Dark film that would include John Constantine alongside other supernatural characters from DC Comics.

Keanu Reeves conveyed his willingness to return to the role in both 2019 and 2021. In November 2020, Peter Stormare mentioned that a sequel was "in development," though neither Warner Bros. nor Reeves immediately confirmed this.

In September 2022, Warner Bros. revealed plans for a Constantine sequel featuring Reeves reprising his role with Francis Lawrence directing once again. Akiva Goldsman was announced as screenwriter and producer alongside J. J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella. Reeves confirmed ongoing discussions with DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, identifying the sequel as part of the DC Elseworlds line, separate from the primary DC Universe continuity.

By October 2023, Lawrence reported that following the resolution of the 2023 Writers Guild strike, he, Reeves, and Goldsman were actively collaborating on story development. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura confirmed that the screenplay was finished by September 2024.

In February 2025, Reeves disclosed that he and Lawrence had crafted a story which received approval from DC Studios to move forward into scripting. The upcoming sequel will continue within the same universe established by the 2005 film, with John Constantine confronting intensified obstacles. Lawrence underscored that after years of refining concepts inspired by the comics, they are now closer than ever to bringing this project to fruition.