Spawn (1997 film)

Spawn
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMark A.Z. Dippé
Screenplay byAlan B. McElroy
Story by
  • Alan B. McElroy
  • Mark A.Z. Dippé
Based onSpawn
by Todd McFarlane
Produced byClint Goldman
Starring
CinematographyGuillermo Navarro
Edited by
  • Rick Shaine
  • Michael N. Knue
  • Todd Busch
Music byGraeme Revell
Production
companies
  • New Line Cinema
  • Todd McFarlane Entertainment
  • Juno Pix
  • Pull Down Your Pants Pictures
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release date
  • August 1, 1997 (1997-08-01)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40–45 million
Box office$87.9 million

Spawn is a 1997 American superhero horror film based on the Image Comics character of the same name. Directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé (in his directorial debut) from a script by Alan B. McElroy, the film stars Michael Jai White as the titular character, alongside John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen, Theresa Randle, D. B. Sweeney and Nicol Williamson in his final film role. Spawn is one of the first films to feature an African-American actor portraying a major comic book superhero. The film depicts the character's origin story as a murdered US Marine who returns from Hell as its army's reluctant leader.

Spawn was released in the United States on August 1, 1997. It received generally negative reviews but was a box office success, grossing $87.9 million worldwide against a production budget between $40–45 million. A reboot, entitled King Spawn, is in development.