Sommersby_
"She knew his face. His touch. His voice. She knew everything about him ... But the truth."
Set in the South just after the US Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband, believed killed in battle. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he suddenly returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an imposter. Laurel herself is unsure, but willing to take the man into her home, and perhaps later into her heart.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Disney+
24 countries
Prime Video
16 countries
Rakuten TV
FREE
10 countries
Plex
FREE
5 countries
N
Netzkino
FREE
1 country
Pluto TV
FREE
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Sommersby earned $140.1M worldwide on a $30.0M budget — a 367% return on investment.
Jon Amiel →
Year context
Sommersby was released 33 years ago in 1993.
CAST (20)
Jodie Foster
Laurel Sommersby
Richard Gere
John Robert Sommersby / Horace Townsend
Bill Pullman
Orin Meecham
James Earl Jones
Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
Lanny Flaherty
Buck
William Windom
Reverend Powell
WW
Wendell Wellman
Travis
BK
Brett Kelley
Little Rob
Clarice Taylor
Esther
Frankie Faison
Joseph
R. Lee Ermey
Dick Mead
Richard Hamilton
Doc Evans
KK
Karen Kirschenbauer
Mrs. Evans
CM
Carter McNeese
Storekeeper Wilson
DW
Dean Whitworth
Tom Clemmons
SW
Stephanie Weaver
Mrs. Bundy
Muse Watson
Drifter #1
PA
Paul Austin
KKK #1 / Folsom
Frank Hoyt Taylor
KKK #2
DS
Doug Sloan
Marshall #2
CREW
Director
BOX OFFICE
$30.0M
Budget
$140.1M
Revenue
+367%
ROI
MASSIVE HIT
Verdict
STUDIOS (2)
Regency Enterprises
StudioCanal
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
109 min (1h 49m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.3/10 (415 votes)
Popularity
5
Budget
$30,000,000
Box Office
$140,081,992
Profit
+$110,081,992
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Sommersby about?
Set in the South just after the US Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband, believed killed in battle. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he suddenly returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an imposter. Laurel herself is unsure, but willing to take the man into her home, and perhaps later into her heart.
How long is Sommersby?
Sommersby has a runtime of 109 minutes (1h 49m).
Who directed Sommersby?
Sommersby was directed by Jon Amiel.
Who stars in Sommersby?
The cast of Sommersby includes Jodie Foster, Richard Gere, Bill Pullman, James Earl Jones, Lanny Flaherty.
How much did Sommersby make at the box office?
Sommersby earned $140,081,992 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $30,000,000.
What is the rating of Sommersby?
Sommersby has a rating of 6.3 out of 10 based on 415 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (4)
Drama
Thriller
Mystery
Romance
KEYWORDS (21)
husband wife relationship
court case
war veteran
ku klux klan
southern usa
village life
return
peasant
suspicion of murder
gallows
violent husband
death sentence
agriculture
racial segregation
based on true story
look-alike
impostor
hanging
post civil war
soldier's wife
reconstruction era