View source for Constantine (film)

{{Short description|2005 American superhero horror film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Constantine
| image          = Constantine poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Francis Lawrence]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Lauren Shuler Donner]]
* [[Benjamin Melniker]]
* [[Michael E. Uslan]]
* [[Erwin Stoff]]
* [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]]
* [[Akiva Goldsman]]
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Kevin Brodbin]]
* [[Frank Cappello]]
}}
| story          = Kevin Brodbin
| based_on       = {{based on|[[John Constantine]]||[[Alan Moore]]|[[Stephen R. Bissette]]|[[Rick Veitch]]|[[John Totleben]]}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Keanu Reeves]]
* [[Rachel Weisz]]
* [[Shia LaBeouf]]
* [[Tilda Swinton]]
* [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]]
* [[Djimon Hounsou]]
* [[Gavin Rossdale]]
* [[Peter Stormare]]
}}
| music          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Brian Tyler]]
* [[Klaus Badelt]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Philippe Rousselot]]
| editing        = [[Wayne Wahrman]]
| production_companies = {{ubl|[[Warner Bros. Pictures]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=63356|title=Constantine|work=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=July 13, 2017|archive-date=June 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623002738/http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=63356|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Village Roadshow Pictures]]<ref name=SuperHeroHype>{{cite web|url=https://www.superherohype.com/features/87589-a-perfect-circles-passive-in-constantine|title=A Perfect Circle's Passive in Constantine|work=[[SuperHeroHype]]|date=January 11, 2005|access-date=January 2, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102155206/https://www.superherohype.com/features/87589-a-perfect-circles-passive-in-constantine|archive-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref>|[[The Donners' Company]]<ref name=Seeing-Stars>{{cite web|url=https://www.seeing-stars.com/meet/MoviePremierePressReleases/Constantine.shtml|title=Constantine World Premiere; Wednesday, February 16, 2005|work=Seeing-Stars|access-date=January 2, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102155525/https://www.seeing-stars.com/meet/MoviePremierePressReleases/Constantine.shtml|archive-date=January 2, 2021}}</ref>|[[Weed Road Pictures]]<ref name=Seeing-Stars/>|[[3 Arts Entertainment]]<ref name=Seeing-Stars/>}}
| distributor    = Warner Bros. Pictures<ref name=afi/>
| released       = {{Film date|2005|2|7|Paris|2005|2|18|United States}}
| runtime        = 121 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 120:39--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/constantine-2005-3 | title=''CONSTANTINE'' (15) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=January 31, 2005 | access-date=August 16, 2015 | archive-date=January 9, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109151838/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/constantine-2005-3 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| country        = United States<ref>{{cite web|title=Constantine (EN)|url=http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=23717|website=Lumiere|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623161617/http://lumiere.obs.coe.int/web/film_info/?id=23717|url-status=live}}</ref>
| language       = English
| budget         = $70–100 million<ref name=budget>{{Cite web |url=https://fandomwire.com/keanu-reeves-constantine-co-star-confirms-sequel-is-in-works/ |title=Keanu Reeves' Constantine Co-Star Confirms Sequel Is In Works |website=fandomwire.com |date=November 13, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205135239/https://fandomwire.com/keanu-reeves-constantine-co-star-confirms-sequel-is-in-works/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Numbers">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Constantine#tab=summary|title=Constantine (2005)|work=The Numbers|access-date=July 17, 2020|archive-date=July 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718060544/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Constantine#tab=summary|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=mojo/>
| gross          = $230.9 million<ref name=mojo/>
}}
'''''Constantine''''' is a 2005 American [[superhero film|superhero]] [[horror film]] directed by [[Francis Lawrence]] in his directorial debut. Written by [[Kevin Brodbin]] and [[Frank Cappello]], it is loosely based on [[DC Comics]]' ''[[Hellblazer]]'' comic book. The film stars [[Keanu Reeves]] as [[John Constantine]], a cynical [[exorcist]] with the ability to perceive and communicate with half-angels and half-demons in their true forms and to travel between Earth and Hell. [[Rachel Weisz]], [[Shia LaBeouf]], [[Tilda Swinton]], [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]], [[Djimon Hounsou]], [[Gavin Rossdale]], and [[Peter Stormare]] also feature.

''Constantine'' was released theatrically in the United States on February 18, 2005. It grossed $230.9 million worldwide against a production budget between $70–100 million, but met with a mixed reception from film critics. A sequel is currently in development.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=2022-09-16 |title=Warner Bros Sets 'Constantine' Sequel; Keanu Reeves & Francis Lawrence To Reunite, Akiva Goldsman Scripting & Producing With Bad Robot's JJ Abrams & Hannah Minghella |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/constantine-sequel-keanu-reeves-francis-lawrence-warner-bros-dc-akiva-goldsman-scripting-producing-bad-robot-jj-abrams-hannah-minghella-1235121127/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Plot==
<!---Gabriel has been established as androgynous, being neither male nor female. Please keep this in mind as you edit so that you may avoid using terms which would apply to a gender.-->
In Mexico, a scavenger recovers the tip of the [[Holy Lance|spear that pierced Jesus Christ]] from a ruined church and, after becoming possessed, takes it to Los Angeles. There, cynical occult expert [[John Constantine]] exorcises a demon from a young girl after witnessing its attempt to come through her to Earth, something that should be impossible because of a treaty between Heaven and Hell. Suffering from terminal lung cancer, Constantine meets with the half-breed angel [[List of Hellblazer characters#Archangel Gabriel|Gabriel]] to request an extension to his life in exchange for his work deporting Hell's forces. Gabriel responds that performing good deeds for selfish reasons will not secure his way into Heaven.

Elsewhere, detective Angela Dodson is investigating the death of her twin sister Isabel who leaped from a psychiatric hospital roof. Angela refuses to believe her sister, a devout [[Catholic]], would commit suicide and condemn herself to Hell. Watching security footage, Angela hears Isabel say "Constantine", and seeks out his assistance. He refuses to help until he witnesses demons pursuing Angela and fends them off. He uses a ritual to see Isabel in Hell and confirms she killed herself. Constantine tells Angela that he committed suicide as a teenager because he was traumatized by seeing supernatural creatures and, though he was revived, when he dies he is condemned to Hell.

At the morgue, Constantine's friend Father Hennesy discovers a symbol on Isabel's wrist but is killed by the half-breed demon Balthazar. Constantine and Angela discover Hennesy carved the symbol into his hand for them to find. Angela also finds a clue hidden in Isabel's hospital room concerning a chapter of Hell's bible. Before being killed by Balthazar, Constantine's ally Beeman tells the pair the symbol represents the [[antichrist]] [[Mammon]], [[Lucifer]]'s son, and the chapter prophesies him usurping his father and conquering the Earth, using a powerful psychic and divine assistance; the psychic, Isabel, killed herself to stop Mammon. Angela reveals she possessed powers like Isabel's but repressed them to avoid being deemed insane like her sister. Constantine helps Angela reawaken her powers by inducing a [[near-death experience]], and she uses them to find Balthazar.

Constantine interrogates Balthazar and learns that the [[blood of Christ]] on the spear tip is Mammon's divine assistance, and Angela has been chosen as his new host. An unseen entity destroys Balthazar and abducts Angela who becomes possessed by Mammon. With the help of [[witch doctor]] [[Papa Midnite]], Constantine induces visions to locate Angela at the psychiatric hospital. Alongside his driver and apprentice, Chas Kramer, Constantine arms himself and assaults the building, battling through hordes of demons to Angela. Constantine and Chas seemingly exorcise Mammon from her, but Chas is killed by the unseen force, revealed to be Gabriel. Resentful at [[God]]'s favoritism for humanity and forgiveness for even the most wicked, Gabriel intends to unleash Hell on Earth so that those who survive will become truly "worthy" of His love. Gabriel tosses Constantine away and prepares to pierce Angela with the spear tip to unleash Mammon.

Desperate, Constantine commits suicide by slitting his wrists, knowing that Lucifer will personally come to collect him. Time pauses and Constantine convinces Lucifer to intervene and stop Mammon. Gabriel ineffectually attempts to smite Lucifer, revealing God has abandoned them, and Lucifer burns away Gabriel's wings before banishing Mammon to Hell. Lucifer offers to restore Constantine to life for his assistance, but he instead asks that Isabel be sent to Heaven. Lucifer releases Isabel, but Constantine begins ascending to Heaven for his selfless sacrifice. Infuriated, Lucifer restores Constantine to life and removes his cancer, believing that, in time, he will prove he belongs in Hell. Constantine punches the now-mortal Gabriel before leaving and entrusts Angela with securing the spear tip. In a [[post-credits scene]], Constantine visits Chas's grave and witnesses Chas in an angelic form.

==Cast==
* [[Keanu Reeves]] as [[John Constantine]], a chain-smoking cynic with the ability to perceive the true [[wikt:visage|visage]] of half-angels and half-demons on the human [[Astral plane|plane]]. John believes himself damned to Hell for attempting suicide—a mortal sin—and has [[Lung cancer#Prognosis|terminal lung cancer]].
** Connor Dylan Wryn as young John Constantine
** Quinn Buniel as child John Constantine
* [[Rachel Weisz]] as Angela Dodson, a troubled [[Los Angeles Police Department|LAPD]] detective investigating the suicide of her twin sister Isabel (also portrayed by Weisz) . 
** Weisz also portrays Mammon, the son of Lucifer who has no patience for his father's rule of Hell and uses Angela's body as a means of escaping to rule over Earth.
* [[Shia LaBeouf]] as [[Chas Chandler (comics)|Chas Kramer]], Constantine's driver and apprentice. Chas has a strong interest in the occult and helps Constantine whenever possible in order to gain knowledge and experience from him.
* [[Tilda Swinton]] as [[List of Hellblazer characters#The Archangel Gabriel|Gabriel]], a "half-breed" Archangel with a [[Misanthropy|disdain for humanity]] who plots to free Mammon as a means to unleash Hell on the Earth.
* [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]] as Father Hennessy, an [[insomnia]]c, alcoholic priest with the ability to [[Mediumship|communicate with the dead]]. He wears a protective charm in order to "keep the voices out".
* [[Djimon Hounsou]] as [[Papa Midnite]], a former [[Witch doctor|witch-doctor]] who once fought against Hell. After swearing an oath of neutrality—unless one side should tip the balance of power—he opened a nightclub to serve as neutral meeting ground for both sides of the war between Heaven and Hell.
* [[Gavin Rossdale]] as Balthazar, a "half-breed" demon with a special interest in, and personal history with, Constantine.
* [[Peter Stormare]] as [[Lucifer (DC Comics)|Satan/Lucifer]], a fallen Archangel who is in a proxy war with [[God]] for the souls of all mankind and ruler of [[Hell]], feared on Earth as [[Satan]] or [[The Devil]]. Lucifer loathes Constantine with such vigor that Constantine's soul is the only one he would ever come to personally collect.
* Max Baker as Beeman, a friend of Constantine's with extensive knowledge of exotic occult materials and insects. He supplies Constantine with both holy objects and information.
* [[Francis Guinan]] as Father Garret, a priest Angela talks to about getting Isabel a Catholic burial.
* [[José Zúñiga]] as Det. Weiss, Angela's partner.
* Jesse Ramirez as Manuel, a scavenger and treasure hunter who finds the [[Spear of Destiny]] in the ruins of a church in Mexico that grants various powers and places him in a trance-like state in which he travels to Los Angeles.
* April Grace as Dr. Archer, Constantine's doctor.
* [[Tanoai Reed]] as the bouncer at Midnite's club.

Additionally, [[Michelle Monaghan]] filmed several scenes as Ellie, a half-breed demon Constantine sleeps with and asks for information, who is based on a succubus of the same name in the ''Hellblazer'' comics. In the finished film, however, the role consists of two brief shots and one line of dialogue ("Holy water?") during Constantine's climactic confrontation with the group of half-breeds in the hospital. Director Francis Lawrence said Ellie's relationship with Constantine was cut to make him more of a lonely character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Director Francis Lawrence Discusses "Constantine" and Keanu Reeves |url=http://movies.about.com/od/constantine/a/constntfl021705.htm |work=About.com |access-date=November 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621111241/http://movies.about.com/od/constantine/a/constntfl021705.htm |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Production==
The character of [[John Constantine]] was introduced by comic book writer/creator [[Alan Moore]] in ''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)#Second series|The Saga of Swamp Thing]]'' #37, released in June 1985.<ref>Markstein, Don. "Don Markstein's Toonopedia: John Constantine". Retrieved May 31, 2007</ref> In 1988, the character was given his own comic book title, ''[[Hellblazer]]'', published by [[DC Comics]].

Producer [[Lauren Shuler Donner]] began developing the film in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Hindes|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/aguilar-moving-to-donner-111662407/|title=Aguilar upped to prod'n exec|work=Variety|date=October 9, 1997|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220081121/https://variety.com/1997/film/news/aguilar-moving-to-donner-111662407/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Paul Hunter (director)|Paul Hunter]] was attached to direct in 1999,<ref>{{cite news|first=Army|last=Archerd|url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/callner-goes-from-tv-specs-to-film-1117503651/|title=Callner goes from TV specs to film|work=Variety|date=July 1, 1999|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220081104/http://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/callner-goes-from-tv-specs-to-film-1117503651/|url-status=live}}</ref> and he was replaced by [[Tarsem Singh]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Fleming|title=Donners shoot for Winchester|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/donners-shoot-for-winchester-1117799268/|work=Variety|date=May 14, 2001|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220081113/http://variety.com/2001/film/news/donners-shoot-for-winchester-1117799268/|url-status=live}}</ref> Warner Bros. hoped to begin filming in 2002 with [[Nicolas Cage]] in the lead role,<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Fleming|title=DreamWorks logs Logan as Lincoln scribe|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/dreamworks-logs-logan-as-lincoln-scribe-1117856825/|work=Variety|date=December 5, 2001|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220081116/http://variety.com/2001/film/news/dreamworks-logs-logan-as-lincoln-scribe-1117856825/|url-status=live}}</ref> but Singh dropped out, resulting in opposing lawsuits filed by himself and Warner Bros. [[Keanu Reeves]] became attached to the film in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dana|last=Harris|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/news/wb-fewer-pix-more-punch-1117869140/|title=WB: fewer pix, more punch|work=Variety|date=June 30, 2002|access-date=October 15, 2014|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212214200/https://variety.com/2002/film/news/wb-fewer-pix-more-punch-1117869140/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Alan Moore]], the original creator of John Constantine, had been disappointed by the previous adaptations of his comics ''[[From Hell]]'' and ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', and refused to be credited or associated with this film, asking that his royalties be distributed among the other creators of the character.

''Constantine'' incorporated some elements of [[Garth Ennis]]'s "[[Dangerous Habits]]" story arc from the comic (issues #41–46),<ref name=shock>{{cite web |last=Turek |first=Ryan |title=Update: Francis Lawrence Would Do Constantine 2 |date=November 2007 |url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=3842 |work=ShockTillYouDrop.com |access-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928031949/http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=3842 |archive-date=September 28, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and others, such as the inclusion of [[Papa Midnite]], from the ''Original Sins'' trade paperback.<ref>{{cite web |title=Keanu Reeves, Djimon Hounsou and Director Francis Lawrence on 'Constantine' |url=http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aaconst072904a.htm |work=About.com |access-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-date=September 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929132022/http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aaconst072904a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The film's title was changed from ''Hellblazer'' to ''Constantine'' to avoid confusion with [[Clive Barker]]'s ''[[Hellraiser]]'' films.<ref name="Page2" /> In fact, the comics series was originally going to be titled ''Hellraiser'', but was also retitled to avoid confusion with the first ''Hellraiser'' film, which was released a year before the debut of ''Hellblazer''.<ref name="Vert-Hell">{{cite book |last=Irvine |first=Alex |author-link=Alexander C. Irvine |contribution=John Constantine Hellblazer |editor-last=Dougall |editor-first=Alastair |title=The Vertigo Encyclopedia |pages=102–111 |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |location=New York |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7566-4122-1 |oclc=213309015}}</ref>

The film changed several aspects of the source material. For one, it was set in Los Angeles, rather than England, which director [[Francis Lawrence]] justified by claiming that the comic book was not exclusively set in London.<ref name="Page2" /> Reeves played the role of John Constantine with his real-life American accent and black hair,<ref name="Page2">{{cite web |title=Keanu Reeves, Djimon Hounsou and Director Francis Lawrence on 'Constantine' Page 2 |url=http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aaconst072904b.htm |work=About.com |access-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-date=July 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719021315/http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aaconst072904b.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> while the character in the comics was drawn to resemble the blond musician [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] and came from [[Liverpool]].<ref name="Vert-Hell" /> For the film, Constantine was also given the psychic ability to see "half-breeds" as they truly are, and this led him to attempt suicide, causing his damnation,<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Hilary |title=Constantine Vs. Hellblazer |work=[[IGN]] |date=February 28, 2005 |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/591/591991p1.html |access-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011025727/http://comics.ign.com/articles/591/591991p1.html |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which, in the comics, was punishment for summoning a demon that killed a young girl.<ref name="Devil">{{cite book |last=Delano |first=Jamie |author-link=Jamie Delano |title=Hellblazer: The Devil You Know |publisher=DC Comics (Vertigo) |date=May 8, 2007 |isbn=978-1-4012-1269-8}}</ref> Additionally, the resolution of the lung cancer plotline in the film was amended so that Lucifer willingly saves the redeemed Constantine to give him a second chance at falling, rather than being tricked into doing so.<ref name="IGN" />

[[Image:Constantine Hell.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hell as it is depicted in the film]]
Director Lawrence decided to base the film's conception of Hell "on the geography of what's around us now."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.horror.com/php/article-697-1.html |title=Interview with 'Constantine' director Francis Lawrence |work=Horror.com |access-date=January 31, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928065310/http://www.horror.com/php/article-697-1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He further explained:
{{blockquote|That was actually a combination of me and the visual effects supervisor and the production designer sitting down and sort of coming up with the biological growth that's growing all over the cars and what that looks like and the color palette. And we started to look at the nuclear test films from the 1940s of the nuclear blasts and just decided that it would be great if the landscape was not only violent with these creatures, but also the atmosphere. So we decided that it was kind of an eternal nuclear blast except nothing ever really gets obliterated because it's eternal and it's constantly going.}}

==Music==
===Soundtrack===
{{Infobox album
| name       = Constantine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| type       = [[Soundtrack]]
| artist     = [[Brian Tyler]] and [[Klaus Badelt]]
| cover      = 
| caption    = 
| alt        =
| released   = February 15, 2005
| recorded   = 2004
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Film score]]<br />[[Soundtrack]]
| length     = 51:47
| label      = [[Varèse Sarabande]]
| producer   =
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}

{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|2|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r730223|access-date=2011-12-30|tab=review|first=James Christopher|last=Monger}}</ref>
}}
'''''Constantine: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack''''' was released on February 15, 2005. It is an orchestral compilation of songs from the film, performed by The Hollywood Studio Symphony & The Hollywood Film Chorale and composed by [[Brian Tyler]], the composer for films such as ''[[Eagle Eye]]'' and ''[[Fast & Furious (2009 film)|Fast & Furious]]'', and [[Klaus Badelt]]. Two songs heard in the film, "[[Passive (song)|Passive]]" by [[A Perfect Circle]] (heard as Constantine walks through Midnite's bar) and "[[Take Five]]" by [[The Dave Brubeck Quartet]] (heard on a record played by Constantine), were not included on the soundtrack.

The album was panned by [[Allmusic]], who referred to it as "clichéd and religiously formulaic".<ref name="allmusic"/>

'''Instrumentation'''

* Strings: 47 violins, 27 violas, 27 violoncellos, 17 double basses, 1 harp
* Woodwinds: 7 flutes, 4 clarinets, 2 bassoons
* Brass: 12 horns, 3 trumpets, 6 trombones, 2 tubas
* Percussion: 8 players
* Keyboard: 3 players
* Chorus: 11 sopranos, 10 altos, 8 tenors, 8 baritones/bass

==Release==
===Theatrical===
The original announced release date for the film was September 17, 2004,<ref>{{cite news|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|url=https://variety.com/2003/biz/news/comics-in-development-1117889467/|title=Comics in development|work=Variety|date=July 16, 2003|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=December 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220081101/http://variety.com/2003/biz/news/comics-in-development-1117889467/|url-status=live}}</ref> but it was subsequently pushed back to February 2005. Although the film was intended to be rated [[Motion Picture Association film rating system|PG-13]], it received an R-rating from the [[Motion Picture Association|MPAA]], which Lawrence attributed to its religious overtones.<ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Why Wasn't There Ever A 'Constantine' Sequel? Keanu Reeves, Francis Lawrence & Akiva Goldsman Look Back At DC Movie – Comic-Con@Home |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/constantine-sequel-keanu-reeves-francis-lawrence-akiva-goldsman-comic-con-1202995044/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=March 24, 2021 |date=July 25, 2020 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101175926/https://deadline.com/2020/07/constantine-sequel-keanu-reeves-francis-lawrence-akiva-goldsman-comic-con-1202995044/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Home media===
The film was released on VHS and DVD in 2005. [[Warner Home Video]] announced it would be released on [[HD DVD]] on March 28, 2006,<ref>Business Wire (January 5, 2006). [http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060105/20060105005946.html?.v=1 "Warner Home Video Announces Titles and Release Dates for HD DVD"]. ''[[Yahoo!]]''. Retrieved 2011-10-29. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220052504/http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060105/20060105005946.html?.v=1 |date=February 20, 2006 }}</ref> making it one of the earliest titles released on that media format, but, following delays to the launch of HD DVD, it actually debuted on HD DVD on June 6, 2006. It was released on [[Blu-ray]] Disc by Warner Home Video on October 14, 2008.<ref>{{Citation |title=Constantine Blu-ray (Blu-ray + Digital HD) |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Constantine-Blu-ray/14/ |access-date=2022-05-13}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Constantine'' opened in 3,006 theaters in the United States on February 18, 2005, earning $29.8 million in its opening weekend and ranking second behind [[Hitch (film)|''Hitch'']]'s second weekend.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2005&wknd=07&p=.htm | title=Weekend Box Office Results for February 18-20, 2005 | work=Box Office Mojo | publisher=Amazon | date=February 21, 2005 | access-date=April 8, 2016 | archive-date=February 22, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222140417/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2005&wknd=07&p=.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> It ended its run on June 16, having grossed $76 million in the United States and Canada, and $154.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $230.9 million, against a production budget of $70–100 million.<ref name=budget/><ref name="Numbers"/><ref name=mojo>{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=constantine.htm | title=Constantine (2005) | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | publisher=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] | date=June 17, 2005 | access-date=April 8, 2016 | archive-date=June 2, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602210928/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=constantine.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Critical response===
On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on the reviews of {{RT data|count}} critics, and an average rating of {{RT data|average}}; the site's consensus states: "Despite solid production values and an intriguing premise, ''Constantine'' lacks the focus of another spiritual shoot-em-up, ''The Matrix''."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/constantine|title=''Constantine'' (2005)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523134754/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/constantine|archive-date=May 23, 2021|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[weighted average]], it has a score of 50 out of 100 based on the reviews of 41 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/constantine |title=''Constantine'' Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=January 31, 2011 |archive-date=March 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302101325/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/constantine |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=Cinemascore |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine called the film "a one-of-a-kind hybrid: a theological noir action film".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1027514,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218012528/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1027514,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2005 |title=Movies: Caught Between Heaven and Hell |last=Corliss |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=February 14, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2010}}</ref> He cited Keanu Reeves' ability to "retain his charisma in [a] weird-silly moment" as proof that he is a "movie star", and referred to Tilda Swinton as "immaculately decadent". Corliss also praised the variety of camera placements employed by Francis Lawrence. He was, however, critical of the climax of the film, referring to it as "irrevocably goofy".

[[Ella Taylor]] of ''[[LA Weekly]]'' wrote: "''Constantine'', which opts in the end for what I can only describe as a kind of supernatural humanism, is not without its spiritual satisfactions."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2005-02-17/film-tv/bewitched-bothered-and-bewildered |title=Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered |last=Taylor |first=Ella |author-link=Ella Taylor |newspaper=[[LA Weekly]] |date=February 17, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2010 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102321/http://www.laweekly.com/2005-02-17/film-tv/bewitched-bothered-and-bewildered/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Carina Chocano of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' said that "Keanu Reeves has no peer when it comes to playing these sort of messianic roles—he infuses them with a Zen blankness and serenity that somehow gets him through even the unlikeliest scenes with a quiet, unassuming dignity."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-constantine18feb18,2,3251823.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327045729/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-constantine18feb18%2C2%2C3251823.story |archive-date=March 27, 2008 |title=Constantine: When superpowers collide, in this case God and Satan, John Constantine comes to the rescue |last=Chocano |first=Carina |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Pete Vonder Haar of ''[[Film Threat]]'' gave the film three stars out of five, writing that "the film (barely) succeeds, thanks to impressive visuals, the idea of an uncaring God wagering with Satan for souls, and two immensely enjoyable scenes (one with Weisz, one with Stormare) in which Reeves actually plays his character as the cynical asshole he really is."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/7115 |title=Constantine |last=Vonder Haar |first=Pete |work=[[Film Threat]] |date=February 19, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705151559/http://www.filmthreat.com/reviews/7115/ |archive-date=July 5, 2010  }}</ref>

Jack Mathews of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, stating: "For all its spiritual angst, ''Constantine'' is about as silly as fantasies get."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/02-18-2005/entertainment/col/story/281960p-241618c.html|title=Constantine|last=Matthews|first=Jack|date=February 15, 2005|work=[[New York Daily News]]|location=New York|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309032216/http://www.nydailynews.com/02-18-2005/entertainment/col/story/281960p-241618c.html|archive-date=March 9, 2005|access-date=December 21, 2010}}<!-- http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/exorcise-futility-no-saving-keanu-laughable-constantine-devil-silly-details-article-1.631351 --></ref> [[Michael Sragow]] of ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' also gave the film 2 stars out of 4, saying: "It all comes off as a case of filmmakers wanting to have their communion wafer and eat it, too."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-02-18/features/0502180241_1_constantine-satan-hades |title=Walking the line between heaven and hell |last=Sragow |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Sragow |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329054354/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-02-18/features/0502180241_1_constantine-satan-hades |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Desson Thomson]], a writer for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', had similar sentiments of the film,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32464-2005Feb17.html |title='Constantine': Far From Heaven |last=Thomson |first=Desson |author-link=Desson Thomson |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2010 |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111182523/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32464-2005Feb17.html |url-status=live }}</ref> specifically criticizing its differences from the comic book:

{{blockquote|If you are a fan of the ''Hellblazer'' comic book series, on which this movie is based, you'll definitely need a distraction. The relation between ''Constantine'' and its source material is, at best, superfluous. The disparity starts with the original John Constantine (Reeves's character) being from Liverpool, England. Reeves from the city of John and Paul? As if.}}

[[Leonard Maltin]]'s annual publication ''[[Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide|Movie Guide]]'' gave the film a BOMB rating, describing it as "dreary, to put it mildly".<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Leonard |editor-first=Martin |editor-link=Leonard Maltin |title=Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. The Modern Era. Previously Published as Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPMxDwAAQBAJ |year=2017 |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin]] |location=London |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=iPMxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA282&dq=%22Constantine+(2005)%22+BOMB+%22dreary,+to+put+it+mildly%22 282] |isbn=978-0-52553631-4 }}</ref>
Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave it 1.5 out of 4 stars,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050217/REVIEWS/50202001 |title=Constantine :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=December 21, 2010 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010112749/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050217%2FREVIEWS%2F50202001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> panning the depiction of Hell ("a post-nuclear Los Angeles created by animators with a hangover"), the premise of the film itself ("You would think that God would be the [[New England Patriots]] of this contest, but apparently there is a chance that Satan could win."), plot holes, inconsistencies, and general actions depicted throughout the film. He was not particularly critical of the acting, only mentioning it by stating: "Reeves has a deliberately morose energy level in the movie, as befits one who has seen Hell, walks among half-demons, and is dying. He keeps on smoking." Ebert added the film to his list of "most hated" films.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/eberts-most-hated |title=Ebert's Most Hated |first=Roger |last=Ebert |work=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=August 11, 2005 |access-date=March 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802044414/http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/eberts-most-hated |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Novelization and video game==
To tie-in to the film's release, a [[novelization]] by [[John Shirley]] and a [[Constantine (video game)|video game adaption]] were produced. The novelization states that the buildings in Hell are built with the souls of the damned, rather than brick, and lined with blood, rather than mortar.<ref name="Novelization">{{cite book |last=Shirley |first=John |author-link=John Shirley |title=Constantine (Mass Market Paperback) |publisher=Pocket Star |date=January 25, 2005 |isbn=0-7434-9755-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/constantinenovel00shir }}</ref>

==Sequel==
In 2011, director Francis Lawrence stated, regarding a [[sequel]]:

{{blockquote|It's interesting that over the years, ''Constantine'' seems like it's become ... like it has this sort of cult following, which has been great. It's been embraced. It would be great to figure out a sequel, and if we did, and we've been trying to figure one out, it would be great to do the really dark, scary version. We got caught in that weird PG-13–R no man's land, and we should do the hard-R scary version, which I would love to do.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rick |last=Marshall |url=http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/05/03/constantine-sequel-francis-lawrence |title='Constantine' Director Hoping To Make 'Hard-R, Scary' Sequel |publisher=SplashPage.MTV.com |date=May 3, 2011 |access-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507085848/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/05/03/constantine-sequel-francis-lawrence/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

It was announced in November 2012 that [[Guillermo del Toro]] had signed a deal to write and direct a ''[[Justice League Dark]]'' film centered around DC Comics' supernatural characters, John Constantine among them.<ref>{{cite news |author=Melrose, Kevin |url=http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/11/09/del-toro-confirms-hes-discussing-justice-league-dark-style-movie |title=Del Toro Says He's 'Discussing' Justice League Dark-Style Movie |publisher=ComicBookResources.com |date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529052136/http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/11/09/del-toro-confirms-hes-discussing-justice-league-dark-style-movie/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reeves stated in May 2019 that he is open to reprising the role in the future.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/05/18/keanu-reeves-wants-to-play-constantine-again/|title=Keanu Reeves Has "Always Wanted" to Play Constantine Again|last=Ridgely|first=Charles|publisher=Comicbook.com|date=May 18, 2019|access-date=May 22, 2019|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520101831/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/05/18/keanu-reeves-wants-to-play-constantine-again/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In November 2020, Stormare announced in a post on [[Instagram]] that a sequel was "in the works", though neither representatives for Warner Bros. nor Reeves immediately responded to requests for comment.<ref>{{cite web|first=Gael|last=Cooper|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/constantine-star-says-a-sequel-to-the-keanu-reeves-movie-is-in-the-works/|title=Constantine star says a sequel to the Keanu Reeves movie is in the works|website=cnet|date=November 13, 2020|access-date=November 15, 2020|archive-date=November 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114080842/https://www.cnet.com/news/constantine-star-says-a-sequel-to-the-keanu-reeves-movie-is-in-the-works/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reeves again expressed interest in a sequel in December 2021, saying: "I would love to be John Constantine again."<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://ew.com/tv/keanu-reeves-talks-constantine-2-stephen-colbert-video/|title = Keanu Reeves on his efforts to get 'Constantine 2' made|magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date = December 15, 2021|archive-date = December 15, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211215160329/https://ew.com/tv/keanu-reeves-talks-constantine-2-stephen-colbert-video/|url-status = live}}</ref>
 	
In September 2022, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' reported that Warner Bros. will develop a ''Constantine'' sequel, with Keanu Reeves set to return in the lead role. Francis Lawrence will return as the film's director, with [[Akiva Goldsman]] writing the screenplay. Goldsman will also produce, alongside [[J. J. Abrams]] & Hannah Minghella.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Constantine_(film)|Constantine}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{AllMovie title}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes}}
* {{metacritic film}}

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