Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

The most frightening thing about Jacob Singer's nightmare is that he isn't dreaming.

Directed by Adrian Lyne

Produced by Carolco Pictures

1990113 min7.4 / 10

A nightmarish descent into psychological disintegration where reality fractures under the weight of trauma, paranoia, and the blurred line between hallucination and truth.

After returning home from the Vietnam War, veteran Jacob Singer struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by hallucinations and flashbacks, Singer rapidly falls apart as the world and people around him morph and twist into disturbing images. His girlfriend, Jezzie, and ex-wife, Sarah, try to help, but to little avail. Even Singer's chiropractor friend, Louis, fails to reach him as he descends into madness.

Where to watch

Questions people ask

  • Is Jacob's Ladder scary? Yes, very. More frightening than 99% of films.

  • Is Jacob's Ladder sad? Yes, very. More sad than 91% of films.

  • Does Jacob's Ladder end with hope? No. Less hopeful than 91% of films.

  • Is Jacob's Ladder easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 86% of films.

  • Is Jacob's Ladder violent? Somewhat. More violent than 68% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

Written about

78/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity56

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise95

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love85

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like Jacob's Ladder, and what each one shares →

Like Jacob's Ladder

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Jacob's Ladder

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Jacob's Ladder, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Jacob's Ladder, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Jacob's Ladder, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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