The Matthew Shepard Story

The Matthew Shepard Story

2002 · 92 min · ★ 5.6 · Drama, TV Movie

In a senseless act of hatred, openly gay college student Matthew Shepard was murdered in 1998. This critically-acclaimed, moving film recounts the final days of Matthew's killers' trial—and the weeks leading to Matthew's death—with unnerving detail. Stockard Channing delivers an unforgettable, Emmy® Award-winning performance as Matthew's grieving mother, Judy, in a story of a murder that moved a nation to action. Also starring Law & Order's Sam Waterston.

Directed by Roger Spottiswoode · Written by John Wierick

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Rent or Buy

Cast

Stockard Channing Judy Shepard
Shane Meier Matthew Shepard
Wendy Crewson Sarah
Kristen Thomson Romaine Patterson
Joseph Ziegler Cal
Yani Gellman Pablo
Sam Waterston Dennis Shepard
Drew Nelson Lance
Damien Atkins Donny
Philip Eddolls Aaron McKinney
Paul Robbins Russell Henderson
Judah Katz Defense Attorney

Make it a double feature

3h 24m together

The Matthew Shepard Story

Shake Hands with the Devil

Both from Roger Spottiswoode.

More from Roger SpottiswoodeSee all →

Hiroshima

Hiroshima · 1995

SeriesDramaWar & Politics

Hiroshima is a 1995 Japanese / Canadian film directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara and Roger Spottiswoode about the decision-making processes that led to the dropping of the atomic bombs by the United States on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki toward the end of World War II. A combination of dramatisation, historical footage, and eyewitness interviews, the film alternates between documentary footage and the dramatic recreations.

A Street Cat Named Bob

A Street Cat Named Bob · 2016

A Street Cat Named Bob

MovieFamilyDrama

James Bowen, a homeless busker and recovering drug addict, has his life transformed when he meets a stray ginger cat.

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid · 1973

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

MovieWesternDrama

Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid.

Shake Hands with the Devil

Shake Hands with the Devil · 2007

Shake Hands with the Devil

MovieDramaHistory

In 1993, Canadian Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire was sent by the United Nations to Rwanda as commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). Its mission, to ensure the ceasefire, is underfunded, excessively bureaucratized and made up of military units which come from dozens of countries and which each have a very different program... These are Lt Gen Dallaire's efforts to stop the madness of the Rwandan Genocide, despite the complete indifference of his superiors.

Straw Dogs

Straw Dogs · 1971

MovieThrillerDrama

David Sumner, a mild-mannered academic from the United States, marries Amy, an Englishwoman. In order to escape a hectic stateside lifestyle, David and his wife relocate to the small town in rural Cornwall where Amy was raised. There, David is ostracized by the brutish men of the village, including Amy's old flame, Charlie. Eventually the taunts escalate.

Hard Times

Hard Times · 1975

In the depression, Chaney, a strong silent streetfighter, joins with Speed, a promoter of no-holds-barred street boxing bouts. They go to New Orleans where Speed borrows money to set up fights for Chaney, but Speed gambles away any winnings.

Under Fire

Under Fire · 1983

Three U.S. journalists get too close to one another and their work in 1979 Nicaragua.

The Gambler

The Gambler · 1974

MovieDramaCrime

New York City English professor Axel Freed outwardly seems like an upstanding citizen. But privately Freed is in the clutches of a severe gambling addiction that threatens to destroy him.

The Children of Huang Shi

The Children of Huang Shi · 2008

The Children of Huang Shi

About young British journalist, George Hogg, who with the assistance of a courageous Australian nurse, saves a group of orphaned children during the Japanese occupation of China in 1937.

48 Hrs.

48 Hrs. · 1982

MovieCrimeAction

A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer.

Shoot to Kill

Shoot to Kill · 1988

MovieActionThriller

When a cunning murderer vanishes into the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, pursuing FBI agent Warren Stantin must exchange familiar city streets for unknown wilderness trails. Completely out of his element, Stantin is forced to enlist the aid of expert tracker Jonathan Knox. It's a turbulent yet vital relationship they must maintain in order to survive... and one that becomes increasingly desperate when Knox's girlfriend Sarah becomes the killer's latest hostage!

And the Band Played On

And the Band Played On · 1993

And the Band Played On

MovieDramaTV Movie

The story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight with it.

Who'll Stop the Rain

Who'll Stop the Rain · 1978

Who'll Stop the Rain

MovieCrimeAction

John, a disillusioned Vietnam War journalist, turns to heroin smuggling. He cons Ray, an equally burnt out veteran into delivering the drugs stateside to his wife. Everything soon falls apart and Ray ends up on the run with John's wife trying to evade crooked narcotics agents.

Tomorrow Never Dies

Tomorrow Never Dies · 1997

Tomorrow Never Dies

MovieAdventureAction

A deranged media mogul is staging international incidents to pit the world's superpowers against each other. Now James Bond must take on this evil mastermind in an adrenaline-charged battle to end his reign of terror and prevent global pandemonium.

Turner & Hooch

Turner & Hooch · 1989

MovieActionComedy

Detective Scott Turner has three days left in the local police department before he moves to a bigger city to get some 'real' cases—not just misdemeanors. When Amos Reed is murdered, Scott sets himself on the case, but the closest thing to a witness to the murder is Reed's dog, Hooch, which Scott has to take care of—to avoid Hooch being 'put to sleep'.

The Beach House

The Beach House · 2018

The Beach House

MovieTV MovieRomance

Cara Rudland thought she’d left her Southern roots and troubled family far behind, but returns to the scenic Lowcountry of her childhood summers after losing her job in Chicago. There, she reconnects with her mother Lovie, who has been caring for her young, pregnant friend Toy in her charming beach house.

More Like This

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Elizabeth: The Golden Age · 2007

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

MovieDramaHistory

When Queen Elizabeth's reign is threatened by ruthless familial betrayal and Spain's invading army, she and her shrewd adviser must act to safeguard the lives of her people.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth · 1998

MovieDramaHistory

The story of the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.

I Love You, I Don't

I Love You, I Don't · 1976

I Love You, I Don't

The petite waitress Johnny works and lives in a truck-stop, where she's lonely and longs for love. She develops a crush on the garbage truck driver Krassky, although her sleazy boss Boris warns her that he's gay.

Grande école

Grande école · 2004

MovieComedyDrama

Paul and Agnes have been going out for quite a while and Agnes is shocked to learn that he'd rather live with two roommates on campus than move in with her. As soon as he meets one of his roommates, Louis-Anault, Paul's behavior changes - he is attracted to Louis without realizing so himself. Agnes, on the other hand, gets quite jealous and offers a bet: Whoever gets to have Louis-Anault first, wins... If she does, Paul will no longer explore his homosexual desires, if he does - she'll walk away. Meanwhile, Paul meets Mecir, a young Arab worker, who shows him there's more to life than elite colleges...

Edge of Seventeen

Edge of Seventeen · 1999

Edge of Seventeen

MovieComedyDrama

1984, Sandusky, Ohio. A naive 17-year-old navigates heartbreak and self-expression as he explores his sexuality.

Born for You

Born for You · 2023

Alba has Down's Syndrome and was left in the hospital when she was born. Thirty families rejected her before the court decided to entrust her to Luca: a Catholic — and gay — single man.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter