Amadeus is a 1984 drama film directed by Miloš Forman. Based on Peter Shaffer’s stage play Amadeus, the film is based very loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the later half of the 18th century. The film was nominated for 53 awards and received 40, including eight Academy Awards (including Best Picture), four BAFTA Awards, 4 Golden Globes, and a DGA Award. In 1998, Amadeus was ranked the 53rd best American movie by the American Film Institute on its AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies list. However, the movie dropped off the AFI’s 10th anniversary edition of the list in 2007. Directed by Miloš Forman Produced by Saul Zaentz Written by Peter Shaffer Starring F. Murray Abraham Tom Hulce Elizabeth Berridge Music by Wolfgang Mozart Cinematography Miroslav Ondříček Editing by Michael Chandler Distributed by Orion Pictures Release date(s) September 19, 1984 Running time Theatrical cut 160 min. Director’s Cut 180 min. Country USA Language English Italian German Budget million Gross revenue 973029 Cast * F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri * Tom Hulce as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart * Elizabeth Berridge as Constanze Mozart * Roy Dotrice as Leopold Mozart * Simon Callow as Emanuel Schikaneder / Papageno * Richard Frank as Father Vogler * Christine Ebersole as Katerina Cavalieri / Costanza * Jeffrey Jones as Emperor Joseph II * Charles Kay as Count Orsini-Rosenberg * Cynthia Nixon as Mozart’s maid