Directed by Gus Van Sant Written by Dustin Lance Black   Cast Sean Penn ... Harvey Milk Emile Hirsch ... Cleve Jones Josh Brolin ... Dan White Diego Luna ... Jack Lira James Franco ... Scott Smith Alison Pill ... Anne Kronenberg Victor Garber ... Mayor Moscone Denis O'Hare ... John Briggs Joseph Cross ... Dick Pabich Stephen Spinella ... Rick Stokes Lucas Grabeel ... Danny Nicoletta Brandon Boyce ... Jim Rivaldo Howard Rosenman ... David Goodstein (as Zvi Howard Rosenman) Kelvin Yu ... Michael Wong Jeff Koons ... Art Agnos Ted Jan Roberts ... Dennis Peron Boyd Holbrook ... Denton Smith (as Robert Boyd Holbrook) Frank M. Robinson ... Frank Robinson (as Frank Robinson) Allan Baird ... Allan Baird Tom Ammiano ... Tom Ammiano Carol Ruth Silver ... Thelma Hope Tuck ... Mary Ann White (as Hope Goblirsch) Steven Wiig ... McConnelly Ashlee Temple ... Dianne Feinstein Wendy Tremont King ... Carol Ruth Silver (as Wendy King) Kelvin Han Yee ... Gordon Lau Robert Chimento ... Phil Burton Ginabel Machado ... Lily Daniel Landroche ... Young Teen Trace Webb ... Boy with Flier Velina Brown ... Morning Show Host Scott Patrick Green ... House Boy Mary Dilts ... Channel 5 Reporter Roman Alcides ... City Hall Engineer Robert George Nelson ... San Francisco Cop No.1 Brian Danker ... San Francisco Cop No.2 Richard Gross ... Riot Cop Borzin Mottaghian ... Briggs' Driver Brian Yates Sharber ... Gay Man Camron Palmer ... Medora Paine Cully Fredricksen ... Assistant Sheriff Mark Martinez ... Sylvester Danny Glicker ... Customer (as Daniel Glicker) Catherine Cook ... Opera Performer - Tosca Joe Meyers ... Opera Performer - Spoletta Dominic Sahagun ... Another Protester William McElroy ... Barber Joey Hoeber ... Union Man Mark E. Stanger ... Priest Christopher Greene ... Reporter Jesse Caldwell ... Chamber Clerk Paul Arnold ... Supervisor Jack Dunston ... Supervisor Ron Gruetter ... Supervisor Awele Makeba ... Supervisor Tony Vella ... Supervisor William M. Verducci ... Supervisor Gilbert Baker ... Telephone Tree Shavi Blake ... Telephone Tree Sean Paul Lockhart ... Telephone Tree (as Brent Corrigan) Draco Dewar ... Telephone Tree Dave Franco ... Telephone Tree Alex Gonzalez ... Telephone tree Olen Holm ... Telephone Tree Elias McConnell ... Telephone Tree Tom Randol ... Telephone Tree Lynn McRee ... Moscone's Secretary Cleve Jones ... Don Amador John Parson ... Castro Man Jay Kerzner ... Speaker Kristen Marie Holly ... Anne's Friend Sandi Ippolito ... Relative Roger Groh ... Reporter Maggie Weiland ... Girl on Motorcycle Dustin Lance Black ... Castro Clone Drew Kuhse ... Pizza Delivery Man Eric Cook ... Robert Hillsborough Roger Mudd ... Self (archive footage) Uncredited Cast Tachíria Flamenco ... Protestor Martin Andris ... Castro Voter Matt Austin ... Campaign Messenger John Douglas Ayers ... Castro Local Harmony Blossom ... Law Student Dani Bocca ... Castro Street Kid Matthew Bridges ... Birthday Party Goer Tom Brokaw ... Self (archive footage) Jerry Brown ... Self (archive footage) Clyde J. Bruff ... Politician Anita Bryant ... Self (archive footage) John Edward Cabrera ... Teamster David Cade ... Waiter Greg Cala ... Senator Briggs' Aide Jimmy Carter ... Self (archive footage) Cabran E. Chamberlain ... Riot Cop Hardy Childers ... Castro Man John Clerkin ... Castro Guy Brad Comfort ... Castro Clone Kimberly Contreras ... Activist Bryson James Cooke ... Campaign Volunteer Walter Cronkite ... Self (archive footage) Zachary Culbertson ... Bill Kraus Steve Dakota ... Debate Audience Member Leesha Davis ... Hippie Girl Jes Distad ... Extra - Candlelight Marcher Maddie Eisler ... Birthday Party Relative Patrick Engler ... Law Student Dianne Feinstein ... Self (archive footage) Yeena Fisher ... Teacher William H. Frey III ... Castro Man Michael Gillespie ... Harry Britt John Gillette ... Protestor Sean Grady ... Castro Clone Joshua Grannell ... Peaches Christ Blake Cooper Griffin ... Castro Man Tim Thunderhorse Halpin ... SFPD Motor Cop Daryl Anthony Harper ... Campaign Volunteer Ryan Hellquist ... Law Student Stacie Hovland ... Hippy William D. Hoy ... Castro Local Peter Jason ... Alan Baird Maximilian Kubiak ... Telephone Tree Shaun Landry ... Gwenn Craig Dave Lara ... Crowd Mark Lavell ... Irish Local Allan Lazo ... Castro Man Charles Leavitt ... March Extra John Lobato ... Gay Man Annie Lore ... City Council Attendee Derek Lux ... Goodstein Aide Pete Lynch ... Businesman at Gala Yoli Mapp ... Law Student Jill Maragos ... Tory Hartmann Tom Cat McKay ... Hippie Harvey Milk ... Self (archive footage) Chuck Mobley ... Candlelight Marcher Kenny New ... SFPD Riot Cop Daniel Nicoletta ... Man in Harvey Milk's Office Peter K. Owen ... Teamster Erika Pearson ... Hippie / Candlelight Marcher Logan Petrin ... Birthday Party Relative David Alan Poe ... Castro Guy John Prudhont ... Sergeant at Arms Ronald Reagan ... Self (archive footage) Corbett Redford ... Teamster Jeff Redlick ... Teamster Louisa Riofrio ... Spectator Sophia Rivera ... Politician's Wife Timothy Roberts ... Godfather Jeffrey Schwarz ... Castro Man Bonnie Jean Shelton ... Dan White's Relative Lin-Reed Shukla ... Passenger Toni Staniewicz ... Law Student #2 Thomas W. Stewart ... Castro Man Christopher Sugarman ... Don's Friend Jeremiah Turner ... Law Student April Vancelette ... Hippy Erick Vinther ... Restaurant Patron Brian Vowell ... Castro Clone Cindy Warner ... Irish Local / PTA Member / Candlelight Marcher Tovi Wayne ... Dan White Family Steve Wharton ... Law Student Reyna Young ... Protestor Amron Paul Yuwono ... Castro Man Produced by Dustin Lance Black   Bruce Cohen   Barbara A. Hall   William Horberg   Dan Jinks   Michael London   Bruna Papandrea   Original Music by Danny Elfman

Additional Info Premiere: October 28, 2008 Theatrical Release: January 30, 2009 DVD Release: March 10, 2009 Blu-ray Release: March 10, 2009 Country: Distributor: Focus Features Websites: Production Companies Focus Features (presents) Axon Films (in association with) Groundswell Productions Jinks/Cohen Company Cinema Vehicle Services Distributors Focus Features   (2008) (USA) (theatrical) Home Box Office (HBO)   (2009) (USA) (TV) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)   (2009) (USA) (DVD) Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE)   (2009) (USA) (Blu-ray) (DVD) Rating Stats Overall Rating 7.0 / 10 Our Rating 6.4 / 10 Your Friends -- / 10 Male Users 6.4 / 10 Female Users -- / 10 Site Ranking #1,069 / 20,725 Ratings Breakdown Perfect 3 total ratings Almost Perfect 1 total rating Average 1 total rating Mediocre 1 total rating Site Ranking #1,065 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) #1,066 Predator 2 (1990) #1,067 Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) #1,068 Laal Singh Chaddha (2022) #1,069 Milk (2008) #1,070 Nomadland (2020) #1,071 Barbarian (2022) #1,072 Hitman (2007) #1,073 The Addams Family (1991)