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Trailer

When a Stranger Calls

2006Movie1 h 27 minPG-13

HorrorMystery
34
BadGoodWatch score
IMDb5.1Letterboxd2.5/5Metacritic275.5Rotten Tomatoes8%44%
34
BadGoodWatch score
IMDb5.1Letterboxd2.5/5Metacritic275.5Rotten Tomatoes8%44%

Summary

Far away from the site of a gruesome murder, a teenager named Jill Johnson arrives at a luxurious home for a baby-sitting job. With the children fast asleep, she settles in for what she expects to be an ordinary evening. Soon, the ringing of a phone and the frightening words of a sadistic caller turn Jill's routine experience into a night of terror.

Good for

  • Friends night
  • Binge-friendly
  • Pure escapism

Skip it if

  • You need an uplifting mood
  • You scare easily

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or uplift.

Movies with

Cast

19 of 19

Crew

Directed by
Simon West
Written by
Jake Wade Wall
Produced by
Wyck Godfrey, John Davis, Ken Lemberger
Music by
Jim Dooley

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 3, 2006 · 1 h 27 min · PG-13

Released
February 3, 2006
Runtime
1 h 27 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Horror, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$67 million
Available in
80 countries

Tropes

Mirror Scare, Adapted Out, Alpha Bitch +9

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream When a Stranger Calls?"

Questions about When a Stranger Calls

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream When a Stranger Calls?

fuboTVPhiloPluto TVTubi TVSony Pictures Core

In the United States, When a Stranger Calls streams on fuboTV, Philo, and Sony Pictures Core, and it is free with ads on Pluto TV and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 6 other countries.

Is When a Stranger Calls worth watching?

34
BadGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 34 (IMDb 5.1, Letterboxd 2.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 8%, and Metacritic 27). Audiences rate it higher (50 out of 100) than critics (18).

Is When a Stranger Calls okay for kids?

PG-13ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Better for older viewers: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

Will When a Stranger Calls scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 9 of 10.

Will I feel good after watching When a Stranger Calls?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 2 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Was When a Stranger Calls a box office hit?

Budget$15 million
Box office$67 million

Yes: it cost about $15 million to make and earned $67 million worldwide, 4.5 times its budget.

What tropes does When a Stranger Calls use?

Mirror ScareAdapted OutAlpha BitchDistant PrologueGory Discretion ShotCat ScareAbandoned HospitalShort-Distance Phone CallPolice Are UselessFaux Affably EvilMind RapeNothing Is Scarierand 63 more

TV Tropes lists 75 tropes for it, including Mirror Scare, Adapted Out, and Alpha Bitch.