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The Key

1958·Movie
2h 14min·NR

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Key fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Spectacle6
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Romantic and melancholic

  • Romance7
  • Melancholy7
  • Pathos6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Physical Comedy2

World

History and war

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Intrigue8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

He had the life expectancy of a match.

In wartime England, circa 1941, poorly-armed tugs are sent into "U-Boat Alley" to rescue damaged Allied ships. An American named David Ross arrives to captain one of these tugs. He's given a key by a fellow tugboat-man -- a key to an apartment and its pretty female resident. Should something happen to the friend, Ross can use the key.
Wartime RomanceMoral DilemmaWorld War IISacrificeMelancholyIntrigueCharacter-DrivenHistorical DramaTugboat

Crew

Directed by:
Composed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Key

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Key legally?

You can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Key worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 64/100 (IMDb 6.7). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Key rated?

NR

It's rated NR in the United States.

How long is The Key?

2 h 14 min

The Key runs 2 h 14 min.

What language is The Key in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch The Key?

30AUBGBYBZCACVCYCZEEESGBGHGRHR+16

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Key in 30 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Key use?

That Russian Squat DanceMissing ChildOur Fairies Are DifferentIris OutSpoiled BratRobot BuddyPostmodernismBarbie Doll AnatomyHard Work Hardly WorksRidiculously Human RobotEstablishing Character MomentChekhov's Skilland 19 more

TV Tropes lists 31 storytelling tropes for The Key, including That Russian Squat Dance, Missing Child, Our Fairies Are Different.