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The Draughtsman's Contract

1982·Movie
1h 48min·R
IMDb7.2Rotten Tomatoes97%85%

Where to watch

KanopyHooplaKino Film Collection

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Draughtsman's Contract fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Spectacle3
  • Fast Pace2

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Romance4
  • Melancholy4
  • Family Dynamics4

Humor

Some satire and sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Satire & Parody7
  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Dark Humor4

World

History, mystery, and crime

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction and dialogue

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction8
  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Intrigue8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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About

A landscape of lust and cunning.

R. Neville, a brash young draftsman, is hired to make a dozen landscape illustrations at the estate of Mr Herbert and his wife Virginia. Aside from monetary compensation, the arrangement includes a sexual liaison offered to Neville by Virginia while her estranged husband is away. But when the murdered body of Mr Herbert is discovered at the estate, mysterious clues found in Neville's drawings point to the identity of the killer.
Historical MysteryArt FilmFormal GardensAristocratic IntrigueStylized CinematographyOblique NarrativeArchitectural ObsessionClass ConflictSatiricalPost-Modern

Crew

Directed by:
Peter Greenaway, Andy Powell
Written by:
Peter Greenaway
Produced by:
Lucy Boulting, Peter Sainsbury, David Payne
Composed by:
Michael Nyman, Aad Wirtz, Lionel Strutt

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Draughtsman's Contract

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Draughtsman's Contract legally?

KanopyHooplaKino Film Collection

The Draughtsman's Contract is included with a subscription to Kino Film Collection in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Draughtsman's Contract worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86/100 (IMDb 7.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 97%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Draughtsman's Contract rated?

R

It's rated R in the United States.

How long is The Draughtsman's Contract?

1 h 48 min

The Draughtsman's Contract runs 1 h 48 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Draughtsman's Contract?

Critics97
Audiences79

Not quite. Critics rate The Draughtsman's Contract higher (97) than audiences (79). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Draughtsman's Contract a box office hit?

Budget$370,800
Box office$2 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $370,800 to make and earned $2 million worldwide, 6.1 times its budget.

What language is The Draughtsman's Contract in?

EnglishDutchGerman

It was made in English, with some Dutch, German. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch The Draughtsman's Contract?

16CADKEEFIFRGBGGIEITJPLTLVNONZ+2

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Draughtsman's Contract in 16 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Draughtsman's Contract use?

Eye ScreamCostume DramaToilet HumorDouble EntendreRule of SymbolismThe Law of Conservation of DetailMalevolent Masked Men13 Is UnluckyThe Loins Sleep TonightUnlucky Childhood FriendLaw of Inverse FertilityButt-Monkeyand 15 more

TV Tropes lists 27 storytelling tropes for The Draughtsman's Contract, including Eye Scream, Costume Drama, Toilet Humor.