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Trailer

The Barbarian Invasions

2003Movie1 h 39 min

ComedyDrama
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic706.0Rotten Tomatoes81%88%

A deeply moving, melancholic comedy movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout characters.

Good for date night · friends night · background watch

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Not for scares.

Movies with

Story

A comedy about sex, friendship, and all other things that invade our lives.

In this belated sequel to 'The Decline of the American Empire', middle-aged Montreal college professor, Remy, learns that he is dying of liver cancer. His ex-wife, Louise, asks their estranged son, Sebastian, a successful businessman living in London, to come home. Sebastian makes the impossible happen, using his contacts and disrupting the Canadian healthcare system in every way possible to help his father fight his terminal illness to the bitter end, while reuniting some of Remy's old friends, including Pierre, Alain, Dominique, Diane, and Claude, who return to see their friend before he passes on.

Feels like

  • Melancholy Family Drama
  • Social Critique
  • Existential Reflections
  • Cynical Wit
  • Quebecois Culture
  • Healthcare Commentary
  • Intimate Character Study
  • Bittersweet Reunion
  • Class Consciousness

Cast

24 of 36

Crew

Directed by
Denys Arcand
Written by
Denys Arcand
Produced by
Denise Robert, Daniel Louis
Music by
Pierre Aviat

Everyone

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

Facts

May 1, 2003 · 1 h 39 min · Sexual Content, Strong Language

Released
May 1, 2003
Runtime
1 h 39 min
Content
Sexual Content, Strong Language
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
French
Also spoken
English
Made in
Canada, France
Budget
$8 million
Box office
$35 million
Available in
6 countries

Tropes

Title Drop, Headbutt of Love, Off-into-the-Distance Ending +9

  • Title Drop
  • Headbutt of Love
  • Off-into-the-Distance Ending
  • Drugs Are Bad
  • Your Days Are Numbered
  • Hiding Behind the Language Barrier
  • Out of Focus
  • The Generation Gap
  • Like Father, Unlike Son
  • Betty and Veronica
  • Drugs Are Good
  • Intergenerational Friendship

12 of 25 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Barbarian Invasions?"

Questions about The Barbarian Invasions

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Barbarian Invasions?

KanopyHoopla

In the United States, The Barbarian Invasions is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. It also streams in 4 other countries.

Is The Barbarian Invasions worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 70).

Will The Barbarian Invasions make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly sharp wit (5 of 10) and satire (5 of 10).

Is The Barbarian Invasions plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Barbarian Invasions a box office hit?

Budget$8 million
Box office$35 million

Yes: it cost about $8 million to make and earned $35 million worldwide, 4.4 times its budget.

Is The Barbarian Invasions in English?

FrenchEnglish

No, it was made in French, with some English.