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Tess

1979·Movie
2h 52min·PG

Where to watch

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

What's your score?

Your score

Tess fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Spectacle6
  • Violence6

Heart

Moving and melancholic

  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor4
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody3

World

History, society, and class and money

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, characters, and direction

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction8

Style

Standout cinematography and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-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

She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumour that their families are from the same line. This fateful visit commences an epic narrative of sex, class, betrayal, and revenge.
Tragic RomanceHistorical DramaSocial CommentaryClass ConflictVictorian EraComing-of-AgePsychological DepthVisually StunningMelancholic

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Tess

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Tess legally?

You can rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Tess worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78/100 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 82). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Tess rated?

PGViolenceNuditySexual contentDisturbing imagery

It's rated PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Tess?

2 h 52 min

Tess runs 2 h 52 min.

Is Tess based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on Tess?

Critics82
Audiences76

Yes. Critics average 82 and audiences 76 out of 100, so both groups see Tess much the same way.

Was Tess a box office hit?

Budget$12 million
Box office$20 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $12 million to make and earned $20 million worldwide, 1.7 times its budget.

What language is Tess in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in France, United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Tess?

44ALARATBABEBGBOBRCACHCLCOCRCZ+30

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Tess in 44 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Tess use?

Anguished Declaration of LoveMy Girl Is Not a SlutBourgeois BohemianDeath of a ChildOld-Fashioned Rowboat DateArcadiaTable SpaceVoiceover LetterGray Rain of DepressionHigh-Class Call GirlDowner EndingGood Hair, Evil Hairand 18 more

TV Tropes lists 30 storytelling tropes for Tess, including Anguished Declaration of Love, My Girl Is Not a Slut, Bourgeois Bohemian.