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Trailer

The American Friend

1977Movie2 h 5 minNR

DramaThriller
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic796.8Rotten Tomatoes88%80%

A slow-burning, tense drama movie about crime and the mind.

Good for date night · friends night · drop-in friendly

Skip it if you want fast pacing

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

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Story

Tom Ripley, an American who deals in forged art, is slighted at an auction in Hamburg by picture framer Jonathan Zimmerman. When Ripley is asked by gangster Raoul Minot to kill a rival, he suggests Zimmerman, and the two, exploiting Zimmerman's terminal illness, coerce him into being a hitman.

Feels like

  • Neo-Noir Thriller
  • Existential Crisis
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Psychological Depth
  • European Crime Cinema
  • Atmospheric Cinematography
  • Slow-Burn Suspense
  • Guilt and Redemption
  • Complex Characters

Cast

18 of 18

Crew

Directed by
Wim Wenders
Written by
Wim Wenders, Patricia Highsmith
Produced by
Wim Wenders, Joachim von Mengershausen
Music by
Jürgen Knieper

Everyone

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

Facts

June 24, 1977 · 2 h 5 min · NR

Released
June 24, 1977
Runtime
2 h 5 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, Thriller, Crime
Original language
German
Also spoken
English, French
Made in
France, Germany, United States
Available in
17 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Adaptational Nationality, Adaptational Location Change, Hollywood Silencer +9

  • Adaptational Nationality
  • Adaptational Location Change
  • Hollywood Silencer
  • Scare Quotes
  • Sudden Downer Ending
  • Art Imitates Art
  • Adapted Out
  • Eiffel Tower Effect
  • Credits Gag
  • Affably Evil
  • Silence Is Golden
  • Film Noir

12 of 29 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The American Friend?"

Questions about The American Friend

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The American Friend?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The American Friend from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It streams in 13 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The American Friend worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 79). Critics rate it higher (84 out of 100) than audiences (74).

Is The American Friend in English?

GermanEnglishFrench

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

What tropes does The American Friend use?

Adaptational NationalityAdaptational Location ChangeHollywood SilencerScare QuotesSudden Downer EndingArt Imitates ArtAdapted OutEiffel Tower EffectCredits GagAffably EvilSilence Is GoldenFilm Noirand 17 more

TV Tropes lists 29 tropes for it, including Adaptational Nationality, Adaptational Location Change, and Hollywood Silencer.