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Trailer

Kiss of the Spider Woman

1985Movie2 h 0 minR

Drama
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.3Letterboxd3.7/5Metacritic807.5Rotten Tomatoes88%81%

A tense, moving drama movie about politics and the mind, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you want fast pacing

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Once upon a time... in a tropical island far away, there lived a strange woman…

The story of two radically different men thrown together in a Latin American prison cell. One is Valentin, a journalist being tortured for his political beliefs. The other is Molina, a gay window-dresser who fills their lonely nights by spinning romantic fantasies drawn from memories of old movies.

Feels like

  • Psychological Drama
  • Prison Narrative
  • Unconventional Romance
  • Political Commentary
  • Character-Driven
  • Subversive Themes
  • Emotional Depth
  • Theatrical Adaptation
  • Power of Storytelling

Cast

22 of 22

Crew

Directed by
Héctor Babenco
Written by
Manuel Puig, Leonard Schrader
Produced by
David Weisman
Music by
John Neschling, Nando Cordeiro

Everyone

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

Facts

July 26, 1985 · 2 h 0 min · R

Released
July 26, 1985
Runtime
2 h 0 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Also spoken
Italian, German, Portuguese, French
Made in
Brazil, United States
Budget
$1 million
Box office
$17 million
Available in
15 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Genre Shift, Gender Flip, Propaganda Piece +9

  • Genre Shift
  • Gender Flip
  • Propaganda Piece
  • Adaptational Nationality
  • Scary Black Man
  • Bury Your Gays
  • Last-Name Basis
  • Narm Charm
  • Speech-Centric Work
  • Bring My Brown Pants
  • Show Within a Show
  • Not Even Bothering with the Accent

12 of 21 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Kiss of the Spider Woman?"

Questions about Kiss of the Spider Woman

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Kiss of the Spider Woman?

HBO MaxCinemax

In the United States, Kiss of the Spider Woman streams on HBO Max and Cinemax. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 6 other countries.

Is Kiss of the Spider Woman worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.3, Letterboxd 3.7 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 80).

Is Kiss of the Spider Woman plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

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

Is Kiss of the Spider Woman good for date night?

Partner WatchAdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

It suits a quiet night in as a couple: romance is 7 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

Was Kiss of the Spider Woman a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$17 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $1 million to make and earned $17 million worldwide, 13.6 times its budget.

What tropes does Kiss of the Spider Woman use?

Genre ShiftGender FlipPropaganda PieceAdaptational NationalityScary Black ManBury Your GaysLast-Name BasisNarm CharmSpeech-Centric WorkBring My Brown PantsShow Within a ShowNot Even Bothering with the Accentand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 tropes for it, including Genre Shift, Gender Flip, and Propaganda Piece.