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Mephisto

1981·Movie
2h 25min
IMDb7.7Rotten Tomatoes76%84%

Where to watch

KanopyHooplaKino Film Collection

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

What's your score?

Your score

Mephisto fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace4
  • Spectacle4

Heart

Moving and melancholic

  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis5

Humor

Some satire and sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Satire & Parody7
  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Dark Humor5

World

History, politics, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, direction, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Acting10
  • Direction9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacingYou want to half-watch while scrolling

Find more like it

Psychological moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

A German stage actor finds unexpected success and mixed blessings in the popularity of his performance in a Faustian play as the Nazis take power in pre-WWII Germany. As his associates and friends flee or are ground under by the Nazi terror, the popularity of his character supercedes his own existence until he finds that his best performance is keeping up appearances for his Nazi patrons.
German CinemaPre-WWII GermanyFaustian NarrativeActor's Ascent and FallMoral CompromiseTheatric & PoliticalPropaganda & PowerCritique of ConformityGuilt and Complicity

Crew

Directed by:
István Szabó
Written by:
István Szabó, Péter Dobai, Klaus Mann
Produced by:
Manfred Durniok
Composed by:
Zdenkó Tamássy, György Fék

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Mephisto

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Mephisto legally?

KanopyHooplaKino Film Collection

Mephisto 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, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Mephisto worth watching?

77
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77/100 (IMDb 7.7 and Rotten Tomatoes 76%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is Mephisto?

2 h 25 min

Mephisto runs 2 h 25 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Mephisto?

Critics76
Audiences81

Yes. Critics average 76 and audiences 81 out of 100, so both groups see Mephisto much the same way.

What language is Mephisto in?

GermanHungarianEnglish

It was made in German, with some Hungarian, English. Produced in Germany, Hungary.

In how many countries can I watch Mephisto?

10ATBRCACHDEFRITPLTRUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Mephisto in 10 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Mephisto use?

No EndingCassandra TruthTime-Passes MontageVoiceover LetterIt Will Never Catch OnMatch CutDress Hits FloorAdaptational HeroismCall-BackPet the DogEiffel Tower EffectThe Mistressand 12 more

TV Tropes lists 24 storytelling tropes for Mephisto, including No Ending, Cassandra Truth, Time-Passes Montage.