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Silkwood

1983·Movie
2h 11min·R
72
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic657.8Rotten Tomatoes78%79%
IMDb7.1Metacritic657.8Rotten Tomatoes78%79%

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Silkwood fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline5
  • Fast Pace5

Heart

Moving and melancholic

  • Pathos7
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Cringe Humor2

World

History, mystery, and a real life story

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Novelty7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Intrigue9
  • Direction8
  • Acting8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological movies

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

About

On November 13, 1974, Karen Silkwood, an employee of a nuclear facility, left to meet with a reporter from the New York Times. She never got there.

Like most of the people in her town, Karen Silkwood works at the local nuclear plant producing highly radioactive plutonium. Exposed one day to a lethal dose of radiation, Karen faces the blank walls of corporate indifference and denial. As her illness increases, her protest grows louder and she becomes an obvious danger to the powers that be.
Biographical ThrillerNuclear Safety ConspiracyWorker's RightsPsychological DramaCorporate CorruptionIntrigue & SuspenseHistorical AccountBleak & AtmosphericSlow-Burn Tension

Crew

Directed by:
Mike Nichols, Michael Hausman, Joel Tuber
Written by:
Nora Ephron, Alice Arlen
Produced by:
Mike Nichols, Mary Goldberg, Richard Brick
Composed by:
Tom Fleischman, Georges Delerue

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Silkwood

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Silkwood legally?

HuluHoopla

Silkwood is included with a subscription to Hulu in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Silkwood worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 78%, and Metacritic 65). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Silkwood rated?

RStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: strong language and disturbing imagery.

How long is Silkwood?

2 h 11 min

Silkwood runs 2 h 11 min.

Is Silkwood based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on Silkwood?

Critics72
Audiences76

Yes. Critics average 72 and audiences 76 out of 100, so both groups see Silkwood much the same way.

Was Silkwood a box office hit?

Budget$10 million
Box office$36 million

Yes. It cost about $10 million to make and earned $36 million worldwide, 3.6 times its budget.

What language is Silkwood in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Silkwood?

4CAESKRUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Silkwood in 4 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Silkwood use?

Based on a True StoryButch LesbianDowner EndingGory Discretion ShotHalf-Empty Two-ShotHe Knows Too MuchMake It Look Like an AccidentLine-of-Sight NameRight Through the WallThe '70sSoundtrack DissonanceSpoiler Coverand 2 more

TV Tropes lists 14 storytelling tropes for Silkwood, including Based on a True Story, Butch Lesbian, Downer Ending.