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Trailer

The People Under the Stairs

1991Movie1 h 42 minR

ComedyHorror
64
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.4Letterboxd3.5/5Metacritic577.1Rotten Tomatoes67%61%

A nerve-racking, terrifying horror movie about class and money and everyday modern life.

Good for friends night · pure escapism · thought-provoking

Skip it if graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily · you want something quiet and calm

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or romance.

Movies with

Story

In every neighborhood, there is one house that adults whisper about and children cross the street to avoid.

Trapped inside a fortified home owned by a mysterious couple, a young boy quickly learns the true nature of the homicidal inhabitants, and secret creatures hidden deep within the walls.

Feels like

  • Suburban Nightmare
  • Socially Conscious Horror
  • Claustrophobic Thriller
  • Grotesque Family
  • Satirical Edge
  • Coming-of-Age Themes
  • Violent Home Invasion
  • Unconventional Monster Movie
  • 90s Horror Aesthetic

Cast

15 of 15

Crew

Directed by
Wes Craven
Written by
Wes Craven
Produced by
Stuart M. Besser, Marianne Maddalena
Music by
Graeme Revell, Don Peake

Everyone

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

Facts

November 1, 1991 · 1 h 42 min · R

Released
November 1, 1991
Runtime
1 h 42 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Horror, Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$6 million
Box office
$31 million
Available in
65 countries

Tropes

Large Ham, Zillion-Dollar Bill, The Dreaded +9

  • Large Ham
  • Zillion-Dollar Bill
  • The Dreaded
  • Psychopathic Manchild
  • Moral Myopia
  • Took a Level in Badass
  • Too Dumb to Live
  • Eternally Pearly-White Teeth
  • Brother–Sister Incest
  • Share Phrase
  • Pedophilia Is a Special Kind of Evil
  • Barrier-Busting Blow

12 of 95 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The People Under the Stairs?"

Questions about The People Under the Stairs

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The People Under the Stairs?

PeacockPeacock Premium+

In the United States, The People Under the Stairs streams on Peacock. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 1 other country.

Is The People Under the Stairs worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 64 (IMDb 6.4, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 67%, and Metacritic 57).

Will The People Under the Stairs scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 9 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 8 of 10).

Will The People Under the Stairs make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly dark humor (6 of 10) and satire (5 of 10).

Was The People Under the Stairs a box office hit?

Budget$6 million
Box office$31 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $6 million to make and earned $31 million worldwide, 5.2 times its budget.

What tropes does The People Under the Stairs use?

Large HamZillion-Dollar BillThe DreadedPsychopathic ManchildMoral MyopiaTook a Level in BadassToo Dumb to LiveEternally Pearly-White TeethBrother–Sister IncestShare PhrasePedophilia Is a Special Kind of EvilBarrier-Busting Blowand 83 more

TV Tropes lists 95 tropes for it, including Large Ham, Zillion-Dollar Bill, and The Dreaded.