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Defiance

2008·Movie
2h 17min·R
64
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic587.0Rotten Tomatoes58%72%
IMDb7.1Metacritic587.0Rotten Tomatoes58%72%

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Paramount+KanopyHooplaFree

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Defiance fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Violent and thrilling

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence8
  • Adrenaline7
  • Tension7

Heart

Moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos8
  • Melancholy7
  • Catharsis7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Physical Comedy2

World

History, a real life story, and war

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensPure EscapismThought-Provoking

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Graphic violence bothers you

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Bittersweet movies

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

About

Freedom begins with an act of defiance

Based on a true story, during World War II, four Jewish brothers escape their Nazi-occupied homeland of West Belarus in Poland and join the Soviet partisans to combat the Nazis. The brothers begin the rescue of roughly 1,200 Jews still trapped in the ghettos of Poland.
World War IIJewish ResistanceTrue StorySurvival DramaPartisan WarfareFamily BondsHistorical EpicBleak Realism

Crew

Directed by:
Edward Zwick, Jayne-Ann Tenggren
Written by:
Edward Zwick, Clayton Frohman, Nechama Tec
Produced by:
Edward Zwick, Victoria Thomas, Kelly Valentine Hendry
Composed by:
James Newton Howard, Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Defiance

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Defiance legally?

Paramount+KanopyHoopla

Defiance is included with a subscription to Paramount+ 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, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Defiance worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 64/100 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 58%, and Metacritic 58). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Defiance rated?

RViolenceStrong language

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

How long is Defiance?

2 h 17 min

Defiance runs 2 h 17 min.

Is Defiance based on a true story?

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

Do critics and audiences agree on Defiance?

Critics58
Audiences71

Not quite. Audiences rate Defiance higher (71) than critics (58). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Defiance a box office hit?

Budget$32 million
Box office$51 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $32 million to make and earned $51 million worldwide, 1.6 times its budget.

What language is Defiance in?

EnglishGermanRussian

It was made in English, with some German, Russian. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Defiance?

28ADATAUBMCACHCZDEDKESFIFRGBGG+14

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Defiance in 28 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Defiance use?

Artistic License – HistorySenseless SacrificeAin't Too Proud to BegKnow When to Fold ThemCool Old GuyTranslation ConventionLa RésistanceRewarded as a Traitor DeservesDeliberately MonochromeBased on a True StoryBig Damn HeroesActor Allusionand 16 more

TV Tropes lists 28 storytelling tropes for Defiance, including Artistic License – History, Senseless Sacrifice, Ain't Too Proud to Beg.