Sign in
Trailer+1 trailer

The Eel

1997Movie1 h 57 min

CrimeDrama
68
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.3Metacritic81–Rotten Tomatoes83%81%

A profoundly sad, slow-burning drama movie about everyday modern life and the mind, with standout characters.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · partner watch

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or adrenaline.

Movies with

Story

A businessman kills his adulterous wife and is sent to prison. After his release, he opens a barbershop and meets new people, talking to almost no one except for an eel he befriended while in prison.

Feels like

  • Psychological Drama
  • Redemption Story
  • Melancholic
  • Character Study
  • Quiet & Reflective
  • Existential
  • Introspective
  • Post-Prison Life
  • Unconventional Companionship

Cast

19 of 19

Crew

Directed by
Shōhei Imamura
Written by
Shōhei Imamura, Daisuke Tengan, Motofumi Tomikawa
Produced by
Hisashi Iino
Music by
Shinichiro Ikebe

Everyone

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

Facts

May 12, 1997 · 1 h 57 min · Violence

Released
May 12, 1997
Runtime
1 h 57 min
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, Crime
Original language
Japanese
Made in
Japan
Available in
5 countries

Tropes

Voiceover Letter, Bedroom Adultery Scene, Call-Back +9

  • Voiceover Letter
  • Bedroom Adultery Scene
  • Call-Back
  • Distant Prologue
  • I Will Wait for You
  • Fanservice
  • Catapult Nightmare
  • Protection Racket
  • Brick Joke
  • Time Skip
  • Flashback
  • High-Pressure Blood

12 of 17 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Eel?"

Questions about The Eel

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Eel?

Criterion

In the United States, The Eel streams on Criterion. It also streams in 4 other countries.

Is The Eel worth watching?

68
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 68 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 83%, and Metacritic 81).

Is The Eel plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is The Eel in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.