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The Handmaid's Tale

1990·Movie
1h 48min·R

Where to watch

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

What's your score?

Your score

The Handmaid's Tale fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Nerve-racking and violent

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension9
  • Violence7
  • Scare5

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Family Dynamics7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody2
  • Situational Comedy0

World

Society, politics, and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Novelty8
  • Dialogue Centrality6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Sound Centrality7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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

About

A haunting tale of sexuality in a country gone wrong.

In a dystopian, polluted right-wing religious tyranny, a young woman is put in sexual slavery on account of her now rare fertility.
Dystopian ThrillerPolitical AllegorySocial CommentaryReproductive RightsOppressive SocietyGrim AtmosphereCharacter-Driven DramaCautionary TaleFeminist Themes

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Handmaid's Tale

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Handmaid's Tale legally?

You can watch it free with ads on 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 The Handmaid's Tale worth watching?

42
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 43/100 (IMDb 6, Rotten Tomatoes 35%, and Metacritic 53). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Handmaid's Tale rated?

RViolenceNuditySexual contentDisturbing imagerySuicide themes

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, disturbing imagery, and suicide themes.

How long is The Handmaid's Tale?

1 h 48 min

The Handmaid's Tale runs 1 h 48 min.

Is The Handmaid's Tale based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Handmaid's Tale?

Critics44
Audiences52

Not quite. Audiences rate The Handmaid's Tale higher (52) than critics (44). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Handmaid's Tale a box office hit?

Budget$13 million
Box office$5 million

No. It cost about $13 million to make and earned $5 million worldwide, 38% of its budget.

What language is The Handmaid's Tale in?

EnglishGermanSpanish

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

In how many countries can I watch The Handmaid's Tale?

45ARATAUBABEBGCACHCLCOCZDEESFR+31

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Handmaid's Tale in 45 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.