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Trailer+1 trailer

Alice in the Cities

1974Movie1 h 50 min

Drama
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Letterboxd4.1/5Metacritic787.8Rotten Tomatoes100%91%

A melancholic, slow-burning drama movie about everyday modern life and growing up.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

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Not for scares or laughs.

Movies with

Story

German journalist Philip Winter has a case of writer’s block when trying to write an article about the United States. He decides to return to Germany, and while trying to book a flight, encounters a German woman and her nine year old daughter Alice doing the same. The three become friends (almost out of necessity) and while the mother asks Winter to mind Alice temporarily, it quickly becomes apparent that Alice will be his responsibility for longer than he expected.

Feels like

  • Road Movie
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Melancholy
  • Family Dynamics
  • Social Commentary
  • Contemporary Realism
  • Character-Driven
  • Thought-Provoking
  • German Cinema

Cast

8 of 8

Crew

Directed by
Wim Wenders
Written by
Wim Wenders, Veith von Fürstenberg
Produced by
Wim Wenders, Joachim von Mengershausen
Music by
Irmin Schmidt

Everyone

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

Facts

May 17, 1974 · 1 h 50 min · Drama

Released
May 17, 1974
Runtime
1 h 50 min
Genres
Drama
Original language
German
Also spoken
English, Dutch
Made in
Germany
Available in
21 countries

Tropes

Spiritual Successor, Creator Cameo, There Is Only One Bed +9

  • Spiritual Successor
  • Creator Cameo
  • There Is Only One Bed
  • Stranger Safety
  • Binocular Shot
  • Toplessness from the Back
  • Stranger in a Familiar Land
  • Intergenerational Friendship
  • Road Trip Plot
  • P.O.V. Cam
  • Comforting Comforter
  • Parental Neglect

12 of 17 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Alice in the Cities?"

Questions about Alice in the Cities

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Alice in the Cities?

Criterion

In the United States, Alice in the Cities streams on Criterion. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 17 other countries.

Is Alice in the Cities worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 7.8, Letterboxd 4.1 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 78).

Is Alice in the Cities okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Alice in the Cities plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is Alice in the Cities in English?

GermanEnglishDutch

No, it was made in German, with some English and Dutch.