5.6
Where can I stream Cal legally?
You can rent or buy it from Sooner and Universcine. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.
Cal
2013·Movie
Cal fingerprint
High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.
Energy
Tense and fast-paced
Fast from start to finish.
- Tension7
- Fast Pace7
- Violence6
Heart
Melancholic and moving
Much of it is about family.
- Family Dynamics9
- Melancholy8
- Pathos7
Humor
Some dark humor
Not a comedy at heart.
- Dark Humor5
- Wit & Wordplay3
- Cringe Humor3
World
Everyday modern life, family, and class and money
Lived-in and easy to get lost in.
- World Immersion8
- Dialogue Centrality7
- Rewatchability5
Craft
Standout characters
- Character Depth8
- Direction7
- Acting7
Style
Functional look and sound
- Cinematography7
- Editing7
- Music Composition6
Energy
HighTense and fast-paced
Fast from start to finish.
Cal is tense and fast-paced.
All energy traits
- Tension7Edge-of-your-seat suspense and pressure.
- Fast Pace7Quick tempo and momentum.
- Violence6Physical conflict and intensity.
- Adrenaline5High-energy, pulse-pounding intensity.
- Spectacle4Scale and set-piece grandeur.
- Scare2Frightening moments and scares.
Related traits
- Bleakness9Grim, stark outlooks.
- Slow Burn6Gradual build with payoff.
Heart
LowMelancholic and moving
Much of it is about family.
Emotionally, it's melancholic and moving. Much of it is about family.
All heart traits
- Family Dynamics9Relationships and generational ties.
- Melancholy8Bittersweet, reflective sadness.
- Pathos7Deeply moving, empathetic emotion.
- Catharsis5Emotional release and payoff.
- Romance3Love stories and emotional connections.
- Hopefulness3Optimism and uplifting resolve.
- Nostalgia3Warmth of memory and retro vibes.
- Coming of Age3Personal growth and self-discovery.
- Wholesome2Heartwarming, uplifting feelings.
- Wonder2Awe, discovery, and amazement.
Related traits
- Bleakness9Grim, stark outlooks.
- Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.
Humor
LowSome dark humor
Not a comedy at heart.
Expect some dark humor.
All humor traits
- Dark Humor5Humor from taboo or grim topics.
- Wit & Wordplay3Clever dialogue and verbal humor.
- Cringe Humor3Awkward, uncomfortable laughs.
- Physical Comedy2Slapstick and visual gags.
- Absurdist Humor2Surreal, nonsensical comedy.
- Satire & Parody2Sharp critique and playful imitation.
- Situational Comedy1Humor from everyday scenarios and setups.
World
MediumEveryday modern life, family, and class and money
Lived-in and easy to get lost in.
Its world is built around everyday modern life, family, and class and money. The setting feels lived-in and easy to get lost in.
All world traits
- World Immersion8Depth and sensory richness of setting.
- Dialogue Centrality7Stories driven by conversation.
- Rewatchability5Invites repeat viewing.
- Ambiguity5Open-endedness and uncertainty.
- Novelty5Fresh ideas and invention.
Related traits
- Contemporary Realism9Modern, grounded storytelling.
- Class & Capitalism9Wealth, power, and inequality.
- Crime8Heists, investigation, and underworld.
- Psychological8Inner worlds and mind games.
- Social Commentary8Perspectives on society and norms.
- Mystery5Whodunnits and unraveling secrets.
All craft traits
- Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.
- Direction7Vision and command behind the camera.
- Acting7Performance craft and presence.
- Intrigue7Curiosity and investigative pull.
- Complexity7Layered plots and ideas.
- Narrative Structure6Story architecture and form.
- Dialogue Quality6Sharp writing and memorable lines.
- Non-linear Narrative3Time-shifts and structure play.
- Meta Narrative1Stories about storytelling.
Related traits
- Fast Pace7Quick tempo and momentum.
- Slow Burn6Gradual build with payoff.
- Novelty5Fresh ideas and invention.
Style
MediumFunctional look and sound
The look and sound stay functional.
All style traits
- Cinematography7Visual composition and camera work.
- Editing7Pacing and structure through cuts.
- Music Composition6Score and musical identity.
- Visual Stylization6Distinctive aesthetic signature.
- Music Centrality5The score or soundtrack shapes the emotional experience.
- Sound Centrality5Sound design as core element.
Related traits
- Dialogue Centrality7Stories driven by conversation.
Who it's for
AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchBinge-FriendlyThought-Provoking
Skip it if
You need an uplifting mood
Find more like it
Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.
About
Twenty-year-old Cal returns from France to Britain after receiving news that his mother is ill. His finds his home city of Bristol facing hard economic times brought on by the global economic crisis, with poverty and crime on the rise and rioting and looting almost a nightly occurrence. It is not a warm homecoming as his sick mother remains stubbornly homophobic and wants nothing to do with the now openingly gay Cal while his battered Auntie Jane, now living in a run down council house, dulls her stagnation with welfare funded booze and disturbing attempts to sexually seduce her nephew. Navigating his way across this new landscape he meets a young student who needs his help. However his act of kindness brings him into contact with a lawless drug dealing pimp and a race against time to make peace with his mother and get out of town as quickly as possible. An intense tale of a family mired in poverty, angry and lost but still searching for love, respect and acceptance.
Social RealismPoverty and CrimeFamily DysfunctionLGBTQ+ ThemesDrug AbuseBritish CinemaUrban DecayDesperation and Survival
Actors
Crew
Directed by:
Written by:
Titles like Cal
nearer = more alike
8
You are here: Cal
Tap a poster to move
You are herePreview
vscompared with Cal
Cal2013
Point at a poster to compare itHold a poster to compare it
This pageTap it to move here
A chip fills to its level. Tap a full one for titles without that trait, a low one for titles with it.
Open a page:The Child (2005)Metro Manila (2013)Human Capital (2013)4 Blocks (2017)Little Odessa (1994)The Occupant (2020)Carancho (2010)Amores Perros (2000)Clockers (1995)Submarino (2010)Animal Factory (2000)The Housemaid (2010)State of Grace (1990)Nil by Mouth (1997)American Me (1992)Vaastav (1999)Deadwind (2018)A Dirty Carnival (2006)Ill Manors (2012)Frozen River (2008)Top Boy (2011)Colors of Evil: Red (2024)The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)Daagi (2025)Pieta (2012)Parking (2023)Out of the Furnace (2013)Animal Kingdom (2010)Red (2008)Darlings (2022)Ray Donovan: The Movie (2022)Pusher II (2004)Time of the Wolf (2003)Mahaan (2022)Menace II Society (1993)A Simple Plan (1998)Lost Girls (2020)Hightown (2020)Shallow Grave (1994)Joe (2014)The Rover (2014)Awarapan (2007)Love/Hate (2010)Wild Bill (2011)Polisse (2011)Panic (2000)Pusher 3 (2005)Return to Paradise (1998)Winter's Bone (2010)Black Sea (2014)A Most Violent Year (2014)Seven Seconds (2018)Late Shift (2025)Rampart (2011)Mamma Roma (1962)Homebound (2025)L.I.E. (2001)Alpha Dog (2006)Once Were Warriors (1994)The Snow Girl (2023)Joji (2021)On Board (1998)The Drop (2014)Rocco and His Brothers (1960)
Media
Questions about Cal
Quick answers from GoodWatch data.
Is Cal worth watching?
38
WeakGoodWatch scoreReviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 39/100 (IMDb 5.6). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.
What is Cal rated?
ViolenceSexual contentDrug useStrong language
Content advisories: violence, sexual content, drug use, and strong language.
How long is Cal?
1 h 29 min
Cal runs 1 h 29 min.
What language is Cal in?
English
It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.
In how many countries can I watch Cal?
3
GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Cal in 3 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.